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Wonderful computer game. Very educational. My 3 year old son has been able to sit at the computer with little or no assistance to run this program on level one. He has room to grow with it and I am very impressed with the shipping. I recieved it promptly, and in excellent condition just like I was assured.
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My daughter has had this software program for several months now. She is four years old and doesn't watch Blue's Clues that much, although she knows what it is. That's what's so amazing to me about this software, your kids don't have to sit in front of the TV for hours to know how to play it!
It strays from your typical Blue's Clues adventure of finding the 3 clues. The software runs like a virtual preschool (which she can appreciate now that she's attending one).
My favorite feature (and hers!) is how you can give your drawings and paintings away to other school "members". Then a few minutes later along comes Joe explaining that you've recieved one too!
I've found the "outside" part of the software to be very full of knowledge about animals. Children take part of a scrapbooking adventure and in the process learn many facts about different animals.
All games/tasks can be made more difficult with "leveling" so that the software never gets old.
This game is WAY better than TV!
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I played with my almost four year old nephew with this and I found it very hard for him to follow. First of all, was he supposed to know when to click? I could hardly tell when the arrows were slighted changed.
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We've had this disc since my son was 3. Other reviewers have expressed the thought that the game is more suitable for toddlers. I don't entirely agree, particularly given that there are three distinct levels for each task.
The Grocery Store - level 1 directs children to put specific items in the basket. Higher levels direct children to items based on their relative position (e.g. the item below, or to the right of, bananas).
The Music Store - I admit that I find this one tiresome. The player repeats a pattern of beats on a variety of instruments. Each level increases the number of beats and instruments used.
The Bakery - Children choose items that are specific shapes. Level 1 uses only the most common shapes. Level 2 introduces lesser known shapes, like the crescent. Level 3 has the child look for objects that combine shapes - the task may be to find an item containing 1 circle, 1 triangle and 2 rectangles, which the child will find arranged as a cookie shaped like a little girl.
The Present Store - Here the child is asked to find one item that cost a specific number of "blue dollars". The number of dollars is displayed on the gift table and each item's price is displayed beneath it. The child places the item on the table and then counts out the appropriate number of dollars. In the higher levels, the child is given an amount, but they must find a combination of 2 or more objects that equal that total (probably the most complex activity in the game).
The Library - ok, I can't defend this one. It is ridiculously easy on any level.
All in all, it's not a bad game. It does move a little slowly and you do have to adjust the difficulty of each activity to the appropriate level for your child, but holds appeal for kids a variety of ages and gives them a chance to play with a favorite character.
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My son started playing this game when he turned three. He loved it then, and still loves playing it at age four. I should say, however, that I believe the optimum age for this game to be between 2-4 years. Handily, there are different level settings, so children who are more advanced or less advanced in activities can still enjoy the fun. For example, my son does well in mathematics and reading, so the library and the play store are high level activities. On the other hand, hearing sounds and repeating them (the triangle goes 'ting', so you must then hit the triangle) is harder for him, so we use the easiest setting for the music store.
He has spent up to two hours playing in just the present store, picking out presents for friends within the money limit allowed. He loves choosing the wrapping paper and matching bows, as well.
As the game features many different activities (reading, mathematics, sound repetition, vocabulary, shape-sorting), it is a win for parents interested in educating their children in a fun way. I'm planning on purchasing it for my nephew, as well, and if I had more relatives with children, they'd be getting it for Christmas, too.
The main down side would be Joe, as compared to the beloved Steve, but he plays a very minor role, and is only seen when the child is switching between activity centers (library, grocery store, music store, bakery, present store). The other would be the lack of actual reading in the library. As my son can read, it would be more fun on the highest level if he could sort the books according to title, instead of just with the beginning letter. However, he still has a lot of fun with it, and the mathematics in the present store are great.
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