Cyber Grannies

Cyber Grannies is an animated vocabulary program for children ages 3-6. Twenty-six claymation grannies introduce your child to each letter of the alphabet. Throughout the program, you will find other educational activities dealing with math, science and thinking skill development. While not a spectacular program which will cover a myriad of skills, it's a fun introduction for younger children.

An animated kangaroo is your child's guide. Twenty-six alphabet blocks appear on the main screen. The Grannies can be visited in sequence, or randomly. The grannies look something like overweight Alvin and the Chipmunk characters. They are actually rather cute. You will find them busy in various careers and activities, as well as representing various nationalities and ethnic groups. I was glad to see all Grandmothers not featured as cookie bakers.

Each Granny's 'world' includes three rooms. Within these rooms are objects which start with the letter being learned. This program does not deal with phonics, beyond beginning sounds of various words. In the vowel worlds, long and short vowel sounds are randomly mixed. Diehard phonics people may have problems with some of the presentation methods and words choices.

As your children wander throughout each world, they will learn new words, and begin to learn letter sounds. While not a full-blown reading program, this is a good basic introduction to letter sounds. Many five and six-year-olds will find they are well beyond this basic level.

Each Granny has one educational activity hidden within her world. These are generally math activities which seem to have little correlation with the 'reading' theme found in the rest of the program. They are decent activities, however.

One Granny may have you play with her dominoes, another let you use the balance scale, and yet another have you complete a pipe maze. The activities are varied, and each has two skill levels appropriate for preschoolers and beginning elementary school children.

This program is cute. Not one that would make you want to throw away your Reader Rabbit programs, but a nice alternative for children who need to learn beginning letter sounds, or need introduction to vocabulary words. This program would work especially well for young ESL children, or those needed extra vocabulary building stimulation.

Grading for Cyber Grannies Educational Value: 3 Entertainment Value: 3 Replay Value: 3 Ages: 3-6 Available from Kutoka Kids at http://www.kutoka.com