Customer Reviews

JumpStart World Kindergarten

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(11)

 

 

My 4 1/2 yr. old daughter absolutely loves this game. It's truely the best computer game I've ever bought for her. I like how it follows the National and State educational standards. Not only is it educational, there are many fun things for her to play with as well. After you play the learning games, you're rewarded with gems that can buy fun things to do in the Jump Start World. For instance, you can buy a pet and accesories to go along with it (food, shampoo, bows etc..). Along the way there are many friends you can talk to. Some will ask you to play hide-n-seek or have a race with them. There are many different activities to engage in at different stages in the game. There are also different badges to earn that involve team work, friendship, etc. There is a place on the right handside at Amazon where you can get a preview of the game. I recommend doing that so you can get a better sense of what the game is about.

The only down side is that there are 12 units in all, but only 2 are included with the CD-Rom. You have to purchase the remaining ones. They can be downloaded from the Jump Start website each month for $7.99.

This is a great game for toddlers. My daughter and son loves it. The only thing is that the cd provides only the first two lessons. After that, the other 10 lessons will require a monthly subscription.

UPDATE: I just want to warn you that Jumpstart's customer service is horrible! I tried to email them and call them about canceling my subscription. I just keep getting their answering machine!! They never called or emailed me back. I've spent $8 a month for the last year and this is what I get?

my daughter loves the game. it's very educactional. She's only been able to play the first level, even thought the box clearly read you get two levels. The software companies support is terrible, I've been trying to get help from them for almost a month. They continue to tell me I'll be contacted, I'm still waiting.

Our 5 yr old daughter really enjoys these learning games.

The three things you should know about this software:

1. Its really well done but takes some getting used to. Sit down and run through it with your child, just dont install and set them free. It can be frustrating at first and a bit overwhelming. The program starts and the child is immediately introduced to characters, told about earning gems and badges and playing games and on and on, but after a little patient investment, all of it starts to pay off. I thought it was a bit confusing to begin with, but after 1 month, she and I understand all aspects of the game.

2. While its true you only get 2 units with the starter pack (out of 12), there are numerous activities, games and things to see and explore within those two units. Going beyond those two units, IF you chose to do so, will cost you money, either one at a time or you can buy the rest in one transaction. At first I thought it was a screw job, but I see there is a lot to the program and for $20, I think its a good value and well done.

3. The makers of this program are trying to get you, the parent, involved in monitoring the progress. You will get reports, you can see where your child is exceling and needs more work, etc. If you wanted a simple install and set em free experience (numerous titles available for that), this isn't for you. So far we're pleased and she really enjoys the interaction, characterizations and all that.

For example, there is a portion of the program where you can create cards via a painting routine. That painting routine is full featured allowing for lots of imagination from adding your own pictures, to your own sounds (only if you have a microphone) and lots of options. The quality of that one little aspect of the program is indicative of the time that went into the entire program. She loves it and could just paint and doodle for an hour.

In summary, we're pleased with the small investment; its better than most of the "learning" programs out there. Is it worth $80+ for all 12 units. I can't say. That is a lot of money for a program, but maybe it IS worth it. I can say its a good value for $20, just be advised that you'll be prompted to continue on a subscription basis for additional units, and that is never good. Subscriptions are notoriously difficult to terminate.

May 08 update: We ended up purchasing the whole program; all 12 "units" as their called. My 5 yr old daughter loved exploring this program. Its a great combination of learning activities, task performing and rewards, and just plain good ole exploring a virtual world...on a 5 yr old's level. I noticed she spent equal time doing all 3 and I know that the learning games echoed what she learned in school or will be learning in school. I reviewed her progress on this learning program with her teachers and much to my (pleasant) surprise, she was doing the same things in school. She performed very well in school; therefore I think this program is a perfect compliment to a preschool program.

I liked the product; my daughter learned a lot. Now I am trying to cancel, because every time she uses it, our credit card gets charged $7.99. I had to search for how to cancel; the website says cancel by calling a long distance number (not an 800 number). The number has a long, long wait on it. I have better things to do with my time.

Buyer, beware.

jump start world kindergarten runs excellently with my vista operating system. it is more interactive and better than previous versions. my child loves it! and it is giving him a "jump start"!

As another reviewer mentioned there are 12 levels and the intro encourages each "Jump Scout" to earn all 12 badges. What they dont tell you is that you can only access the first 2 badges, then you need to pay $[...]/month or $[...]/year to unlock the remaining 10 levels. Lastly, whenever you exit the program it contines to "advertise" the paid subsription for about 30-40 seconds, to further try to "hook" the kids/parents into the paid subscriptions. Both of my kids were really dissapointed when I told them that they would be unable to get past level 2. I was aware that the software allowed more games to be accessed with a paid subsription. What I didnt know was that the software is basically crippled without the subscription. Maybe I am "Old-Fashioned" but I thought that if I paid for the software I would get more than just some "trial software".

Caveat Emptor!

I was looking for some good educational software to combine fun and learning for my then 4, now 5 daughter. While some of the learning games included were excellent, the packaging and other issues make it unsuitable for me. Just throughout, it feels like I'm being hit with sleezy/deceptive tactics, which is a major red flag for anything getting near children.

- As noted, trial version (2 of 12 levels). Remaining levels for $8/mon, $75/yr too expensive.

- Registration required to use, personal information requested, some required, only 2 profiles included, results of game uploaded to their servers

- Several of the games contain arcade elements too difficult for the age. "Move and shoot" type games not what I want in this type of educational software, and is in general do difficult for little still coordinating hands.

- The tease/hook elements in the movies and sprinkled throughout a trial version ("Your challenge it become an ultimate jump scout" "I'm going to earn all the badges" "He must have been really special to earn every badge" - BUT THIS VERSION ONLY GIVES YOU 2 of 12) are inappropriate, especially for children. The hooks are trying to get the children hooked on this software's rewards and buying more, rather than on learning. You can see entrances to other subscriber only areas and features, which is like showing a kid a locked candy store.

- Software requires CD present to use. If you install a new internal hard disk that changes your CD drive letter, you need to reinstall or do registry hacking to be able to use again.

- Packaging feels deceptive - The above is not made clear. Most galling of all is the "XX million parents trust Jumpstart" - I presume since I bought it, I'm now included in whatever future XX million parents they advertise, and I do NOT trust these guys.

Short is this is not an educational solution I want my children to use, which is disappointing, because it has promise and several good elements.

All of the Jumstart World 3D Adventures require you to purchase either a yearly[...]or monthly subscription[...]to have access to the other levels that are not included in the original CD purchase. Please note that I said it gives you "access" to the other levels of the game. Once you quit Subscribing your child can NO LONGER PLAY any parts of the game that they previously downloaded & played during the subscription period. After you unsubcribe your child only has access to the first 2 levels again that came on the CD. You have to have high speed internet access available at all times in order to play these games. You can't use them on the laptop in the car or on the plane. You can't play them while your internet connection is down for pete's sake. Why would anybody pay that much money for something you WILL NEVER ACTUALLY OWN?

We firmly believe that computer games have a place in our kids education. I have tried many series: Reader Rabbit, Big Thinkers, Smart Start, other JumpStart... This is the best product out there. It is well rounded in its introduction to values, manners and varied kindgergarten skills. My 5-yr old is intrigued by all the "responsibilities." Raising plants, caring for pets, giving others gifts, earning gems to buy items to help others... She is excited to know what her next "badge" will be and what new area of the world she'll open up. I do however have to limit her. She would play this all day.