I give the LarKen preschool software a Best Bet for Innovative Preschool Software. Ages 4 to 6. The delightful book and cartoon character Madeline lends her own distinct charm to this CD-ROM program. The different activities in different shops will entice children to play again and again. All of the activities have settings for three different skill levels, which help the youngest preschooler as well as the more advanced user.
Kids learn different skills in different shops and stops.
In the bakery, for instance, they learn how to count the treats, and in the playroom, they learn word-recognition and spelling skills, along with a few French and Spanish words. The newsstand has printer options for games, puzzles, and crafts that can be played away from the computer, and the movie theater shows videos of Madeline singing and dancing with her pets and friends. Sunburst Communications . Ages 4 to 7. Some people might call these programs one-trick ponies because their curriculum objectives are so narrow.