Review & Giveaway: JumpStart Computer Game & Workbook

William, a computer game lover, was thrilled when I recently had the opportunity to review a copy of JumpStart Preschool: Classic Version computer game and JumpStart Pre-K Word Games workbook.

JumpStart Preschool: Classic Version is a CD-ROM computer game designed for ages 2-4. The game is modeled around a preschool classroom where the "student" clicks on items in the classroom and is taken to various games related to that item.

Here's how my kids did after playing the game a couple of times:

• Will, age 5, easily negotiated the mouse and game. The games offered little challenge to him but did keep him entertained.

• Ben, age 4, is still learning to use a computer and mouse. With a little assistance from big brother Will, he managed to figure it all out and especially liked the puzzle game where he had to select and move a puzzle piece into position. (Ben LOVES puzzles and is very skilled at them.)

• Ellie, age 2, couldn't quite figure out the mouse and the games. She liked watching her brothers play but needed quite a bit of assistance with just maneuvering through the game. Also, she couldn't quite grasp the virtual concepts though she easily understands many of them in real life.
  

As thrilled as Will was about the computer game, Ben was excited about the JumpStart Pre-K Word Games workbook.

The workbook covers five skills: opposites, positional words, sight words, matching, and beginning sounds and letters. A set of stickers is also included for incentive awards.

Ben and I are half-way through the second section. He has easily completed each task, (note for moms - they do require me to read everything to him). However, I'm not convinced this shows he has mastered the skills.

Here's why. Much of what we've done has required drawing a line from one item to a corresponding item. For example, drawing a line from a bicycle with flat tires (broken) to a bicycle with full tires (fixed).

Ben had no problem doing this but when I asked why he matched them, he said it was because they were both bicycles (the other 3 pairs of opposites were represented by completely different images). He was supposed to be matching pairs of opposite words. I think using the same image (a bicycle) to represent all of the words would have been a better approach for this skill.

So, what do I think about these two products?

If you are looking for a computer game to entertain your child and develop a few skills, I recommend you consider JumpStart Preschool: Classic.

If you are looking for a preschool workbook to develop academic skills, I suggest you skip JumpStart Pre-K Word Games (I have NOT reviewed their other workbooks so this is not a blanket opinion of all their workbook products).

Now, on to the exciting part. I have a copy of JumpStart Preschool: Classic to give away!

1. Leave a comment on this post and you will be entered in the drawing.
2. Be sure to include your email address with the comment or I will have no way to notify you when you win.
3. For extra entries tweet about the giveaway on Twitter then come back and leave a comment saying you tweeted.
4. This giveaway is open to US and Canada shipping addresses.
5. The winner will have 3 days to respond to my email notification or they will forfeit and another winner will be drawn.
   

Giveaway will close Thursday, April 2.