Download/HomepageThe other day I noticed a program that wanted reviewing, that was for 3
year olds. I was fascinated; a three year old playing on the computer. I find it hard to
believe that 3 year olds can do this math; which proves that your child should receive his
or her first mouse no later than the first birthday. Might as well allow your child to
charge into the new millennium, with every advantage they can get. Kids have those
wonderful 'dry and oh so absorbent sponge minds'; when you catch them young, snare their
attention, and establish a desire for knowledge, they almost seem to start to pick up
knowledge through their skin also. Sure would be interesting to find H.G.'s time machine,
hop forward a couple hundred years and see what this generation of 'infant computer nerds'
will discover.
Penny is a talking, animated penguin who teaches your child to add, subtract, divide and
multiply. The shareware version is only addition, 0-18; registering adds up to
multiplication tables 1-12. The game card only looks like a bingo card, the numbers are
randomly placed, which allows for strategy. Of course, the first to bingo is the winner.
So the numbers, lets say 2+3 appear; with no timer, you're free to find all the 5's and
see one would be better, if you don't have a 5, then you pass. If the child makes a
mistake, or tries to pass when they have a valid number, Penny gently corrects them, after
6 corrections, Penny will give the right answer, and wait till they find a match for
2+3=5. You can play against Penny or a friend.
For you mom's, when the program is closed, there are several screens telling you of other
games, what they deal with, educational levels, where to order, and letting you know about
some of the people that spend all their lives awakening young minds. I couldn't believe
this when I saw it on the sheet, so I had to try it, even though obviously, I don't have
preschoolers, but I do have a young niece, and nephew, and I'll bet they will love this.
Then will come the day; and it WILL come; when after several hours of wrestling with a pc
or software glitch, when your hair starts to stand up straight, and you are ready to
SCREAM; a 21/2 foot tall, treble voiced little fiend will bounce off your knee, and pipe,
"I can fix it, mommy".....and they fix it perfectly right-on the first
try-without even looking at the help file!
Try not to cry, junior might not understand.
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