Australian PC User
November, 2009
Page: 100
General News
By: Gail Lipscombe
Region: National
Circulation: 46067
Type: Australian Magazines Science /Technology
Size: 410.39 sq.cms
Frequency: Monthly
For kids
Gail Lipscombe reviews the latest software,
web sites and tech toys for kids.
INTREPICA
AGES THREE TO ADULT / PRICE $19 PER MONTH PER CHILD;
$30 A YEAR PER STUDENT FOR SCHOOLS / CONTACT INTREPICA
PHONE 1300 565 696 / WEB www.intrepica.com.au
Intrepica is an impressive online to their needs. Parents are also
literacy program that will help notified of areas in which their
develop skills in pre-reading, child is struggling. Learning
phonics, vocabulary, spelling, takes place in the Academy
reading, comprehension and section of the site and kids can safe environment, parents can on the Australian school
grammar through more than work at their own pace. They're let kids chat and play games curriculum and its available
10,000 interactive activities. rewarded for good work with with other site members in the for home or school use.
There are diagnostic tools for trophies, medals, badges, points, Arena section, or play games PC User says, Provides
assessing kids' abilities and a spendable credits and more. independently in the Arcade. quality learning in a fun
learning schedule is generated Because Intrepica is a completely The Intrepica program is based and social environment.
READY STEADY COOK m
RATED 0 / PRICE $49.95 / CONTACT MINDSCAPE / PHONE 1021 9964 0475
WEB www.mindscape.com.au ----------
- -
On the back of the success of burning or cutting themselves. from the five on offer, pick
cooking TV shows, everyone First, choose whether you want an ingredient bag and a
seems to have the cooking bug. to be a green capsicum or a red recipe, and cook it following
This game, based on the popular tomato. Next, pick your player the instructions. The show's
Ready Steady Cook TV show, lets mode: single, multi, trainer audience will decide whether
the whole family have fun virtual (where you just play the mini you're the winner.
cooking. Best of all, there's no games) or cookbook (you get to PC User says: Best for
mess to clean up and you dorit cook the recipes in your kitchen older kids starting to take
have to worry about the kids at home). Then, choose a chef an interest in cooking.
HOODA MATH
WEB www.hoodamath.com
If your kids need to brush up on games are really well thought section shows them how to
their maths skills, the net can be out, engaging and challenging. do core maths tasks relating
a good place to do it, and they The Movies section contains to decimal numbers. You'll also
can have fun at the same time. cool maths cartoons that teach find links to other good maths
On the Hooda Math site, kids can kids mathematics principles in a sites in the links section.
play games based on geometry, really different way. Using visual PC User says- Makes learning
arithmetic and logic (there are 12 demonstrations with spoken maths fun with a good range
games in each category). All the explanations, the Tutorials of games and activities.
LEAPFROG TAG JUNIOR
AGES TWO TO FOUR YEARS / PRICE $79.95 / CONTACT FUNTASTIC / PHONE 1800 244 543 / WEB www.funtastic.com.au
This latest LeapFrog Learning toy
introduces preschoolers to the
Junior comes with one book,
-- - --- -
downloaded via the provided
----
f
and the necessary software is cable from the LeapFrog web fA
joys of reading, with interactive already installed on the stylus. site - the stylus holds up to
activities that help them learn. Kids just need to touch each five books at a time and
The chunky stylus is easily page with the stylus to hear requires two AAA batteries.
managed by little hands, and its a story and interact with the PC User says- A great way
solid build is up for the rough characters. Additional books to introduce very young
and tumble of a toddler. The Tag are available and the software children to reading. s
Copyright Agency Limited (CAL) licenced copy Ref: 58301939