Preschool Software

Preschoolers have their own set of educational needs. They are beyond the toddler stage, and not quite ready for heavy-duty schoolwork. You will find a wide range of needs within the 3-6 age range. There are two things you must consider when purchasing software for this age group:

Educational Philosophy

There are some who push kindergarten readiness. "The more they know by the time they start kindergarten the better." There are also some who feel that children this age should not be pushed academically- "delayed academic" proponents. Especially in the case of boys, you need to determine how much academic 'meat' they are ready for. My advice is to know each child individually. If you child shows signs of being ready for more structured academics, and seems to want it, introduce new concepts. If he/she does not seem ready, or is completely uninterested, don't push as hard. There is evidence that a child who learns to read at 3, and one who learns to read at 6-8 will often even out by the time they reach fourth or fifth grade.

Is your child ready?

We have already touched on the fact that you need to watch for readiness. There are certain signs you can watch for in your preschooler. If you do not see these signs, you can always work on readiness skills such as colors, numbers, reading aloud etc.

• Does your child ask what words are, or how to spell words?
• Does he know his letters, or ask what sounds various letters make?
• Does he want to learn how to write his/her name, or other basic words?
• Has your child been talking about going to school or 'doing school.'?

Software for Preschool Readiness

If your child does not seem quite ready to dive headlong into the world of phonics and addition, start out slowly. There are several preschool programs that take a more relaxed academic approach to preschool.

• Millie and Bailey Preschool- A simpler version of Millie's Math House and Bailey's Book House. Toned down for those not ready for the more advanced program.
• Sesame Street: Elmo's Preschool Deluxe- Open-ended activities, which promote thinking skills.
• Reader Rabbit's Preschool- This one touches on letter recognition, counting, and simple addition, but does not overdo the topic.
• Madeline Classroom Companion: Preschool/Kindergarten- Lots of matching activities.
• Just Grandma and Me and other Living Books are tremendous reading 'starters' for preschoolers.
• Captain Kangaroo's Life's Lessons- These programs emphasize social skills over academics.
• Blues' Clues series- Offers beginning academics in a low-stress environment.
• Land Before Time Preschool- Visual skills only.

Software for Kindergarten readiness

If your child is ready for letter sounds, and basic math concepts, it is time to jump into the world of preschool programs which are designed to prepare your child for kindergarten.

• My Personal Tutor Preschool/Kindergarten- Although older technology, this program has one of the best phonics blending activities. The math section is not 'hands on' enough for my taste, however.
• Sesame Street Elmo's Reading Preschool/Kindergarten- Good reading program for those ready for phonics activities.
• Dr. Seuss Preschool- One of our personal favorites.
• Jump Start Preschool 99- Like the other Jump Start programs, these deal with readiness. This is more a kindergarten readiness program than a preschool readiness one.
• Fisher-Price Ready for School Preschool- Easier than the rest of the preschool programs. Covers many matching, counting, sequencing, and beginning reading skills.
• Leap Ahead Preschool- Another academic program that is good for younger preschoolers. Originally Let's Start Learning.

Although you may be anxious for your preschooler to prepare for kindergarten, this is not the time to 'assign' computer time. If your preschooler wants to use the computer, have worthwhile programs available. Some preschoolers balk at the idea of too much structure, and need some fun time. There are several programs which preschoolers who frequent our house really love. These are just plain fun.

• My Disney Kitchen
• Putt Putt series
• Freddi Fish series
• Orly's Draw-A-Story
• Kid Pix Studio Deluxe
• Pajama Sam series

These and other non-academic preschool programs allow your child to become comfortable with the computer. If you are not completely comfortable with them pounding away on your new Pentium, it is wise to invest in KidDesk, which will protect the rest of your system.

Remember to spend one-on-one time with your preschooler at the computer. This will help them become familiar with their favorite programs so they can 'do it by themselves'……isn't that the preschool mantra?