children's software review
baby einstein: baby newton fun with shapes
cd-rom
 Rating: 
Ages: 1-2 years Subject:
Early Learning Brand:
Disney Interactive
Review Sections: Product Overview
Technically Speaking Skills
Covered Educational Value
Entertainment Value Design
Replayability Dollar
Value
Product Overview
This title marks the entry of a very popular series of
baby videos into the world of software. Based on the Baby Einstein line, Baby
Newton: Fun With Shapes presents a unique and interactive environment for
learning about colors, shapes, new vocabulary, and familiar objects along with
a lion host, Baby Newton.
Parent and child are presented with a main menu from which to launch sets
of "shape lessons", an interactive board book, and more. Selecting the square,
for example, launches a vignette featuring colorful squares presented through
familiar objects (such as alphabet blocks and a cracker) and abstract designs.
These shape lessons can be enjoyed in both "play through" and "interactive"
modes. When parents select "interactive" mode, they (or their children, if developmentally
ready) control screen changes either by moving the cursor over the large Baby
Einstein icon or by tapping a key on the keyboard.
A special feature of the program allows caregivers to upload their own photos
into the game. Adults can easily insert meaningful photos, such as pictures
of baby's family members and pets, into the "Heart" activity. This activity
works much like an interactive photo gallery. Caregivers can also upload photos
that will appear in the regular shape lessons. For example, they can add a picture
of baby's favorite ball to the Circle lesson! This feature is unique and significant.
It effectively helps to build connections between abstract shapes and real-world
objects that are personally meaningful to young children.
Classical music, performed on toys, provides the musical backdrop for the
program's bold and appealing visuals. The program features a mix of animations
and photo-realistic objects. Besides the shape lessons, each devoted to a basic
shape (square, circle, rectangle, and triangle), children can enjoy an interactive
board book and a Shapes Scenes activity. The board book presents a series of
objects of varying shapes, sizes, and colors. Parents can set this activity
to "guess" mode to offer children the chance to name objects on their own before
the program does it for them, or to "learn" mode. Filling unfinished portions
of familiar scenes, such as a farmyard or a playground, is the object of the
Shapes Scenes activity. This simple game involves moving the cursor over grey
areas in a colorful scene in order to fill them up.
Baby Newton Fun With Shapes offers engaging opportunities for children
to enrich their understanding of colors and shapes. At times, we felt the program
could be a little more interactive than it is. However, parents who enjoy the
Baby Einstein series of videos will be pleased with this new setting that effectively
offers a springboard for learning and interaction.
Technically Speaking
Minimum system requirements are Windows 95/98/ME/XP,
Pentium 200 MHz or equivalent, 32 MB RAM, 16-bit DirectX 8.0a-compatible sound
card, 2 MB, 16-bit color video card DirectX 8.0a-compatible, and 8X CD-ROM.
The program requires 50 MB of hard drive space.
Skills Covered
Children develop skills in shape and color recognition,
new vocabulary, object association/identification, music appreciation, cause
and effect, and basic computer mouse skills.
Educational Value
When used as a parent-child interactive experience,
this program offers plenty of unique opportunities to talk about shapes, colors,
and names of familiar objects.
Entertainment Value
Although some of the screens are busy and fast-paced,
most feature large, crisp, and vibrant images on white backgrounds. Most children
will find the images engaging, and parents will appreciate the classical musical
backdrop for the shape lessons.
Design
Caregivers can easily access the parental controls
panel to select the modes of play for the program's activities. The program
responds to taps on the keyboard and "clickless" use of the mouse. The photo
center controls are exceptionally easy to use, making it a breeze to upload
and crop personal photos and images that are smoothly incorporated into the
game.
Replayability
We were surprised that the shape lessons didn't vary,
although their predictability may be well-suited to the target age group.
Dollar Value
This CD-ROM carries a suggested retail price of approximately
$20 US.
This software, designed to be enjoyed as a parent-child
interactive experience, helps children to both recognize basic shapes and associate
them with real-life objects in the world around them. The program may be overstimulating
to some young children, but if enjoyed in small doses, it presents effective
and engaging opportunities to enrich vocabulary and understanding.
Released: 2003
Reviewed: February 2003
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