Selecting Software for Your Children

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It's in the catalogs that reach your mailbox, the bookstores, toy stores, and supermarkets. It's packaged in cereal boxes and downloaded from the Internet. Every year, every month, every day there's more. And the prices keep coming down.

Yes, children's software is everywhere. Colorful packages, exciting titles and appealing graphics compete for your software dollars. It all looks pretty good. The question, though, is which programs have both entertainment and educational value.

Fortunately, there are programs that open the door to exploration and discovery — software that encourages your child to think, create, and communicate. Finding the right titles takes a little time, but it's worth the effort. Here are some tips to help you in your quest.

 

1. Do a little research. Ask other parents, kids, and teachers about their favorite software. Read reviews in home and educational computing magazines.
2. Visit a computer store, the local library, or a friend's home where you and your child can try out the software. Or encourage your child's school to sponsor a technology fair.
3. Select programs with educational value. Most kids already spend enough time on video games and television. Make the computer a place where fun and learning come together in exciting ways.
4. Find out what software your child is using in school. If he or she has a favorite, you may want to buy a copy for home use. Your child will already know how to use the programs and may be able to work on school projects at home and share them with the family.
5. Select programs that match your child's age and ability, and consider programs that let you spend quality time with your child.
6. Look for child appeal — playful programs with appealing graphics, sound, music, animation, and a sense of humor.
7. Put your child in the driver's seat! Choose programs in which your child is active, interacts frequently with the computer, and makes decisions that determine what will happen next.
8. Look for software that helps your child develop his or her creativity, communication, and thinking skills. Graphics, word processing, and publishing programs encourage children to express themselves by creating tangible products to share with friends and family. For younger authors and artists, it's best to purchase creativity software designed specifically for children.
9. Keep your child's interests in mind. Are they aspiring artists, authors, or musicians? Do they love nature, astronomy, or geography? When appropriate, let children help make selections.
10. Be sure the software is easy enough for the child to use independently. Programs should feature clear buttons and commands, on-screen directions, and a user's guide just in case you run into a problem.
11. Look for software that includes several levels of difficulty so children can experience immediate success and then move on to more challenging levels. Parent/teacher options that allow you to set the level are especially useful.
12. Be sure activities, projects, and games are compelling and offer enough variety so children will use the program more than once or twice. Don't be upset, though, if your child sets the program aside after a week or two. They've probably already enjoyed long hours of fun and adventure, and, just as with a good book may come back to it.
13. Build a balanced collection that includes creativity tools, research tools, simulations, and educational games.
14. Identify reliable sources, trusted brand names, an informed salesperson, or a specialized catalog.
15. If you have the needed hardware, opt for CD-ROM versions when available. They usually include better sound and graphics, more resources, and even additional activities.
16. Be sure you have the necessary hardware (i.e., the right kind of computer and monitor, adequate memory, an appropriate drive, enough room on your hard drive, and peripherals such as CD-ROM, sound board, mouse, or joystick.)
17. Enjoy the process! It's a whole new world, and exploring the possibilities is an adventure in itself!

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