Customer Reviews

Reader Rabbit Playtime for Baby and Toddler [OLD VERSION]

5 star:		(36)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

As a parent and a former early childhood teacher, I have used a variety of software titles. Without a doubt, Reader Rabbit's Toddler is the best software program for any child who is beginning to learn how to use a computer. Children learn quickly how to use the keyboard and mouse due to the instant positive feedback they receive. In addition to providing for quick success, the program teaches children many important developmentally appropriate objectives, such as colors, matching shapes, counting, one-to-one correspondence, nursery rhymes, animal sounds, and finger plays. I would strongly recommend this as the first computer program for any child between one and five years old.

I worked in a children's library and I saw so many children learn how to use a mouse from using this program. Two year olds grasped the concept of "when I move the mouse, I can make this happen" so quickly with the fun, fun, fun interactive games for toddlers. I now have a 2 year old of my own who has been able to play some of the games here for close to a year now. I have to agree with the amazon.com reviewer on everything but the fact that I think Rainbow Rock is the best part of the program. It is the best way for kids to learn, not their colors, but how to work the mouse as they move the "crayon" over the picture, coloring it in. When the picture is finished, a (mostly) catchy tune is played. My daughter loves this and so did every 2, 3, 4, and even 5 year old in the library who would use it. I highly recommned purchasing this software program for anyone with toddlers.

It would not run in MS Windows2000.
It would not run in Microsoft XP.
It would not run in Mac OS9.
There is a bare minimum of online support.

It RUNS in MS Windows 98 and fairly well at that on my old laptop. Just thought you'all might want to know.

ps-my son likes it when it runs.

I bought Playtime for baby & toddler at a local store, while waiting for another reader rabbit cd to come in the mail and my daughter is actually 4 but absolutely loves this cd. Even though it is a toddler cd don't let that fool you my 9 year old plays it, don't tell him I said so though, LOL. I have 3 kids and we know have bought the reader rabbit thinking adventures, preschool and cluefinders 4th grade. My daughter loved the part where baby animals are in a basket hiding and they make a sound and you have to reunite them with their momma. She also loves peek a boo bubbles where she pops bubbles to free animals and then it counts them back to her after she has freed them all. It is very simple to use and they dont even have to click a mouse button, they can even just hit keyboard buttons, it is very simple and all my kids were delighted with these products and my husband is a computer tech and we have reviewed many children cds and Highly recommend reader rabbit software.

Of all the games we've bought, this one is by far the best. Rather than adapting known characters to a story or to a game, this one was obviously written specifically for this age group. Our 18-month-old and 3-year-old are crazy about it, and have been playing it for a few months now. It is written so intuitively that once, while I was in the shower, our three-year-old started it up and was playing games on her own. She was SO pleased with herself, and I was thrilled. She now has mouse control and can play this one whenever she feels like it. She is more interested in more difficult games now, too. This wasn't a goal, really, I just wanted a game that would be fun, and this one has more than filled the bill. The author really understands the kinds of games and songs that kids this age enjoy - bubbles, baby animals, facial expressions, short stories, coloring, songs that they recognize. It's just the right speed and tone. I can't say enough about this game.

I bought Reader Rabbit Baby and Toddler for my son when he was about 15 months. He's been using it for 6 months and still loves it! There are so many different activities; we haven't even gotten to all of them yet. He has a few other CD's - but still loves "Mat the Mouse" best!

The program focuses on the basics and seems to emphasize "child interaction". For example, one of the activities is a coloring book. An outlined drawing comes on the screen (fish, dinosaurs, frog and an elephant in a boat, etc.) and my son colors in the drawing just by moving the mouse back and forth. He was able to do this very early on, but still loves the activity. Once drawn in, my son is rewarded when the drawing "comes to life". For example, the frog and elephant sing Row, Row, Row Your Boat.

The author has also done an excellent job with extras. I can print out each of the drawings individually (to be colored in with crayons) - so my son doesn't have to be sitting in front of the computer to play the game. He clearly associates the printed pages with the online game - feels like a two-for-one!

The program was easy to install (Windows 2000 Pro) and we have not had any trouble using the program. From an educational standpoint, he has learned everything from music, counting and colors/shapes to sing-a-long's and animals (there are 3 different activities with animals!). One of the best activities is a sing-a-long of Intsy-Winsty Spider, I'm a Little Teapot, Wheels on the Bus and others - simply awesome!

Highly recommended from a dad and his son after six months of use!

This is an amazing product. My 2-year old took hold of the mouse for the first time 10 days ago and hasn't let go since. During that time he has mastered every game on the CD, requiring some rather complicated matching and sorting, as well as precision mouse movements that I didn't think he was capable of. Since the activities as well as the main menu are all "click-free," my son has been free to roam and explore at his own pace -- his Dad and I haven't lifted a finger to help him. As a result, he has grown increasingly more interested in the increasingly more complicated activities. (We have probably shot 1 hour of video of this boy using the program and screaming with delight as he discovers a new ability)! More amazing still, the strides he's made with these games have translated into a greater sense of confidence and "control over his environment" away from the computer as well. I would recommend this program to any parent!

I could not say enough good things about this program. My son has been playing it since he was 2 and has been learning shapes, colors, spacial concepts, music, computer skills, and to extend his attention span while learning. Because I have older children we have used several Reader Rabbit programs, but this is my favorite. It is good for a child who sees older family members using a computer but can't use the computer because he is too small. The graphics are sharp and entertaining without being ridiculous. Typing skills and computer mouse skills are not needed, but the basics of these functions are introduced by encouraging children to touch them. There is a baby program and a toddler program. They offer the same skills but in different settings. At first we did work together to learn how to play the many (learning)games but it did not take long for him to learn. You will not be disappointed with the features this has to offer, and no, it is not a glorified video in CD-ROM form. And it will be good until he reaches about 4 years old. This is not a computer babysitter, it's a learning tool. When used in conjunction with other teaching methods (like reading) you will see results in your children. I know I have!

We tried this software at a friends house one afternoon (after I had declined to buy it several times at various local stores - it didn't look very interesting in the pictures on the box) and my 2 yr old son, who had been struggling with using the mouse at home - seemed to be having no trouble with this software! I snatched up a copy as quick as I could find it and he mastered the mouse movements in one day after that!

Contrary to what I thought I would find from my perusal of the box, there were LOTS of fun games (I suggest starting with "Baby Basket Bingo") and you don't have to click the mouse, just hold it in place to get things to happen. That turns out to be a great way to learn how to position the mouse first, then add in the clicks later. A MUST buy for a toddler learning the mouse.

My kids just love this computer game! It is very easy to use; the kids just move the mouse around. They don't have to click the mouse. It is cute enough for adults to enjoy playing with the children. I have a very intelligent autistic boy who forgets to scream and have tantrums while he is playing this game. It even helps with socialization. I often see more than one child watching the screen and pointing to items while another child uses the mouse.