Educational Software

Parents and educators want to provide the best possible tools for learning to their children, but most do not have unlimited financial resources. That's where discounted educational software can really help.

Most companies will offer discounts on slightly older editions of the software. The programs that were first releases a year or two ago are still perfectly good to purchase and use. The educational skills are the same and as long as the software isn't too old, it will still work on the latest versions of Windows.

Major companies like Amazon.com devote a portion of their website to resellers who offer used software. In most cases the service level of these resellers is just as high as that provided by Amazon. To learn more about the reseller, check out the ratings and reviews that are posted.

Other companies offer new software at discounted rates. It may be that the software title is a little older and a new version is already out. Or in some cases the company may have purchased a large supply of the item and got them at a lower price.

A recent review of SmartKidsSoftware.com reveals an entire section of specials that were priced at $5 or less. The items originally retailed for as much as $30. Other online sources also have areas listing discounted items. This is a great way to purchase educational software. While some software may be from lesser known sources, others listed will be well-known companies and characters. The following were among the $5 or less items on SmartKidsSoftware.com.

Adventure.com USA: For both PC and Mac computers, this software allows users to explore American culture and create their own adventures. The software is Internet enabled, meaning that certain features will link to websites for additional information.

Big Thinkers: This software is available in both a Kindergarten and 1st Grade version. With the Kindergarten edition, the comic-book style of bright colors and exaggerated characters combine for a silly series of exercises. The laughter is really learning with focus on alphabet skills, reading, counting, spelling, understanding sequence and spatial relationships. The consistent message is that it is really cool to be smart.

The 1st Grade edition of Big Thinkers continues with the same characters and the strong reward system. Every accomplishment is acknowledged. The reading level is increased with the focus on nouns and verbs. The math addresses fractions. Geography and directions as well as thinking skills are woven into the fun, often silly games. The goal is to keep kids laughing so that learning is fun.

Busytown is part of The Busy World of Richard Scarry, a children's program on Nick TV. The characters will be familiar to children who watch the show and the education software will become an interactive extension of the television program. The learning skills in Busytown include: adding and subtracting, measuring, counting, pattern matching, reading and problem solving.

Another well-known character found in the discount section is Carmen Sandiego Word Detective. The word puzzles, games and stories keep the focus on spelling, grammar and vocabulary. The software can even be customized by adding in relevant spelling lists. This can be a big help with young students because they can play and learn with their actual homework.