article: beyond the computer

Research has shown -- and common sense tells us -- that children need to learn with all of their senses. They need to run, see, touch, hear, and even smell in order for their experiences to be rich. This is the reason why there really is no such thing as a complete Preschool or Kindergarten experience on a CD-ROM. Granted, good children's software can be highly educational and arguably head and shoulders over much television programming due to the fact that it is interactive. However, it is simply not real life! This is why we really should not expect too much from a computer game, and should view software as a supplemental activity or learning tool.

Extending Software Activities

Something that can be done to make software learning experiences more rich is extending software activities to include real-life ones. What follows are some suggestions.

Many programs have printing options. When you can, print out those electronic coloring book images to color with real crayons. Print out some favorite scenes, glue them to cardboard (or print them on card stock) and turn them into puzzles.

Many CD-ROMs contain songs that can be played on an audio CD player -- track 1 contains program data and is not playable, but the other tracks are. Playing the songs when the computer is off will encourage visual memory and kids will often love to dance and sing along. Some fantastic CD-ROMs that contain excellent songs are JumpStart titles (and many of the songs actually teach important concepts), and many early Reader Rabbit titles.

Interactive storybooks often are based on a story that is already in print. Some of these programs include a softcover book in the box. After playing and interacting with the story on the computer, put your child in your lap and read it to them.

The Learning Company seems to be especially aware of the need for extending games beyond the computer. Manuals for most of their early learning games contain some excellent activities that parents and kids can take the time to do before and after kids play the games. Reader Rabbit's Preschool contains songs that encourage children to participate, even making reference to "brain gym" movements that are supposed to "wake up your brain". Care was obviously taken in the excellent Reader Rabbit's Toddler (see our review) to include fingerplays that children will often want to imitate.

Edmark is another company that provides detailed "away from the computer" suggestions that will enhance the learning process.

If you are looking for programs that contain lots of extra materials and activities that coordinate with software programs, you may want to look into school versions. Although they are often more expensive, many contain excellent "teacher's guides" that can be used by parents in the home environment as well. Sunburst Communications puts out some excellent CD-ROMs for schools as well as for home use. Their manuals are excellent and generally contain suggested activities as well as activity pages.

There are a number of programs that include either printed workbooks or printable ones on the CD-ROM. Many of the updated  JumpStart titles by Knowledge Adventure contain printable workbook sheets with activities that nicely complement but do not duplicate the learning games on the CDs.

Consider the whole process of learning to read. There are a number of programs out there that help kids learn the necessary skills to read, but playing games on the computer is simply not enough to get kids through the learning to read process. They need real books in their hands, they need to write words they are reading in order for the words to really impress themselves into their brains, etc. 

If you want your child to learn the letters of the alphabet, be sure to provide some hands-on activities in addition to games like Let's Go Read or Alphabet Express (see our review). Keeping in mind that the more senses employed in the learning experience, the better children will retain and learn, try an alphabet puzzle. This adds a tactile experience. Encourage kids to trace the shapes of the letters with their fingers, and if they are old enough, to write them.

Many computer games contain virtual math manipulatives, such as Edmark's Carnival Countdown with its pattern blocks that mimic the standard real pattern blocks right down to color and size. These are great tools, but owning actual pattern blocks can enhance the learning experience even more. Math experiences away from the computer like helping mom and dad in the kitchen (measuring ingredients, etc.) are irreplaceable. However, what comes to mind is a fun activity called Falling Blocks Addition and Subtraction in Piggy in Numberland by ThoughtMakers/Learning in Motion (see our review) that helps kids to learn their basic math equations in such a way that learning becomes automatic -- and kids really want to learn the equations in order to play  the fun game!

Encourage kids to take a break from the computer when they've been on it too long. Let them rest their eyes and look around. Staring at a computer screen for too long can be draining.

Computers will never replace human interaction and feedback -- they will never do the job well enough! However, there is a tremendous amount of high-quality edutainment and educational software available that will help your kids develop the skills that they learn awary from the computer. Many games also provide learning opportunities that may be difficult to obtain away from the computer. When treated as a fun and educational side activity, no one suffers.