The Top 10 Educational Software Programs for Kids

I really enjoyed writing this article. It was interesting and a lot of fun. It made me wish I was a child again. Life and learning was so simple then.

I'm suggesting top children's educational software that are more updated to work with current computer operating systems such as Windows Vista, Mac, etc. I chose the ones that sounded fun and beneficial to me as a parent and aunt and they also received very high ratings. I put them in age order and grade order, once the child is of school age).

Thomas And Friends: Special Delivery. I remember Thomas and it is still a very popular series. This software program works with Windows Vista and Windows XP computer operating systems. It is excellent for young children as early as 1-2 years old. Within its' 6 activities it teaches: shape sorting; color matching; memory skills; counting; how to listen, follow directions and observe; logic and deduction; and telling time. The fun goal for your child is to help Thomas find James who is supposed to bring animals to the zoo and then help him do so, meanwhile at the same time your child is learning. At the end you can print out a personalized certificate of achievement for the child.

Blue's Birthday Adventure. These days every child who watches Nickelodeon television shows knows the Blue's Clues TV show. This software program is for Mac computers. It is recommended for children ages 3-6 years old. Using Blue and other characters there are 9 activities, 4 creative games and much more, focusing on helping Steve (the real person on the TV show) plan a birthday party for Blue, involving everything necessary for a birthday party. Each activity can be set at 3 different levels - from easy to more difficult. Children can make and print out cards too, with this program. As your child enjoys a scavenger hunt game - finding the clues (3) and solving the mysteries, he/she learns early learning skills such as: thinking; exploring; sorting and matching colors, shapes and patterns; deductive reasoning; logic and memory; creativity; solving; and counting.

School Zone Alphabet Express Preschool by School Zone. If you're like me and familiar with the School Zone workbooks and flash cards, you can relate to knowing this is a great software program. This software program is for Mac and Window computers. It is recommended for children ages 3-6 years old. Using the 26 letters of the alphabet and little animals and objects in games and activities - and even mini-movies, accompanied by songs, etc. the child learns the alphabet; colors; how to recognize, sound-out, match and write each letter; use letters to form words; spell; recognize and pick out words; and learn how to read. The child will also be learning the basic skills of exploring and how to listen. The child can also see on the computer screen a visual description of how to write each letter.

Since most educational software programs work with Windows I want to include this very popular series that works on Mac computers:

Clifford Musical Memory Games. Yes, Clifford, the Big Red Dog. This educational software program is recommended for children ages 4-6. As the children enjoy bringing music back to Clifford and his friends by playing music games, they learn how to: observe; follow directions; use trial-and-error; logic; distinguish different musical sounds; collect objects to make musical instruments; play a matching game similar to the one I used to love called, Concentration which increases memory skills; and they learn early math skills. Activities progress as the child's level increases. This software will keep children busy for long periods of time and all children love when they have succeeded at bringing music back to Clifford and his friends.

As the child gets older and enters school, subjects increase and learning becomes much more complex. I chose Smart Steps by DK as the number one choice for grade school levels because the software program for each grade - Kindergarten - 5th, covers all subjects (computer operating systems may differ for some grades). They are highly recommended and having all the subjects in one program is convenient and economical. Even though your child is in school at this point of their lives these software programs can boost their intelligence. They are great for children who are home schooled also. I'll briefly review Smart Steps 1st Grade.

Smart Steps 1st Grade by DK works with most Windows operating systems including Windows Vista and for Mac computers. This software includes 330 activities, 125 math activities, 130 reading activities, 30 easy science activities and 4 reading books. Unbelievably with all that this software program has this one by DK retails for only about $10.00 - new.

As a child myself and later interacting with children who are related, I am very familiar with Scholastic. I personally remember buying books in school from Scholastic each month as being one of the highlights of going to school.

Scholastic Math Missions with Card Game for grades K-2. This software program is for all Window's operating systems including Windows Vista and for Mac computers. It is recommended for children grades kindergarten - 2nd grade and will have your child excelling at math above those grade levels. This program contains thousands of math problems and word problems, 12 activities and 3 arcade games appropriate for children of these ages. Children learn simple math; simple fractions; early division; sorting and putting likes together; navigating and following directions; measuring; time; logic and reasoning; early geometry; and temperature. As the child plays the arcade games they are also being taught the concept of spending money by using cards which represent money amounts. As your child progresses in each activity the level rises - up to 3 levels. Progress results can be charted also. There's also a Scholastic Math Missions for grades 3-5 educational software program which covers all of the math and math skills listed above but at grades 3-5 levels. There are also advanced arcade games to play and more of them in this program - and more cards for the card games too.

Mia's Reading Adventure: The Bugaboo Bugs by Kutoka US Software. Mia ( a mouse) is a popular series. This software program works with most Windows operating systems including Windows Vista and for Mac computers. It is recommended for children ages 5-9 years old. As the child plays different games he/she learns phonics, rhymes, how to recognize words, spell, vocabulary and grammar. All the activities can be set at 4 different levels -from easy to more difficult.

Another Mia Favorite is: Mia's Science Adventure: Romaine's New Hat by Kutoka US Software. This software program is for Window computers including Windows Vista. It is recommended for children ages 6-10 years old. This software programs contains learning about all possible science subjects for this age group such as: weather; the solar system; all about the human body; facts about animals; the solar system; electricity; magnetism; water; and earth science. The activities involving Mia the mouse and other characters are in 3D. All the activities can be set at 4 levels - from easy to more difficult. If you like this one also check out: Mia's Math Adventure: Just In Time and other Mia educational software programs.

JumpStart Study Helpers Math Booster is a little bit of a different math educational software program. With this program your child puts in the math problems he/she brings home from school to solve, or is working with as he/she is home schooled and it teaches how to solve them. This software program is for all Window's XP and Window's Vista operating systems. It is great for children grades 1-5. Using arcade activities it teaches the child how to solve their math problems involving addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, decimals, and percentages. Any math problems that were solved wrong keep reappearing to re-do. There are 6 adjustable levels of learning.

I've covered the educational software programs to learn skills and subjects necessary to succeed in school - and in life, but I'd like to go off on a bit of a tangent for the last one to encourage fun and at the same time to stimulate creativity. It is by another of our childhood favorites: Crayola. Just seeing the familiar Crayola colors, etc. on the box made me light up with joy.

Crayola Art Studio works with Windows operating systems including Windows Vista. Any child from age 4-99 (ha!) can use this educational software program. I was so impressed with the beautiful pictures that were created by using this educational software program. They actually looked professional to me. It is such an easy to use draw and paint software program which uses realistic art supplies such as: crayons, watercolors, oil pastels, chalk, colored pencils, markers, acrylic paint, tempera paint and more. The "artist" can even mix colors. This software program teaches children the necessary art and basic drawing skills and it can also be used by those above beginner's level. The program also teaches how to digitally edit images. The child can choose from any of the over 1000 images given to use in their artwork. Greeting cards, invitations, decorations, little books, etc. can also be created with this software program. The price for this software program is very reasonable: $20.00-$25.00. It can also be a great gift for any child - or adult.

Have fun and at the same time remember, "Knowledge is Power."