Educational Software

Reading is a fundamental skill. With good reading skills children will be better equipped to learn other subjects. With poor reading skills, other subjects like science and history and even math become harder to comprehend.

By using an education software game to improve reading skills, parents and teachers can give a child a stronger foundation for learning. Reading games are fun and less intimidating than printed books. Children feel that they are simply playing a game. The learning aspects are woven into the game in subtle ways. The games are ideal for children who may be struggling with reading skills, but they are also great for normal readers as a way to improve their skills.

The Learning Company offers a fun title, "Dr. Seuss Cat in the Hat" for only $9.95. It is designed for ages 3 to 7. The child follows along as the story is read. The game becomes interactive when objects are clicked with the mouse. This opens up games to play that reinforce the reading skills. Because different objects can be clicked each time, the game is fun to play over and over again. The activities are designed to teach these skills: word recognition, vocabulary, reading comprehension, spatial relationships and causal relationships.

For slightly older readers, "Clifford Reading" allows kids to join in the adventure as Clifford and Emily Elizabeth explore their neighborhood. As the game progresses the child earns reward tickets. When they reach six tickets they get a gift. The gift remains available each time they play the game.

The game is designed to teach skills of vocabulary, spelling, motor skills, phonics and word building, listening and word-object association. There are more than 100 reading lessons and 15 printable activities. The game can be adjusted to seven levels based on skills. Children can record their own voices as they read the stories.

Garfield is a popular cartoon character especially among children in the early grades. The "Reading and Phonics 3rd Grade" edition includes 25 reading and phonics activities that promote good reading skills. The game encourages the child to read aloud and practice pronunciation. Learning takes place as the child matches words, pictures and sounds. Multiple children can use the same computer because user information can be stored for each child.

Children who are hesitant to read from a book may feel more at ease with an online reading software program. The programs are interactive and the experience is more like a game. The experience is not threatening and doesn't feel like punishment for being a struggling reader.

Computers are a key part of our society. No matter what job or career a child chooses when they get older, computers will be involved in their lives. Newspapers and other information sources are published online. Computers are used for research as well as entertainment information. Allowing a child to become comfortable with a computer at an early age is an important step in their overall education. Computer educational games are not meant to take the place of traditional reading in books. Instead the computer can offer an alternative method. And any resource that gets children interesting in reading is a positive.