Educational Software

Educational Software for children covers almost as wide a range as general educational software. Children tend to be the primary audience for this product, and over the past fifteen or twenty years a huge amount of software has been produced. Not all of it, of course, is useful or relevant for your child.

So how do you narrow down the universe of educational software to something that's not only beneficial, but that your child will use? Start asking questions like: „h What age group will this be for? Most educational software programs have a suggested age range, for instance, ages 5-8. However, you know your child better, and what levels he or she is at in various subjects. If your child is a great reader but struggles in math, the suggested age ranges for the math program might need to be a little lower, at least until your child catches up.

„h Has your child already used educational software? If so, what type of activity or interaction did he or she enjoy most? Some children like lots of icons, movement, and color. Others prefer "quest" games, where they have to solve a puzzle. If your child has shown a preference for a specific type of software, try to find something along that line.

„h Will this software be used on its own, or in conjunction with other teaching aids? A piece of software that will be used without books, worksheets, reference aids, or other support devices will need to be more robust, because it will need to provide some of those references. If you as a parent or teacher will be there to help, or there are auxiliary teaching aids to go with the software, it's generally okay that the software doesn't cover everything.

If you've selected a good piece of software, your child will be engaged, will interact with the program, and will learn. Just realize that if the software is doing its job, it won't last forever. Your child will learn and progress, and at some point outgrow the program.

Consider the complexity and demands of the software program, as well. Software for a younger child generally needs to be simple, focusing on one subject area and providing quick rewards. Short spelling and math games, and social studies programs with lots of sound and graphics are good choices.

A high-school student, though, probably won¡¦t feel challenged by something like that. At the very least they won¡¦t see it as fun. They¡¦re more likely to call it ¡¥dumb¡¦. Older children need more complicated programs that tie several concepts together. Luckily, their attention spans are longer and they will work through a longer learning path to reach their goal.

The most important part of selecting software for children is in the preparation and planning. Ask questions and do your research, and you¡¦ll end up with a software program that will keep your child entertained and learning at the same time.