PC software for 4 year olds?

[Papa Deuce]

Looking for software that kets the kids move the mouse to do stuff without actaully having to coordinate clicking the mouse. They aren't quite 4 yet, so their motor skills aren't that highly developed.

I saw some one time where the kids just moused over some bubble to make them pop. They liked that.

My kids are fascinated by a computer but I haven't found software that they can actually use yet.

 

[LisaZoe]

I have a few for my DD, now 3 1/2. I'm amazed by how quickly she mastered the mouse - well mostly. We have a Dora the Explorer game, two JumpStart games (for toddlers) and a Reader Rabbit game. They do require some basic mouse coordination and clicking but nothing too fine - and none of the "double click" that sometimes is needed with other software for older users.

The games themselves often have different skill levels that can be set. The one from Reader Rabbit is supposed to be able to keep track of the user's progress and adjust the skill levels accordingly but I'm not sure it's working that way for us. It might be because DD has her own account on the PC with very limited access to making changes on the computer.

DD also really likes the websites for Nick Jr, Noggin, PBS Kids and Disney (of course). They all have different games and activities for kids her age. I created a web page that has the website icons on it that act as links to their sites. She now can launch IE (that web page is her "home"page) and go to whichever of those sites she wants. There are, of course, still some things that she needs Mom to help with but less and less each week.

 

[swilphil]

Our former babysitter had a Fisher Price Little People program that allowed them to click anywhere with the mouse and it would respond. My son loved the Reader Rabbit program when he was younger, but we had to help him with the mouse. Plus he really liked having us there to interact with him. Now that he's 4, I just set him up with the Word program and make the font very large and in a fun color. He likes to type the alphabet and his name. This really helped him learn his lowercase letters.

 

[laurie31]

My dd started playing with JumpStart Preschool when she was 3 - she loved it. You can buy a "kiddie" mouse that is easier to move and click if your dd's have trouble with the regular one.

There's also a game called BabyMash that allows them to bang away on the keyboard and cool shapes and colors appear. My kids are 6 and 8 and still like to do this sometimes

There are also some great Blue's Clues, Dora, and Pooh educational games out there.

Laurie

 

[piratesmate]

DD really liked the Putt-Putt games at that age. Even though the "main character" is a car, it seems to appeal to all preschoolers...boys and girls.

We liked them because the adventures involved thinking as well as being able to click on a random bush & have birds fly out. KWIM?

There was another series (can't remember who made them though) with titles like Millie's Math House, Sammy's Science House. These weren't adventures, but had a bunch of mini-games on various subjects. Very simple & age appropriate.

I think the Disney storybook titles might suit as well. If I remember correctly, you listen to the story being read & click to advance to the next page. On each page there were things you could click on & stuff would happen. I think at the end there are some mini-games as well.

Oh - and DD had a game about Barbie's House. I don't remember the title, but the whole thing was just go into a room & click on things to make stuff appear. I can't remember the title, but she had it when she was 3 or 4 & she's almost 14 now - so it might not be available anymore.

 

[wvrevy]

DD(4) plays on the computer almost as much as I do. We've got several of the Dora games, which were the first games we bought. Lately, she's been playing with some of the Disney princess games (Dress Up and such), and she's gotten proficient enough with the mouse that I created an icon on "her" desktop (Windows XP) for her to go out to Disney's site and play the games out there. Honestly, she just loves it, and I really do have to fight to get any time on the computer at all when I'm home...lol

 

[mtblujeans]

Looking for software that kets the kids move the mouse to do stuff without actaully having to coordinate clicking the mouse. They aren't quite 4 yet, so their motor skills aren't that highly developed.

I saw some one time where the kids just moused over some bubble to make them pop. They liked that.

My kids are fascinated by a computer but I haven't found software that they can actually use yet.

I gave my grandson Blue's Treasure Hunt (ages 3-6) and DD says he does well with it. He just turned 4. I have an extra copy if you want to PM me, I'll send it to you.

 

[oogieboogie]

PD, you'd be amazed at how fast kids pick up on using the mouse. My kids have been using a computer and mouse since they were 2. They do the Blues Clues software, Candyland games, the Jump Start series, thomas the tank engine, etc.

I've also bookmarked nickjr.com, pbskids, noggin.com so they can immediately go there and play the games there.

Now my 7yr old plays online games with his dad - he's into Everquest 2 right now and my 4yr old plays noggin.com games.