FREE ESSAY ON EDUCATIONAL SOFTWARE REVIEWS

EDUCATIONAL SOFTWARE REVIEWS

Software Titles reviewed here:
1) Elmo's Computer Phone
2) CD-ROM Suitcase
3) BusyTown Best Christmas Ever
Elmo's Computer Phone
Ages: 12 months - 3 years
Price: $79.95
Distributor: Hilad 02 9700 9377
Publisher: Comfy Interactive
Requirements: 486 DX, Win 95, 8 MB RAM, 4 X CD-ROM
Rating: lllll
Along with the Comfy keyboard this product is definitely the best tool to introduce
children under three and a half years, to the joy of playing on a computer. It's also
great for and all preschoolers who have not yet mastered mouse control.
Using it is easy, you simply plug the phone in and move your keyboard to the side. The
child operates the game displayed on the computer screen, by pressing buttons on the
phone and listening to sound from the ear-piece and speaker. If you wish, the child can
play using sound from the ear-piece only. This has the added advantage of reducing
household noise.
The game offers hours of enjoyable play for preschoolers and encourages them to recognize
shapes, sounds, objects, colours, and body parts. They can play peek-a-boo, sing along
and join Big Bird and Elmo in the activities they present.
CD-ROM Suitcase
Pic: BusyTo.bmp
Ages: 3-7 years
Price: $69.95 
Distributor: Hilad 02 9700 9377
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Requirements: 486 DX, Win 95, 8 MB RAM, 4 X CD-ROM
Macintosh: Power mac, System 7.1, 8 MB RAM, 4 X CD-ROM
Rating: lllll
Another bargain! This CD-ROM Suitcase from Simon and Schuster, contains 12 CD-ROMS for
kids aged 3-7 years. Though these are older titles, there are enough top quality ones
included to deliver top value for money.
The disks include Richard Scarry's Busytown, How things Work in Busytown, How Many Bugs
in a Box, More Bugs in Boxes, Alistair and the Alien Invasion, Earth 2U, Exploring
Geography, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, My Favourite Monster, Mooky Takes Manhattan,
MacMillan Dictionary for Children and Road Construction Ahead. The most inappropriate
game for Australia Money Town, features, US money. 
The other titles are of international interest however. Busytown for example giving kids
practice in adding, subtracting, measuring, counting, patern matching, problem solving
and early reading skills.
Similarly 'How Things Work in Busytown' features eight activities that enable players to
practice word recognition, vocabulary, pattern recognition, sequencing, community roles,
problem solving, colour and counting skills in Busytown.
3) BusyTown Best Christmas Ever
Pic: BestXmas.bmp
Ages: 3-7 years
Price: $49.95 
Distributor: Hilad 02 9700 9377
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Requirements: Pentium 90, Win 95, 16 MB RAM, 4 X CD-ROM
Macintosh: Power mac, System 7.1, 8 MB RAM, 4 X CD-ROM
Rating: lll
A latest release in the Busytown series based on the best-selling books by Richard
Scarry, 'Busytown Best Christmas Ever', features a snow-covered Busytown for young
players to explore. You join Huckle and Lowly to cut down and trim the Christmas tree,
decorate the gingerbread, take a trip with Santa on his flying sleigh, and help Santa
Bear finish all the toys.
At the card shop you can make real Christmas ornaments, cards and gift tags. Click the
shape you want to decorate and select designs and greetings by clicking the arrows, then
dragging the designs onto the card, ornament of tag. You then print your creation and
fold the paper in half to achieve a three dimensional effect.
At the gift shop you can pick a story for Father Cat to read to you and on Christmas
morning you help Huckle and Lowly give out the presents that Santa has left under the
tree.