Children's Educational Software Buying Guide
Let's face it. Technology 
is a huge part of children's lives these days. Whether it be video games, computer games, or television programmes, they are hooked. So why not make it worth their while? Instead of wasting away brain cells, give them something educational to go by. Educational software can provide a learning foundation for young children and build upon learning skills for older ones. They will be having fun and getting something out of it. And after all, that is what learning is all about.
Educational software was created with learning foundations in mind. Companies such as Creative Wonders, Disney Interactive, The Learning Company, Leap Frog, Scholastic, and Sesame Workshop have all created games meant to be fun while enhancing a broad or specific range of knowledge.
Nursery School: Ages 3-4
Young children are in the beginning stages of learning. Concepts such as ABC's, how things work, early number recognition, counting, music, and critical thinking are all very important to early child development. To enhance social awareness, children can play games with their favourite storybook characters, teaching morals and the value of friendships.
Children will also be introduced to the computer and be learning ideas such as pointing and clicking with the mouse, and beginning typing.
Recommended programmes for this age group:
Language Arts | Mathematics | Sciences | Early Thinking Skills | Building Creativity |
Primary School: Ages 5-10
Educational software for this age range will build upon the learning that is already taking place in the classroom. With these years being crucial for learning, it is important to enhance a child's knowledge base or ways of thinking by presenting outside reinforcements. Since computer games are popular with kids, this is the perfect way to promote imagination and to study subjects like geography, history, math, phonics, reading, science, and spelling.
Students are building upon their basic computer knowledge and exploring more in-depth technological concepts. They can begin to learn the process of opening and saving documents as well as naming and understanding the basis of folders. Typing skills are presented and tweeked throughout these years as well, and it never hurts to continue to practice.
Recommended programmes for this age group:
Language Arts | Mathematics | Sciences | Social Studies | Art and Design |
Secondary School: Ages 11-16
Educational software for this age range aims to solidify previous studies as well as incorporate foundations for test-taking and higher learning. Programmes may cater to their independence, abilities to think critically, and foster maturity.
With pre-teens and teens using the computer for social networking, many games often tailor this feature into their program. Teens can chat with other teens about their studies or about their plan of action in many interactive computer games or take up a new foreign language.
Recommended programmes for this age range:
Test Preparation | Foreign Language | Learning Resources | Discovery | Creativity and Design |
Related Guides
External Links
- DiscoveryEducation.com: Discovery's education section brings personal reviews on the best educational software.
- Wikipedia.org: Information on the education system for England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
- Wikipedia.org: Information on the institution of Learning and Teaching in Scotland.
