| Imagine cuddling up with your small child to look at | | | | finds that it's fun, then it's probably educational. |
| a picture book together that is interactive, | | | | For a baby, fun usually means that the game |
| musical, responsive and talks to you? | | | | responds in some way to random keyboard |
| This is the experience that people are having who | | | | presses and mouse clicks, and that the game |
| are engaged in that relatively new pastime - | | | | continues in a positive way even when no input is |
| playing computer games with babies. | | | | forthcoming from the baby. A preschooler will |
| JumpStart's Knowledge Adventure calls it | | | | need more of a challenge or more educational |
| "lapware", Kiddies Games' logo is "Hop on the lap | | | | content, but the game should be designed to be |
| and tap", and Sesame Street's "Baby and Me" | | | | always fun, reactive in a positive way and |
| opens with an animation of a baby monster | | | | self-resolving when the child does not get the |
| hopping onto the lap of a Daddy monster to play | | | | correct answer. At this age, it is more important |
| the computer. Playing computer games with your | | | | that computer games contribute positively to |
| baby is being promoted as a fun activity that a | | | | self-esteem, rather than conscientiously correcting |
| child and their caregiver can share together. And | | | | incorrect answers about educational concepts that |
| rightly so, because whatever the activity, physical, | | | | the child will master when they're older anyway. |
| loving closeness is an important ingredient that | | | | The software is meticulous about adhering to |
| infants need for healthy intellectual, emotional and | | | | these rules. |
| physical development. | | | | What types of skills are learned by playing toddler |
| Reading a bedtime story to a small eager child is | | | | computer games? Obviously, computer software |
| a tradition in many homes. As the children get | | | | is not suitable for practicing gross motor or even |
| older, this may be replaced by watching TV | | | | fine motor skills. However, there are many types |
| together. Our parents' families listened to the radio | | | | of educational concepts that computer games can |
| together. Playing on the computer with a small | | | | help a child master, including shapes, sounds, cause |
| child may become a new type of family tradition. | | | | and effect, identifying and naming things (such as |
| Home computers and internet are making their | | | | objects and colors), increasing vocabulary, |
| way into more and more homes. Some parents | | | | language concepts, the forms of letters and |
| use the computer in their work and are delighted | | | | numbers, counting, pattern recognition, detail |
| to share the computer for a fun activity with | | | | observation and word construction. At |
| their kids. Other parents want to make sure their | | | | KiddiesGames, we strive to offer games for small |
| children become computer literate. Well-designed, | | | | children that are out of the ordinary, such as |
| interactive, educational computer games engage | | | | foreign language exposure and practicing the |
| small children as much as the television and are | | | | positions on the telephone for dialing emergency. |
| more educational than TV because they incite the | | | | The reactiveness and interactiveness of computer |
| child to interact and think, rather than passively | | | | software is, of course, superior to that of books, |
| watch and listen. These are the reasons for the | | | | and can be superior to that of toys, especially in |
| increasing popularity of toddler computer | | | | the area of language. Infant computer games are |
| software. Although a relatively small industry, | | | | also being cited as excellent resources for children |
| software for infants has been cited as being a | | | | with special education needs, because such games |
| very fast growing industry. | | | | are simple, happy, brightly-colored, patient, |
| What type of computer software is available for | | | | controlled by the child and allow the child to make |
| babies, toddlers and preschoolers? There are free | | | | things happen. |
| games on websites and there are download and | | | | An official recommendation from the American |
| CDROM software that you can buy. Most | | | | Academy of Pediatrics at is to "Discourage |
| software for this age group is games, but | | | | television viewing for children younger than 2 |
| computer story books also exist. Wonderful | | | | years, and encourage more interactive activities |
| websites that offer free games of which many | | | | that will promote proper brain development, such |
| are suitable for preschoolers (preschoolers are | | | | as talking, playing, singing, and reading together." |
| able to do directed clicking with the mouse) are: | | | | This has been taken as advice to avoid exposing |
| - | | | | those young children to the computer. However, |
| - | | | | well-designed infant software actually encourages |
| - | | | | those great activities of "talking, playing, singing, |
| - | | | | and reading together". By carrying out the play |
| - | | | | activities proposed by the computer game, the |
| Great free sites for babies (whose skills tend to | | | | caregiver is actually prompted with a framework |
| be more limited to banging the keyboard) are: | | | | or script for carrying out those "talking, playing, |
| - | | | | singing, and reading" activities with the child. |
| - | | | | Experts are now saying that while computer |
| CDROM or download software that you buy is | | | | games for infants should not replace toys and |
| usually better than free internet games. The | | | | blocks and books and should not be used as an |
| games are usually superior (more graphics, more | | | | electronic babysitter, that they are yet another |
| music, more involved games for older kids) and | | | | valid toy resource. For example, a summer 2004 |
| the software takes over the entire screen, which | | | | newsletter from the Hawaii State Health |
| is more appropriate for very young children who | | | | Department at encourages playing with lapware. |
| click anywhere and everywhere on the screen. | | | | The emphasis is not on acquiring measurable skills |
| Some of the well-known producers are: | | | | or getting correct answers, but is on open-ended |
| - Reader Rabbit software from | | | | exploration on the part of the child - which is |
| - JumpStart software from | | | | another way of saying "having fun". Children are |
| - Fisher-Price software from | | | | programmed to learn and practice what they |
| - Sesame Street software from or | | | | learned by playing and having fun. |
| - | | | | Playing computer games with your small child is |
| Computer game softwares for this age group | | | | not yet a family tradition. However, it is an |
| make conscientious efforts to be suitably | | | | enjoyable, sharing activity that is becoming more |
| educational. To judge their effectiveness for your | | | | and more popular. |
| child, try them out with your child. If your child | | | | |