pcolby@robbie.prime.com (Peter Colby) (09/23/88)
I am looking for educational software suitable for curious 3 year olds (yes,
more than one). A few weeks ago one of my boys came runnig upstairs crying
"Mommy, mommy, the 'puter scared me." It turned out that he had been fooling
around on my desk and had turned the mac on by mistake. So, after much
discussion we have decided that all the children should at least learn how
to properly use the machine and therefor my request.
I'm interested in almost anything, programs, hypercard stacks; commercial,
shareware, public domain. Please mail any info to me and of course I'll
summarize to the net.
Thanks, Peter Colby
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CSNET: pcolby@robbie.prime.com |||jlc@atux01.UUCP (J. Collymore) (09/29/88)
In article <222@cvbnet2.UUCP>, pcolby@robbie.prime.com (Peter Colby) writes: > I am looking for educational software suitable for curious 3 year olds (yes, > more than one). A few weeks ago one of my boys came runnig upstairs crying > "Mommy, mommy, the 'puter scared me." It turned out that he had been fooling > around on my desk and had turned the mac on by mistake. So, after much > discussion we have decided that all the children should at least learn how > to properly use the machine and therefor my request. > > I'm interested in almost anything, programs, hypercard stacks; commercial, > shareware, public domain. Please mail any info to me and of course I'll > summarize to the net. > > Thanks, Peter Colby Peter (and all other interested parties): There is a company called: "Nordic Software" that does make educational software for all age groups (even as young as 3 years old). I got a brochure from them several months ago, but unfortunately I threw it out. If anyone else knows of this company, maybe they can post the address and phone number to the net. If not, you can look through the advertisers' index in the back of an old MacUser magazine and see if it's listed there. Failing that, you could try calling MacUser (or MacWorld) and ask their staff if they have any info on this company. I hope this will help steer you (and all others with Macs and small children) in the right direction. Jim Collymore
ech@poseidon.UUCP (Edward C Horvath) (10/04/88)
In article <222@cvbnet2.UUCP>, pcolby@robbie.prime.com (Peter Colby) writes: > I am looking for educational software suitable for curious 3 year olds (yes, > more than one)...[the computer scared him]... The BONG when the sucker goes on would startle ANYONE who wasn't expecting it. I am convinced that there is no such thing as "educational" software. There is "drillware," of course, and that can be useful, but kids need -- and can use -- the same tools you do. My eldest, now nine, uses FullWrite to compose her plays and short stories. She needs the spell checker, thesaurus, cut&paste, and graphic sidebars at least as much as I do, and she's WRITING. She -- and my 70-year-old father -- are using HyperCard to learn Mac programming. Consider a twenty-minute session with MacPaint. My daughters have been using the Mac since it came home (they were 5 and 3 respectively) and my son has used it since he could crawl over and cajole his way into someone's lap. Don't be a chauvinist. No, I don't "push" my kids, but I had to get a Mac II for myself so I wouldn't have to fight them for the mouse (surely the lamest excuse, but what works...). MacPaint is well within the capability of a three-year-old. Let your child turn on the machine (yes, it always bongs) insert a floppy. Start MacPaint, play with it a bit, then get out of the way -- make yourself available as a consultant. Help with things like eyes (easy with the ellipse tool) and use the lasso to make the duplicate eye. Kids master the mouse in under two minutes, and the first time use the tool palette they snap to the fact that you have a "toybox" over there -- they'll go explore the palettes on their own, just to see what each thing does. The paint bucket is always a big hit. Menus are a bit tougher, but even young kids soon recognize the commands they want -- Print always makes a big impression -- and their natural curiosity will send them exploring for other "neat stuff." You can color the pictures you print out, too. Or get an "UnderWare" ribbon and transfer a masterpiece to a T-shirt. Make a card for Grandma. Oh, yes: drillware: Typing Tutor is great, and kids like the "space invaders" game that comes with it. Buy anything from Great Wave. I am unimpressed with Reader Rabbit, but the three-year-old likes it. Think Education's MacEdge II is fun for younger children. Finally, if you are suspicious of giving kids "adult" tools, go read Seymour Papert, "Mindstorms," Basic Books, '79. I think there's a paperback edition in the stores now. If it doesn't convince you, it will at least give you a whole new perspective about what "education" means. If you watch your kids as you read it, it will convince you. =Ned Horvath=