I know that there’s some controversy about screen time–TV, video games, and computer–especially for preschoolers. That said, my children both watch educational TV (and if I’m being honest, since my second child is so much younger than his big sis, he also watches her nine-year-old non-nutritive TV as well).
They both love computer games, and could navigate the computer easily shortly after celebrating their third birthdays. Computer games are fun, they are educational, and they keep them quiet. What more could I ask for?
If, like me, you like to let your children indulge in computer games, or if you’d like to start your preschooler off with some fantastic activities on the computer, here are two new games that my four-year-old son has been enjoying:
Mia’s Reading Adventure: The Bugaboo Bugs
This game by Kutuoka looks gorgeous, featuring TV or movie-quality 3D animation. In fact, when Kyle wants to play this game, he asks to watch “the movie” on the computer. There are two ways to play–either individual games, which I pull up for him, o
r the adventure which is more like a video game, which big sister Amanda prefers. The game says it’s appropriate for Kindergarten through grade three. My son just turned four and knows his letters and sounds, so there are some pre-reading games that he can play with my (or big sister’s) help, such as rhyming words or filling in a missing letter in a word. My fourth-grade daughter also enjoys it (although she says she’s just helping her brother play), and finds the adventure portion to be a challenge, so I’d say that age range is appropriate.
The game focuses on literacy skills such as sight word recognition, phonics, rhymes, spelling and more, as Mia enlists the help of the player to help rid the old Victorian house where her family has lived for generations of the Bugaboos before they all get exterminated.
This is a DVD-Rom (which allows for more content on the single disk to showcase the rich graphics) and will run on Windows Vista, XP or 2000 and Macintosh.
Kyle and Amanda enjoying Mia Reading together
JumpStart Advanced Preschool World
This is another amazing game using 3D technology. It is geared for ages 3 to 5, and my computer savvy 4-year-old picked it up fairly easily, but I can also see that it will provide hours of challenging fun.
This is an adventure type game, where the preschooler navigates through the world. There are some features which will appeal to some kids, especially if they are reluctant to play the “educational” portion of the games:
- on each visit to Preschool World (or as many times as they desire), players can change the clothes of their virtual self and also change hair color, skin color, and other features.
- upon completion of one of the games, players receive special deliveries into their mailbox
- the player can also personalize his house–selecting the windows, doors, roof and color.
Kyle loves these special features that help make the game his own, so much so that he’s probably not noticing that he’s learning number and letter concepts, vocabulary, critical thinking skills, and so much more which will help get him ready for school.
This 4-disc game requires a lot of memory (1.4 GB), and runs on Windows XP or Vista, but in spite of its mass, it has run quite easily on my computer.
If you’d like to win one of two sets of both of these games, spread the word, and leave a comment on this post. This giveaway is open to U.S. and Canadian addresses. The winners will be announced at the conclusion of the Creative Summer Days event on June 24.
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{ 281 comments… read them below or add one }
Sometimes I’ve got stuff to do, and the only way to get my not-at-all-independent child to play without me is to give her a game to play on the computer. This would be awesome! Thanks! I’ll spread the word…Erica, gumbi1313 at msn dot com
My son would love either of these. He’s starting to get bored with Caillou, the only computer game we have for him. He could use a new challenge!
Count me in
Please!
My kids would love either. My daughter is just now getting excited about playing on the computer. Thanks.
My daughter would be thrilled with either of these! Thanks for the giveaway!
This sounds like a neat way to supplement/reinforce a pre-schoolers’ letters and numbers learning.
I would love to have these for my children! They love playing on the computer and I love having great games for them to use. Thanks!
as usual, awesome giveaway!
DD would just be in love with something new on the computer! I really appreciate the reviews as it is so hard to just go choose something without another mom’s opinion! Thanks!
oooh! count me in! I think my twins are just about ready for something like this–and this one sounds great.
We would put them to good use.
My son loves playing computer games, but we don’t have many. This would be great for us!
ooh – looks neat…my button’s up!
thanks
very cool. my son will be 4 this year~ he would LOVE this. thank you
What great games. Both of my kids would love them. Count me in!
My kids love to play computer games when we let them. We mostly use the free Playhouse Disney games online, so I’d love to win this!
Both of them look neat.
These would be awesome for my neice.
count me in~
I’m in.
Count me in for this one! Sounds awesome!
I want to win!
There are so few games geared to this age group that actually are any fun. I think Ally would love this.
Thanks for the great giveaways!!!
My 3yo would love this. Please enter me for the contest.
Have two little ones that would love this. Thanks.
gkstratos @yahoo.com
I have a computer genius in training who would just love to have these.
Thanks!
Fun! My children love playing on the computer.
This would be great for my son. He’s been messing with the computer because he is curious. We currently don’t have any computer games for him so this would be a great start! I would love for him to be having fun while learning! Thanks for the giveaway.
Great prize, playing and learning are the best combo! Thanks for the chance!
My kids would love it! Please enter me!
My 4 year old would love this! She likes to play on the computer but I don’t have any age appropriate games. These sound perfect!
This looks wonderful. My son is crazy about the computer already and he is only two!
I sure hope I win thanks
I too think that there is some value in educational programming and computer activities. I haven’t tried either of those but I bet my 4 year old would love them!
My son would love this!
So very perfect! My kids both love computer games.
This is a great contest.
Looks great…so excited to be getting to the SUMMER DAY fun!!!
Whoohoo, count me in!
Great Prize !!
Perfect for my kids!
http://momfor4.blogspot.com/
I have blogged (for an extra entry) about this contest over at my blog since I have always admired what you offer not only in great giveaways, but what you have to say!!!
I completely believe that our kids need to continue reading and writing and learning over the summertime to keep their brains working (plus, it makes them ready for the following school year).
I’d so love to win this learning program for my little girls (Patience 6 and Piper5).
I let the kids play games, obliviously or I wouldn’t have entered the Wii contest. But I like to keep it limited at the same time. I love the jumpstart games but since we got the mac it doesn’t work because it isn’t compatible. Do you know if the other game will work on our computer? This is the one big downfall of the mac that I’ve found so far.
soooo fun. these would be great! thanks!
Would live to be entered I know some children that would make good use of them.
My grandson could use these as he will be starting school when it starts back. and he gets rather bored with the games we have now.
Thank you for the ideas. My two toddlers watch a lot of PBS during the day. It’s all educational so I think it’s okay. They havn’t mastered the computer yet!
These look wonderful – my Little Guy loves computer time!
My niece is in love with the computer right now. She loves to play games and watch shows and type and anything else she can do on it. She would love these games.
Thanks for another great contest:)
My little one is starting to get into the computer I let him play on PBS with me of course so he would love something like this Thanks I have your button on my side bar!
Perfect for my little one
This is such a fun day. Thank you so much.
The one on the right is my grandson, Noah. He’ll be 10 tomorrow.
(http://6justmyopinion.wordpress.com)
Looks like lots of fun – my 3.5 year old would love it!! Please enter me!!
Our son would enjoy this.
My oldest son has the jumpstart world for second grade. My youngest (preschool age) loves it and wants to play but the content is too advanced for him. He has done some of a Kindergarten version of this – but again it’s not preschool level. I was thrilled to see that a preschool world exists and would definitely be interested in winning. Thanks!
Great products!
I know that my grandson would just love this prize. I hope that I can win it for him.
I would love this for my toddler! This would make a great Birthday gift for when he turns three in August!
My kids would love this prize
I would love to win!
The bugaboo one looks really cool!!
Would love to win!
my kids love computer games, i like the ones they learn from!
Would like to win
really like to win
I would love to have this. Thank you,Anne
We love computer games and jumpstart is one of our favorites. Please sign me up for the games!
Twitter: TheAngelForever
June 11, 2008 at 6:16 pm
This looks wonderful for my oldest son.
Thanks for the great giveaway!
my kids would go gaga for this
enter me please
i love it
neat prize
so cool
My daughter would love this!!
My post with the button is here:
http://www.livinwithme.com/2008/06/fabulous-giveaways/
This is my favorite website!
WE would love to win this thanks
MY DAUGHTER WOULD LOVE THIS SHE LOVES TO PLAY ON THE COMPUTER
These would be great for my 3+ grandson! When he comes to visit he wants to use grandma’s computer and I don’t have much for him to do on it. This sounds perfect!
my daughter would love these
These would be great for my kids.
please enter me
These would be fun to participate in with my grandkidlets!! I think they would love to play on the computer!!
My little girls would love these. Thanks so much for this fabulous giveaway!
we would love to win!
thanks so much!!
moore.g at insideconnect.net
Hi! I would love to win a set for my 6 year old nephew. Please enter me in your drawing. I always appreciate it…..Thanks,Cindi
we have 3 preschoolers in the house and this would be great for learning!
These would be an awesome addition to our computer library.
I think these are great! I make sure my children get the same amt of screen time everyday..be it computers or the tv. They certainly have learnt tons from these venues!
Thanks so much for the opportunity.
This would be perfect for me b/c i have a 5 yr old and a 3 yr old. It would be amazing entertainment for the summer!
my two girls would love to play the games on the computer
I still can’t get the button to work
Wow, what a cool prize.
Please enter me!
My son could really use this!!!
sweet contest
Thanks.
This is a great prize. Thank you
This would be great for both my kids.
jump start has great learning SW
Great prize to keep our minds active this summer.
hey thanks
Enter me please. Thanks!
I would love to win this for my little girl.
Please enter me. It won’t be long before my toddler is ready to start using the computer.
This would be great for my kids!
I think my daughter would really like these games. Thanks!
enter me…my grandkids love doing things on the computer.
I’m educating my young boys at home and this program would be great for us!
We blogged here:
http://kristiniac.blogspot.com/2008/06/thursdays-tantallizing-finds.html
My oldest son loved this series, I know my 3 and 5 year old would too. Please enter me!
My four year old grandson is not allowed to touch the computer at his house, but I let him play with mine. It would be fun to have one of these games for when he visits.
My neice’s name is Mia, I would love to win this for her. Thanks!
I would love this for my son!
like to win this
great for my kids
would love to win
Please enter me and thanks!
I’m in
This would be a great tool to help them learn the keyboard.
My kiddos would have sooo much fun with these!
My daughter loves playing games on the computer!
Nice prizes
My kids would love this.
This sounds like a great learning tool! Thanks!
this would be super for my daughter
Sounds great. Count me in.
Please enter me
Blogged HERE!
I would love to win this, my son is so crazy about the computer right now! And anything new he can learn, he just soaks it up!
This would be a great tool to help them learn the keyboard.
Please enter me to win the games. I’ll link on my blog.
Fun!
Those look great! My son is addicted to Blues Clues…
love it, my kid would love it too, thanks
My daughter loves computer games!!
My grandson would be so pleased with this.
My son already likes to look at the computer screen! I know he would love this game soon! Thanks!
Perfect for my 4 year old!!
These are great prizes! Count us in.
oh these would be perfect for a rainy day!! Please enter me too!
My son is just getting started on the computer and he loves it. I’m always looking for new and exciting products to hold his intrest as we learn about letters so this would be perfect.
my kids both enou the computer, they would enjoy either one, thanks
My grandson would love this
please count me in
I am getting ready to start my toddler on preschool learning games on the computer and would love these. I am sure my new problem would be getting her off the computer!
I would love to win a set! As a homeschooler, I always try to supplement their learning with educational games in addition to their deskwork. We all know how well a computer can hold their attention – all the better if they learn something while playing!
And what a great tool to reinforce what their learning during school time.
Thanks ladies!
my son would love this and so would I.
Woo hoo my son loves to play any kids of video computer game so if we win these they will be put to good use
These games would both make learning fun. Thanks.
my kids would love this!
My sons love computer games
count me in! they would love this!
Great Sweeps! Thanks!!
these look great.
My daughter loves doing the computer she feels so big shes 4 and loves to learn i am not kidding either she loves to read and sound out words it is so much fun with her because you can see it in her eyes how proud she is when she hears good job and it really sweet
cool prize, count me in please!
haha so cool include me
these look very cool – I would love to win!
I would love to win for my daughter
What a wonderful prize!
this would be a great thing for my son and i to do together when the baby takes a nap. count me in…thanks!!!
This would be great for my daughter!
My triplets would LOVE these games and it would give me a little free time!!
I blogged this giveaway at http://acontestblog.com/index.php/2008/5-minutes-for-mom-play-and-learn-giveaway/
I’d love to win Preschool World for my son.
We’d love to have a copy!
I blogged your contest on Prize-A-Tron too!
http://www.prizeatron.com
These games are right up my son’s alley. Right now he is really into educational activities like education computer games, flash cards, and board games. He would love these!
This would be alot of fun. I love the description and would definately enjoy the games.
This would be great for my nephew. Thanks for the chance to win.
I’d love to win Mia’s Reading Adventure! My 6 year old is really into reading right now, and during this summer break, she is into computer games, so this would really be a big hit! Thanks for offering this – it’s a great giveaway!
~Tanya
the4moyers(at)msn(dot)com
These sound great – thanks!
I am always looking for products that will give my children a head start.
My daughter is going to be starting kindergarten so this would be great for her!
Too funny…my daughter and I were just looking at Mia’s Reading Adventure in the Mac store the other day! I think it would be a great learning tool (and she thought it was pretty neat too). We’d love to win these!!
my Little Guy loves computer time
My kids can type better than the can write because of these games. thanks for the chance.
My grandson would love this!
I would love to have either of these games for my Daughter, or both
I like to put learning in with playing, and with this game it looks like my Daughter would have fun doing both…. Thanks, Christine
I’d LOVE to win this and play with my kids.
My daughter has just started on the computer so these would be a great addition to games for her to play.
I would like to win this. My neices and nephews would really enjoy it.
My son really loves practicing his computer skills…I would love to give these a try.
owatz (at) telus (dot) net
Two of my sons are just at the right age for this. Sounds like something they’d learn a lot from.
Hmmm . . . I’d love to give something like this a try.
My sons loves playing online game i am sure he would love either of these.
The games look great and a lot of fun. Thanks for the chance.
Jennifer
Please enter me!
Great prize, My kids would love this.
Enter me. My Grandkids would love this.
this sounds great, I do not have any games for the computer
wow
enter me
My great nephew would love this.
just to cool
how cute. would love this for the grandkids. thank you!
Love those educational games!
Awesome games for learning!
Great prize,please enter me.Thank you for the contest.
If they are going to play on the computer, they may was well be learning in the process. Good prize!
My son would love either of these.
The more kids read, the more they expand. Would love to win
Please enter me in this awesome contest. My nephew would love this!
look like fun!
What fun! My little guy would love these!
tfisher83 AT myexcel DOT com
enter me
My granddaughter would love it.
with these rainy stormy days we are having could use this so the can play
I haven’t yet introduced my preschooler to the computer. what a fun way to teach him!
We could use this
would be an awesome thing to win
I would love to win this for my daughter!
I love educational material of any kind for the kids
These would be a great gift for my little boy.
I would to love to give this to my nephew.
enter me please
Would love to have this for my little one.
I love learning software
Perfect for my little ones.
The boys would have lots of fun with these!
count me in
I’d love to win this for my grandkids!
I’d love to win this for my grandkids also!ty 4 the contest!:)
My son (6) & my daughter (3) both love computer games…they both sound great to me.
Mias reading adventure looks darling, and we love anything in the jumpstart series…
my three year old loves using the computer and is such a smarty. He would love this.
my daughter could really use these, she is bummed because she missed our cut off date here for kindegarden and will need to go back to preschool for another year. She’s so smart and loves my computer. This would be an awesome surprise for her
The jumpstart cds are wonderful. I would love to win this.
These sound great!
Sweet niblets!
Great games from a great company and as a teacher, I will be sure and recommend these!
this would be perfect for my daughter!
so cute!
hope to win for my grandkids looks so nice thank u
hope to win for my grandkids looks so fun thank u
My son would love these – thanks for the giveaway!
My son has just been introduced to the computer…This would be perfect!!
My 6 year old is just starting to read and is so proud. These would be great for her! Thanks.
Sounds like fun. Thanks!
My almost 4 year old would love this pc game.
My nephew would love this!
4 the twins
Thanks for making a great site!!
Please enter me into the contest!!
Sounds like a great idea. Count me in please.
Great for my granddaughter, enter me.
Very cute!
This would be great to have for when its time for my daughter to learn to read.
These look like great games!
love these both, thanks!
Great stuff for kids!
love to win this
Great learning opportunity! I want to win! Thanks so much for the giveaway!
count me in please
I would love to win this for our son who will turn 3 in December. We also have one on the way that would benefit from it also. Thanks for the chance to win it!!
This would be awesome!
What a great learning opportunity for my two young sons. Thank you for the opportunity to win this!
I’ve been looking for computer games for my littles that aren’t just mindless, and these look like they would fit! Thanks!
Perfect entertainment when Mom has something she needs to get done.
My kids would love these!
looks like a great one!
Hope I win this for my youngest son.
Thanks for the great prize..In time for the Summer
What a great prize!
We’ve been wanting to try out some computer games for my daughter.
I hope I win this one!
Would be great for my granddaughter
This would be a huge hit with my nephew. Thanks for the chance to win!
This would be perfect for my son. Thanks for the opportunity to win it.
Reading is just around the corner for us
The girls love being on the computer and I let them when it’s educational. We’d love to be in the drawing!
my son is 4 he would really enjoy this!thanks!
Love the educational computor game; keep them coming; many thanks sW
I would love to win this for my grandchildren. Thanks for having this great contest!
Thank you so much for entering me. I would love to have this for my son, he is so into learning and loves to sit on our lap at the computer right now and this would be perfect for him!
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Hi There!
Thanks for the share, I believe the kids will love this. They also have their own favorite, http://thecolor.com. Happy Holidays!!:)