Educational Software

In some ways downloadable software is an indication of our must-have-it-right-now attitude. But in other ways having a website with downloadable software is a great thing. Instead of driving from store to store, looking for a specific title, you can simply browse websites and find plenty of titles and compare prices.

Downloading software is also very beneficial for people who don't live near a retail area with a software seller. It is certainly helpful for people with limited mobility who may not have access to a vehicle or public transportation. And with vast improvements in online safety, making purchases with a credit card and downloading a setup file is much more comfortable for most people.

In the area of educational software, there are quite a few options for downloading. One company that offers downloads of educational software for children is Flix Productions. There software is compatible with all versions in Windows, including the latest, Vista. However they do not offer software for Mac computers.

Even though you feel secure in making an online purchase and downloading the setup file, you may wonder if a particular software program is right for your child. Flix Production has a very convenient evaluation version for nearly all of their titles. And unlike many trial versions of software, there is not a time limit on the evaluation version. It isn't as robust on features as the full version, but you will be able to take your time and judge whether or not to purchase the full version.

As with any addition of software to your computer, you should be aware of how much space it will require. You can uninstall a program when you no longer need it. But since you will not have a CD for the software, you cannot install it on a different computer or share it with friends and family.

A recent visit to Flix Production's website found these titles for download: Animated States and Capitals is available for $18.00. It teaches the names and locations of states and capitals and rewards successful answers with fun animation.

Animated Beginning Phonics is designed for pre-Kindergarten through 2nd grade. The software focuses on upper and lower case letters, beginning and ending sounds, vowel sounds and the early stages of reading complete words. It is available for download for $22.00.

Even something as fundamental as coloring can be translated into a fun, learning software. Animated Coloring is $15.00 and offers a staggering selection of more than 1000 colors. This is great way to learn and experiment with colors. The software adds a high-tech feature with sounds and animation.

Animated Math is also $15.00. It uses rewards and graphics to teach counting, addition and subtraction. The focus is for younger learners with the number range from 0 to 9. After answering ten questions correctly, the child is rewarded with a visit to the game room section of the software.

Some companies even have free software available for download. KidwareSoftware.com offers several free titles. From the website, you simply download a zip file. Then open the file and run the setup program.

Match Maker is a free download at KidwareSoftware.com. It is a basic match game where the child matches letters, numbers, colors, shapes and objects. The software has a print option which will allow the child to play without the computer - a great area for long trips in the car.