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10 +best games forSummer
Not many
children will want to hit the workbooks during summer vacation.
Happily, they can still learn as they play with "edutaining"
software programs and educational games. We've selected some outstanding programs that
are especially appropriate for reviewing concepts learned during
the school year, and for getting a head start on the school year
to come! What follows are our choices for the best summer "fun and
learning" games:
Just for Fun
1
Perfect for rainy days, Petz is a friendly virtual pets computer
game that kids love.
 What does it do?
Children choose petz from a variety of breeds of both cats and
dogs, care for them, play with them, and play mini-games.
Why do we recommend this
title? Pets don't die or grow old, and the software has
long-lasting appeal.
Who is it for? Best for children, ages 5 to 9, who love
free-play computer games.
See our full review
of Petz here.
[For more information, user
reviews, or to buy:
Petz: Dogz 5 and Catz 5 Compilation
at Amazon.com]
2
  A fabulous book that will keep children busy creating unique
artwork is Ed Emberley's Complete FunPrint Drawing Book, which
combines two of his popular books, Great Thumbprint Drawing
Book and Fingerprint Drawing Book.
What does it do?
This book offers whimsical suggestions of how to "dress up" simple
thumbprints and fingerprints, and turn them into one-of-a-kind
creations.
Why do we recommend this book? It offers open-ended
opportunities for children to create little masterpieces with very
little in the way of art tools.
Who is it for? Children ages 6-12.
Our rating of
the book: A+
[For more information,
user reviews, or to buy: Ed Emberley's Complete Funprint Drawing Book
at Amazon.com]
Logical Thinking
3 Chess
is certainly a brainy game, but it can also be great fun. If you
are interested in getting your kids interested in the game, Learn
to Play Chess with Fritz and Chesster will motivate children to
learn the rules of the game and offer them valuable interactive
lessons and tips at the same time. Kids who want to learn
even more about chess can also benefit from Learn to Play Chess
with Fritz and Chesster 2.
 What does it do?
Children progress through a series of mini-games that help them
get acquainted with the basic rules of the game of chess. Later,
they "work out" at the gym...the Intelligym, where they
participate in interactive chess lessons. Eventually, they get to
play complete games. Children gradually build logical thinking
skills as they learn to strategize and plan ahead.
Why do we recommend this
series? Both games in the series are unique programs for a few reasons:
rather than enduring dry lessons about the game of chess, kids
take part in a charming animated adventure story (the goal is to
beat the dastardly King Black in a chess "duel"), the
games and mini-games are clever, and the games progress in a
logical, organized fashion so that kids aren't expected to learn
too much at once.
Who is it for? Children ages
8-9 through 12. The game is, at times, slow-moving--some children
might become impatient with the pace, especially those who already
know the rules of the game.
See our review of the Learn to Play Chess with Fritz and
Chesster here
and our review of Learn to Play Chess with Fritz and Chesster 2
here.
[For more information, user
reviews, or to buy: Learn to Play Chess with Fritz and Chesster
or
Learn to Play Chess with Fritz and Chesster 2: Chess in the Black Castle
at Amazon.com]
4 The I Spy series of CD-ROMs
simply gets better and better. One of the more recent
releases is
fantastic. The
trademark I Spy riddles and lush images come alive in I Spy
CD-ROMs, and I Spy Fantasy is
jam-packed with things to do and to see. Fortunately, the game is
as rich in educational value as it is rich with visual
stimuli.
 Replay value is high because of the fact that there
are three levels to the game. Completing the game the first time
takes many hours for most kids. Most will find the game compelling
enough that it begs to be played on the second and third level.
Gorgeous screens, pleasingly stumping riddles, and rich replayable
content set I Spy Fantasy apart. Highly recommended!
Who is this
game for? The box reads ages 6-10. Many six year olds will find
the game a little too difficult to complete on their own. This
game is best for children ages 8-10, especially those who enjoy
solving riddles and problems.
Our Rating:
A+
See our full
review of the game here
and a screenshot gallery here.
[For more information, user
reviews, or to buy: I Spy Fantasy
at Amazon.com]
5 The
Incredible Machine Even More Contraptions
is a classic software game that is now offered in Hoyle Puzzle
& Board Games 2005.
What does it do?
Incredible Machine Even
More Contraptions
features 250
 new puzzles, taking the form of mind-bending
contraption challenges. It is an addictive game of trial-and-error
as players work through zany puzzles that become progressively
more involving as levels advance. This game is now available in
Hoyle Puzzle Games 2003, along with a wide assortment of fun
puzzles, such as word games, tiles, and arcade-style solitaire.
Why do we recommend this
title? With pleasing
graphics, and the option to play head-to-head, this title is a
must-buy for puzzle lovers ages 9 through adult. It
makes an extra special gift for all those kids (and adults) who
love to tinker.
Who is it for? Children
ages 9 through adult, especially those who like to work their
brains and solve visual problems.
See our full
review of this excellent software here,
and our screenshot gallery of the
game here.
Our rating of
the game: A
[For more information,
user reviews, or to buy: Hoyle Puzzle & Board Games 2005
at Amazon.com]
Uniquely Fun & Educational 6
Apples
to Apples Junior
Apples to Apples Junior! is based
on the party game, Apples to Apples, but it is designed to be
enjoyed by children as young as 7. This game is oh so funny and
very educational.
 The
box simply consists of cards & red apple cards and green apple
cards in a tray. Players are dealt 5 red apple cards each.
These cards each feature a word (such as "ants",
"grocery store", or "my hair") along with a
definition. The player who has been chosen as "the
Judge" draws a green apple card. The green cards feature a
descriptive word (such as "spooky",
"important", "large", or "funny")
with synonyms of the word. The other players then look at their
concealed red cards and attempt to find the card in their hand
that BEST fits with the green card word. For example, if the green
card word is "large" and a player has a hand with the
words "ants", "the first day of school",
"pajamas", "grocery store", and "my
hair", then he/she might decide to play the card
"grocery store" as one that best fits the word
"large". Each player selects a card, lays it in front of
them, and then the judge mixes up the played cards and makes a
"judgment" on which card is the best fit. The beauty of
the game is that the decision is at the discretion of the judge!
Kids
really laugh through the game and they learn vocabulary
words and associations at the same time. This is a hilarious
thinking game. Note that the nature of the game means that it
can't be played by just two kids. It's a party game! In fact, Apples
to Apples Junior is just wonderful for promoting social interactions. It's a
almost as fun to watch as it is to play. (Parents will
love watching kids giggle, negotiate, and associate!)
[For more information, user
reviews, or to buy: Apples to Apples Junior
at Amazon.com]
7
  Cosmic Blobs: Lab Rat Edition is an entirely unique 3D
graphics software designed for kids. Children work with 3D shapes
("blobs") by stretching, shifting, molding, merging, gluing, and
animating them. It's not unlike working with modeling clay, except
kids are developing computer and graphics skills as they "play".
Why do we recommend this
title? Cosmic Blobs offers kids a one-of-a-kind computer
experience that is not only fun, it's educational.
Who is it for? Best for children who enjoy creativity
games on the computer, ages 8-9 and up.
[For more information, user
reviews, or to buy:
Cosmic Blobs: Lab Rat Edition
at Amazon.com]
8 For preschoolers, Blue's Room: Blue Talks
is a nice, well-rounded title that will keep little ones busy.
 Why do we recommend this
title? The activities in the game are enjoyable and quite
original. Children and their parents will be floored by the
graphics--they're irresistible. You won't find your standard
preschool fare here (no ABC's and 123's), but you will find some
engaging games that are far from run-of-the-mill. More of them
would have been even better.
Who is it for? Best for children who are fans of the
Blue's Room television show, ages 3 to 5.
See our review
of the game here.
[For more information, user
reviews, or to buy:
Blue's Room: Blue Talks
at Amazon.com]
Math & Science 9 Achieve! Math & Science
Grades 1-3 bundles a number of titles together to create one
very educational package for children on the younger end of the
suggested age group.
What does it do?
Two math titles, Mighty Math Carnival Countdown and Mighty Math
Zoo Zillions, offer a range of unique activities that exercise
children's early math skills. Children learn money math, 3D
geometry, addition, subtraction, place value, and more with these
titles. Sammy's Science House offers a nice exploration of early
science concepts like weather, animals, and seasons. The fourth
title, Thinkin' Things Fripple Town is a wonderful exercise in
both art and logic.
Why do we recommend this
title? Children explore math and science concepts in ways
that stretch their thinking and offer them a chance to truly
understand the concepts, rather than learning only by rote.
Who is it for? Best for
first and second graders who prefer open-ended games to fast-paced
arcade or adventure programs.
[For more information, user
reviews, or to buy:
Achieve! Math & Science Grades 1-3
at Amazon.com]
10
Math & Science
Excelerator Grades 3-6 bundles 4 excellent software programs:
two Geosafari CD-ROMs for math, and two Mango Plumo titles for
science. Lots of skills practice and concepts to learn.
What does it do?
The two math titles are based on the Geosafari Knowledge Pad
electronic toy. These programs offer math quizzes that feature
bright graphics and a scoring format. Decimals, percentages,
number lines, fractions, multiplication, and division are the
games' focus. The Mango Plumo titles star a perky little bird and
feature adventure formats with creative and unique science lessons
about weather and space.
Why do we recommend this
title? Lots of learning and variety is packed into this
bundle. The science lessons are quite unique and offer useful
information. The math quizzes are actually quite fun to complete
and feature lots of variety.
Who is it for? Best for
children at a third to fifth grade level.
[For more information, user
reviews, or to buy:
Educator's Choice Math and Science...
at Amazon.com]
11  Math
Missions Grades 3-5: The Amazing Arcade Adventure is an excellent program for
a variety of math exercises within the context of an adventure.
What does it do?
Children attempt to rebuild a city by helping out store clerks who
are not very adept at math. Kids
earn money by playing a variety of activities found in the city.
Kids do real-world math problems in graphing, fractions, rounding
off, percentages, and more--and they work towards owning and
managing an arcade.
Why do we recommend this
title? This CD-ROM strikes an excellent balance between fun
and learning.
Who is it for? Three
difficulty levels are intended to cover third to fifth grade math. The
program is likely to be too challenging for children just entering
third grade, and is therefore best for children working at a
4th-5th grade level.
See our full
review of this excellent software here,
and our screenshot gallery of the
game here.
Our rating of
the game: A+
[For more information,
user reviews, or to buy: Math Mission 3-5 With Bonus Card Game (3rd - 5th Grade) (DVD Box)
at Amazon.com]
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