Muppet Kids Preschool Deluxe

Copyright: KBkids.com

This program starts out with promise, but goes downhill quickly. Those who can not handle visual or auditory distractions may benefit from this program. Families who are opposed to games mixed with learning may also like it. Most will be much happier with Dr. Seuss Preschool or Fisher-Price Ready for School programs.

Learning activities consist of nothing more than a poor 'hypermedia' production with poor sound. Each screen contains a Muppet Kids border, which remains throughout the program. Each 'screen' is nothing more than a workbook page, which has been translated for the computer. There is no real teaching here, just lots of trial and error practice.

Letter Recognition

The first CD contains 22 activities. The activities involve finding all of a given letter in a picture. There were often too many choices (up to 42), and combining upper and lower case was. Choosing the wrong answer produced a stock Windows-type sound and another 'chance'. Another sound signals when you are done.

Beginning Phonics

The second CD includes rhyming, as well as letter sound questions. The letter sound is seldom, if ever, heard in isolation. Again, this is all trial and error with nothing happening beyond selecting the right answer on the screen.

Similarities/Differences

The last CD contains activities where your child must match items which are the same or different. There is little variety here, other than the fact that the scenes change and the items to match change. This CD does contain a few decent visual memory activities. Children who have experienced today's modern educational programs will not enjoy this program. The box says it requires a Pentium 100, which frankly is hard to believe. Families who want straightforward learning, or those who can't handle outside distractions, may still benefit from this program. All others will be disappointed.

Available from BrighterChild.com at http://www.brighterchild.com