b I) RO

Finding the best software for your children can be
a confusing project. These suggestions can guide you along the way.

FRANCINE KAPLAN SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

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emember when your limited environment presented
fourth-grade social-stud- by the closed interaction between
ies book predicted that child and computer also does
by the year 2000, rubber nothing to enhance the experi-
cars would move along ence.
computer controlled high-
With the speed that develop-
ways making automobile ers are churning out new pro-
accidents a thing of the grams, however, these problems
past? Those pages also are already being addressed.
had us dreaming about Even the critics say that if the
robots that did all the housework software is carefully chosen and
and an end to the common cold. properly used, it can be helpful.
Although some predictions were
A first step in the selection
a bit far-fetched, others, like the process is to start reading re-
home computer, were right on views. Local newspapers, Fami-
target. Computers are on the ly PC and Home PC magazines
verge of becoming essential home and newsletters like Children's
equipment and parents every- Software and Children's Software
where sense how influential this Revue can provide impartial in-
technology will be in the lives of formation on current software.
their children.
Eric McNulty, marketing man-
Many have already taken the ager of educational toy retailer
plunge and have a computer at Learningsmith, says, "Use these
home for their kids to use, while reviewers like you would a movie
others are contemplating mak- or theater critic. Learn their per-
ing their move. Once the com- sonal biases and see which ones
puter is in place, the next hurdle you agree with most often. Once
is to start choosing software. CD- you find a reviewer that you are
ROM technology is highly touted compatible with, you'll know who
and some of the best programs to rely on."
available for children come in this
Knowing your hardware is an-
format. However, at approxi- other important checkpoint. "Our
mately $50 a pop, you want to be No. 1 reason for software returns
choosy.
is that the hardware require-
Edutainment is the category ments have not been carefully
most of the early learning CD- considered and there are incom-
ROM programs fall into. A blend- patibilities," says Jenni Cooper,
ed compound of education and marketing manager for the Edu-
entertainment, it's the realiza- tainment Catalog. Look for sys-
tion of making learning a pain- tem requirements on outside of
less experience through packaging or in the documenta-
animation, color and sound.
tion (tech talk for instructions).
There are, of course, the Information you need to know in-
naysayers. Some educational re- cludes the speed of your proces-
searchers feel that edutainment sor, the transfer rate or speed of
learning programs rob children the CD-ROM unit, how much
of their creativity. They believe RAM you have, how much free
the repetition and lack of prob- space is on your hard disk, the
lem solving exercises do not number of colors your monitor
broaden a child's horizons. The CD-ROM page G58