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Thomas and Bob Keep Preschoolers Busy

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This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

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When all the big kids go back to school, the preschoolers get to enjoy their time at home–back in the number one spot. They get more time and attention from Mom, and they might actually get a shot at using the computer. My kids each knew how to load, click, and start up their computer games by the time they were three years old, but this summer my four-year-old son had to fight for time on the computer with his nine-year-old sister (and uh, his mom too).

I know that it’s just another screen competing for time and brain cells, but I have been so pleased with the skills my kids have picked up by playing these games, and I see them as a great alternative to sitting in front of the big screen TV.

Brighter Minds has introduced two new learning games for the preschool set: Thomas and Friends: Special Delivery and Bob the Builder: Can Do Zoo.

Thomas and Friends: Special Delivery

Kyle (4 years old) has loved Thomas for years, and I’m not even sure if his interest level has peaked. It might be getting even more intense. So I was pretty sure he would love this game, which combines video-quality stories with skills games, and I was right. He loves it!

This game promotes critical thinking skills and problem solving and also addresses counting and memory skills.

Bob the Builder: Can Do Zoo

He isn’t a huge fan of the Bob the Builder show, so I had to convince him to give this game a try. This game seems a bit easier than some aimed at preschoolers. Kyle played the games at the medium level with ease (there are three levels that the child can choose for each game that they play). If your child loves Bob the Builder or you are wanting a good game to introduce your young preschooler to the computer, this one would be great.

The simplicity of the games allows children to improve their hand-eye coordination as they identify and sort different items. The game focuses on such skills as shape and color recognition and patterns in creative ways. The sticker book is a place where children can build their own scenes using “stickers” that they have earned from the different games. This kind of thing really encourages kids to try all of the games, not just the ones that they can master easily.

Would you like to be one of five winners to receive both of these games (U.S. shipping addresses only)?

Follow the directions listed on the Back to School Giveaway Guidelines, and leave a comment here. We’ll post the winners on August 13.

Reader Interactions


308 Comments

  1. Either would be great, i think we singlehandedly keep thomas in business we have so much stuff

  2. My two year old is always trying to get on my computer! What better way to let him go ahead and get on then provide him with games!

  4. I don’t see this as a prize for my son, I see it as a prize for me!….my son gets to watch his 2 favorite characters and I get an afternoon or two of peace 🙂

  11. This would be perfect for my granddaughter–please add my name. Thank you for the contest!

  14. My toddler loves both Thomas & Bob the builder. I started hi playing on the computer 2 weeks aho and he thinks it is so cool. He tells me he wants to check his e-mail now.

  17. Oh. My. Word. My son would adore these. I really haven’t put a lot of thought into keeping him busy while the two older girls do their school work.
    This just might do the trick!

  18. My three year old would love these games — and I bet his older brothers would want to play them also!

  24. After losing my job of 8 years, I am now at home full time with my children. It’s taken a bit of practice trying to keep them occupied all day, but I found computer games to be the #1 hit!

  25. My dear friend has 4 sons who would absolutely love this wonderful prize.

  26. Both my preschool son’s would flip if they were able to win this. They both love “Bob & Thomas”!

  28. My three year old would love these. My husband and I were just talking about needing to get my son involved with the computer. This would be great to have for him. Thanks! 😀

  31. Please enter me – my kids just “discovered” Bob the Builder and LOVE that show. Thanks!

  34. I’ve got two young boys who would love to play this. Thank you for the great contest!

  37. This would be awesome for my grandchildren for those rainy days when we can’t go outside. They all love Thomas and Bob!

  45. My 3 grandsons need all the DVD’s in English to take back to Madrid Spain where they live for 9 months!

  67. These look like fun games. The last few days my daughter has been obsessed with Bob the Builder!

  77. We LOVE Bob. What a great role model…even though he’s clay! Thanks for the great contest!

  84. I believe my son would faint…Lol 😛
    Thanks for the chance to WIN!!
    😀 😀 😀

  91. This would be so good for my 2 year old nephew. His mother is also pregnant so it would surely get some good use!
    Thanks so much!

  95. my neice and nephew would love to watch this! also my 2 yr old neighbor would enjoy, thanks for the giveaway

  99. My 5 year old loves bob the builder as well as thomas.He is introducing his little brother to them too.

  101. My nephews would love to play this game. For being four, Kaiden is very advanced for his age. Anything to keep his busy mind entertained would be great.

  105. After playing outside what better way to get the kids to relax and wind down before naps. Of course Thomas is a big hit around here.

  119. The skill development these games will facilitate appeals to me. 🙂 While Thomas is the biggest kid pleaser at our house, Bob the Builder is enjoyed too. Thanks for a fun, as well as educational, giveaway package!

  121. My 2 year old loves loves loves thomas!!!! And he has a birthday coming up in a month. He would actually give me a kiss for this one.

  124. Thanks for the contest. These would be great for my two little ones. They love Thomas and Bob. Actually my 2 yr old daughter calls Thomas, “Tommy Train” and my little boy just loves Bob the builder.

  130. These look like they will be good games. If my daughter’s outgrown them, her younger brother will definitely use them soon.

  131. These would make a great gift for my grandson.

    He loves Thomas and Bob the Builder.

    Thank you!

    janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com

  137. My kids love educational games that are fun! I know they will enjoy anything with Thomas and Bob!

  143. My toddle dosent have any computer games yet.He dose like to play fisher price games online.

  144. My son is just about to start his first year of school…this would be so nice for him since he likes bob the builder and thomas. Thanks!

  155. I would love to win this for my little boy. He loves both Thomas and Bob the Builder. Thanks for the chance to win.

  165. My 4 yo son loves both Thomas and Bob. He also loves computer games, so I have to enter this one. Here’s hoping!

  168. I think introducing children to the computer at a young age is crucial now, but just as crucial is what you use for that introduction. Thomas and Bob are perfect!

  173. My four year old grandson will be spending some time with us soon. I would love to have these to entertain him with!

  176. I want to win this badly for friend who has little boy who would LOVE this…and is so short on funds as a single mom…this would be so nice for him…thanks for great contest!

  177. My girls both love Thomas and BOB. My 3 year old needs to expand her computer skills a little. She loves playing on PBS kids and would love these games too. Thanks for the giveaway!

    kamlchap(at)gmail(dot)com

  179. My nephew would love these…. He loves to be big and play on the computer when is Mommy is doing her homework…….

  181. Our 2 year old, Julia Grace is just now getting into Thomas – she really likes the train whistles and to “dance” to the songs. 🙂

  183. I love Thomas and Bob…values I want to instill in my kids. Entertainment, without any violence (even cartoons overdo it!) and teach life lessons. Priceless!

  191. i happen to know three of the biggest bob the builder fans ever and oh by the way the LOVE thomas too.

  199. My first (and only?) grandchild is 15 months old and this would be great for him to use at Grandma’s house so that his mother doesn’t think we are corrupting her New Einstein with meaningless tv programs. 🙂

  207. My grandson’s favorite characters: Bob the Builder and Thomas the Train. He would be thrilled for grandma to win this!

  215. Thomas and Bob the Builder are really loved by our preschoolers. What a wonderful giveaway. Thank you.

  222. Bob and Thomas = Fun times for my preschooler!!! Please count us in for this great giveaway..thanks

  231. My daughter hasn’t discovered computer games yet, but I would love to show her with these. Thanks.

  235. My son would love these games. Of course, winning them would mean my I would have to share the computer with someone other than my wife, but that is fine with me.

  236. Please enter me. It won’t be long before Logan starts playing computer games!

  237. This would be graet for my pre-school daugbhter. We have just gotten on the computer a couple of times so far.

  239. My 4 year old son LOVES Thomas. Everytime I think he may be getting over it here his love comes rising back. SO I know that he, among others in the house, would love these games.

  244. I have two preschool age kids. These games would be PERFECT for them. They look great!

  246. I’ve got two pre-schoolers who LOVE LOVE LOVE Thomas and Bob … this would be a godsend to us!

  250. These games would be super, not only for my own little ones, but also for the preschoolers I teach! Yay!

  254. My boys LOVE Thomas and Bob! And we have no kid computer games so I’m sure they’d be thrilled to have this.

  255. We love Bob the builder and Thomas…This would be a great addition to my daughters computer!! Thank you!!

  257. My preschooler loves both Thomas and Bob so I’d better enter for him or I’ll be grounded!

  262. My preschooler would be in heaven with these!!! He too has to fight for computer time with his older brother so he would love to have these to use while big brother is at school!!!!

  265. My nephew loves Thomas and Bob…plus he’s three years old so this would be perfect for him!

  269. I have two boys, one a train fan and one a Bob fan. These would be perfect for them to start getting computer skills. I’ve held off on the whole “gaming” thing to this point, but I don’t want them to be totally clueless when they’re in school and doing computer related activities. (There are computers in the 5 year olds’ kindergarten classroom!)

  272. I love these prizes. My son is almost 5, but I know he would get a huge kick out them.

    I put the button on my sidebar this afternoon, by the way. Meant to do it earlier in the week, but time has gotten away from me.

  273. My son is a HUGE Bob and Thomas fan. These would really make his day! Please count us in for this wonderful giveaway. thanks

  276. We would love these here, since most of our computer games for kids are badly outdated. The button’s on my sidebar!

  277. with a soon to be preschooler, well actually a toddler, these would be great gifts!

    I have the button on my sidebar. thanks!

  278. This would be a fun and much needed addition to our ONE “sample” Veggie Tales CD we have. It’s time to start building our learning games library!

  279. ’bout sick of seeing me yet? lol of course my 4 year old would ADORE this package so i’m entering 😉

    :–) Nell

  280. My 2 1/2 yr old LOVES Thomas! This would be wonderful. I’m adding the button on my sidebar to enter all the contests!

  281. legacyofbrutalitysa{at}gmail.com

    My daughter is at the point where she wants to play with the computer, but really is having trouble getting the whole clicking thing down. I bet this would help a lot!

  282. My girls are getting bigger, but my sister has a toddler and another on-the-way. This would be great!

    roseinthemorning[at]comcast[dot]net

    Thanks for the fun giveaways!

  283. My 4-year-old son has recently discovered computer games, and I know he’d love these!

  287. I’m kind of embarrassed to say that even my 9 month old knows what a computer is and that Mommy plays on it so he tries to play on it too. I think teaching kids computer skills early is great. I’d love to watch Lucian play one of these instead of sit in front of the boob tube. 🙂

  292. I have a 2 y/o girl who loves both Thomas and Bob! This would be fantastic!

    Thanks for another fun gift!

  300. OH MY GOSH! Thomas is an Obsession in my house, LOL! DS would love to be able to play Thomas on the computer too. (he likes Bob too, but not quite as much as Thomas, LOL)

  301. My two boys both love playing games on the computer. They both love Thomas the Train and the oldest loves to play on ThomasandFriends.com . These games would be great for them.

  304. My little guy loves Thomas and Bob! Either of these would be a huge hit and much appreciated. Thanks for the contest!!

  305. I totally agree with this post. I have found these kinds of games to really help my 3 and 4 year old. We have recently found PBSKids.org to have some really educational games and fun.

    Jessica
    http://www.momshots.com
    stier-family.blogspot.com

  306. I’ve got a house full of soon to be preschoolers here… anything to entertain them during the heat of summer and cold of winter is golden!!