hen
you're looking to add some variety to your children's software
collection, but hesitant about spending too much money, software
bundles may be the answer. Though most contain older titles, many
bundles are very worthwhile.
We've helped make bargain software hunting a little easier with the following selections of topnotch software bundles that will boost your kids' software library without slimming your wallet.
Fisher
Price Little People Discovery Games
This software package contains a bundle of three fantastic games for toddlers and young preschoolers--it's outstanding! Three full CD-ROMs are included, and star the Little People that most kids know and love in toy form. Simple navigation and clever activities introduce young children to the computer and to basic concepts like numbers and shapes. Excellent deal!
[For more information, user reviews, or to buy: Fisher Price: Little People Discovery Games 3 Disk Compilation at Amazon.com (affiliate link)]
Two
of the three CD-ROMs bundled in Disney Learning Toddler
introduce children to basic concepts, like shapes and colors, in
errorless, clever, and fun environments. We love both Winnie
the Pooh Toddler (pictured at left) and Mickey Mouse Toddler—both
make wonderful "lapware" software for parents and their
young children to enjoy together. The third CD-ROM, Rolie Polie
Olie The Search for Spot, is misplaced since even our 5 and 6
year old testers had trouble figuring out what to do in the game.
However, families will enjoy the bundle as a whole.
[For more information, user reviews, or to buy: Toddler Bundle (Pooh Toddler, Mickey Toddler, and Book of Pooh) at Amazon.com (affiliate link)]
Top Pick.
Adventure Workshop Mix 6, Preschool - 1st Grade (PC & Mac)
includes Reader Rabbit Reading, Kid Pix Deluxe 3, Star Flyers
Alien Space Chase, and Arthur's Schoolhouse.
The fun and educational StarFlyers
Alien Space Chase is a title that involves children in an outer
space adventure requiring logical thinking to save the day.
Kid Pix Deluxe 3 is a time-honored creativity program.
[For more information, user reviews, or to buy: Adventure Workshop Mix 6, Preschool - 1st Grade (PC & Mac) at Amazon.com (affiliate link)]
Games
for Girls (3rd Edition) includes 4 just-for-fun software
games. Our take on the games: None of the games stand out as
particularly special, but the package is a good deal and generally
enjoyable. Dora the Explorer Backpack Adventure is fun but not as
good as the latest Dora game (Dora
Fairytale Adventures). Strawberry Shortcake (see our review)
is a graphically-pleasing title that is not quite
"sweet" enough (we gave it a rating of "C").
Disney Princess Fashion Boutique is a simple creativity program.
In it, parents can add a real photo of their child's face that can
be placed on a 3D model of a princess, and then dressed up. Kids
follow three Disney Princesses (Cinderella, Snow White, and
Sleeping Beauty) to different "enchanted worlds" where
they collect new designs and other surprises. The fourth CD is
Care Bears, which we have not yet reviewed.
[For more information, user reviews, or to buy: Games Just For Girls 3 at Amazon.com (affiliate link)]
Disney
Learning Preschool
includes Winnie the Pooh
Preschool, Mickey Mouse
Preschool (pictured at right), and Stanley Tiger Tales. All three
titles are solid programs, but our favorites are WTP Preschool,
which takes kids through most of the preschool basics (and even
French/Spanish!) in a fun environment (younger preschoolers might
need some direction, but it is worth the effort), and Stanley
Wild For Sharks, with its playful adventure that offers sporadic
and fun educational opportunities in a vibrant and exciting
context. The latter stays true to the
offbeat Playhouse Disney Stanley television series. Great value for the money with
this bundle!
[For more information, user reviews, or to buy: Disney Preschool Bundle (Pooh Pre-School, Mickey Pre-School, and Stanley Wild for Sharks) at Amazon.com]
Disney
Learning Kindergarten
bundles three previously released titles: Winnie the Pooh
Kindergarten includes lessons in basic math, music
composition, basic Spanish and/or French vocabulary, sentence
structure, and more. Mickey Mouse Kindergarten is a cute
program in which children follow Mickey Mouse who is acting as a
reporter in the big city. Children work with patterning, telling
time, early geometry, sentence structure, problem solving, and
more. Although there is a distinct story line in the game,
children essentially explore activities in a free-play format. The
third CD-ROM is Disney’s Phonics Quest, pictured at left. This title
presents a series of very sound educational activities that are
multi-level and quite extensive, many of which are quite clever.
The only down side of this program is that it quickly becomes
repetitive and can easily tire children with short attention
spans. As a whole, this bundle offers variety and plenty of skills
practice for young children.
[For more information, user reviews, or to buy: Kindergarten Bundle (Pooh Kindergarten, Mickey Kindergarten, and Phonics Quest) at Amazon.com]
Top Pick. Adventure Workshop Mix 6 ,1st Grade - 3rd Grade (PC & Mac) includes SpongeBob SquarePants Typing, Zoombinis Island Odyssey (see our review), ClueFinders Adventures, and Reader Rabbit Math. Four previously released full software programs are included in this package.
[For more information, user reviews, or to buy: Adventure Workshop Mix 6 ,1st Grade - 3rd Grade (PC & Mac) for only $19.99 US at Amazon.com (affiliate link)]
Disney
Learning 1st & 2nd Grade
is an excellent bundle. Included in the bundle is Disney-Pixar
Buzz Lightyear 1st Grade, an educational playground that
addresses a variety of skills learned in first grade, and Disney’s
Learning Adventure: Search for the Secret Keys—a little gem
of a game that has kids helping Mickey Mouse, Goofy, Donald Duck,
and friends find keys so they can get themselves out of a haunted
house. The twist here is that the games are really clever and the
ghosts are not only friendly, they offer tutorials to kids who are
struggling with an educational concept! Search for the Secret
Keys made our Best
Children's Software of 2002 list. The third title is Disney's
Aladdin Reading Quest--excellent for developing early
elementary reading skills. This bundle is highly
recommended.
[For more information, user reviews, or to buy: Disney's 1st & 2nd Grade Bundle (Pixar 1st Grade, Secret Keys, and Aladdin Reading Quest) at Amazon.com (affiliate link)]
Kids enamored with Humongous adventure games (which child isn't?) will appreciate these bundles. Pajama Sam Experience bundles an exceptional adventure game, Pajama Sam No Need to Hide When It's Dark Outside with a Pajama Sam creativity center and an arcade game starring this favorite and endearing software character. All titles will charm kids, and the adventure is best for children approximately 7 and up.
Top
Pick in Adventure Games
Top Pick Four full CD-ROMs are included in
this bundle. In
Adventure Workshop 4th-6th Grade 6th Edition,
you'll find
includes Liberty's Kids (a history game that plunks kids right
back into the American Revolution), Where in the USA is Carmen San Diego, ClueFinders Adventures, and The Oregon Trail
(a classic simulation software).
[For more information, user reviews, or to buy: Adventure Workshop 4th-6th Grade 6th Edition for only $19.99 US at Amazon.com (affiliate link)]