Gifts for the information age.This year give presents that will entertain and educate your children today while preparing them for the future Parents, this is your wake-up call. With the holidays a few weeks away, your children are ready to bombard bom·bard tr.v. bom·bard·ed, bom·bard·ing, bom·bards 1. To attack with bombs, shells, or missiles. 2. To assail persistently, as with requests. See Synonyms at attack, barrage2. 3. you with list after list of toys they want. Words like Barbie, X-Men and Sega will begin to echo in your ears - not to mention that you'll be spinning around in circles from your trips to the toy store A toy store, or toy shop, is a retail business specializing in the services of selling toys. No longer held to the limitations of the brick and mortar outlet, the toy store has successfully created a presence within the e-commerce industry. . But there is a way to escape this trap. Instead of buying toys you know will end up in the garbage can by, next July, get your kids gifts that will capture their imagination and teach them something. When it comes to getting your child excited about learning, nothing beats a "smart" gift. There are many types of educational programs to choose from, the most popular being software. Titles are geared to virtually any age group or subject - from teaching toddlers about letters, number and shapes to helping high school and college students review for major tests. Educational software has already found a friend in Gerald Brown Gerald Brown (born July 28, 1975 in Los Angeles, California) is a retired American basketball player. He played collegiately for the Pepperdine University. He played for the Phoenix Suns (1998-99) in the NBA for 33 games. , a 40-year-old Philadelphia firefighter who buys software to supplement what his eight-year-old daughter learns in school. "I'm a stickler stick·ler n. 1. One who insists on something unyieldingly: a stickler for neatness. 2. Something puzzling or difficult. for education. But I know that Tori wants to relax when she comes home, so I buy her learning software I know she'll play with," Brown says. "To her, it's just a game, but it allows her to work on basic skills at home. I see the results in her grades. As she grows, I'll continue to buy this type of software. It increases her chances of making it." Many African American African American Multiculture A person having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa. See Race. families are following the Browns' example. Now, more than ever, parents are using educational software to stimulate their children's at-home education. "Parents have made these programs an important part of their children's learning," says Jane Brandon-Brown, the technology columnist for Successful Black Parenting. "They're starting to draw the children away from television and video games See video game console. and toward the computer." In addition to specific academic subjects like math, science and vocabulary, you can find software titles that deal with topics rarely taught in schools. For example, A.M. DATA: The Multicultural Database, designed for home and school use, covers the histories, breakthroughs and successes of five American ethnic groups - African, Hispanic, Asian, European and Native Americans This is a list of Native Americans (first nations and descendents) Cherokee
Other great learning tools are audio- or videotape programs like the popular Hooked on Phonics  This article or section is written like an .Please help [ rewrite this article] from a neutral point of view. Mark blatant advertising for , using . . One such program Get Ready, by Get Ready Inc. in Philadelphia, uses rap music rap music or hip-hop, genre originating in the mid-1970s among black and Hispanic performers in New York City, at first associated with an athletic style of dancing, known as breakdancing. to reach basic skills like multiplication tables and the eight parts of speech. "We found it to be a way to communicate with children and break down the barriers of learning," says President Doug Henderson For the Scottish National Party politician, see . Douglas John Henderson, known as Doug Henderson, (born June 9, 1949) British politician and the Labour Member of Parliament for Newcastle North. Jr. "There's no such thing as a bad student. It's certain elements in their surroundings that causes tension and impedes the learning process. My father, deejay dee·jay n. Informal A disc jockey. [Pronunciation of DJ1.] deejay Noun Informal a disc jockey [from the initials DJ] Doug `Jocko' Henderson, saw that rap music could reach these children and created a program that could release their tension and increase their learning retention." Other gift ideas include portable electronic devices, such as the Franklin FUN-damental Dictionary or the World Book Learning Center, as well as more traditional board or card games like Olmec Toys' Black by Design. But no matter what educational gifts you choose, make sure they put your child's abilities to the test. Otherwise, boredom will set in quickly. Buy products that give your children a challenge. Games should develop their cognitive and basic skills without letting them know they're being challenged. This makes the learning more effective and teaches them to seek the answers themselves. Here are a few ideas to consider when buying a smart gift. But don't take our word for it. If you still have doubts about whether your kids will drop the action figures and play with these games, just ask Tori Henderson: "I like Barbie and baby dolls, but I also like the games my daddy gets. I go upstairs to the computer and play them twice a day." CD-ROMS Preschool/Grammar School: Nick Jr. Play Math! by Viacom New Media Great animation keeps your preschooler pre·school·er n. 1. A child who is not old enough to attend kindergarten. 2. A child who is enrolled in a preschool. Noun 1. learning for hours. Play Math! reinforces your child's early math skills with over 25 counting, sorting and adding exercises. Includes a parent's guide. Ages 3-6; $29.99; Mac/PC; 800-469-2539 JumpStart Preschool by Knowledge Adventure The perfect tool to get your toddler ready for school. Kisha, Pierre and Casey introduce kids to numbers, letters, shapes and sounds - everything to get them set for that first day of pre-K. Ages 2-4; $34.95; Mac/PC; 800-542-4240 Schoolhouse Rock: Grammar Rock by Creative Wonders Creative Wonders was an educational software corporation from 1994 to 1999. It created computer games based on children's characters like Madeline and Schoolhouse Rock!. History of the company Creative Wonders started out in 1994 as a division of Electronic Arts. Based on the award-winning series, Schoolhouse Rock. Cruise down Hudson Street Hudson Street can refer to:
Ages 6-10; $34.95; Mac/PC; 800-543-9778 Also available: Sesame Street Sesame Street is an American educational children's television series for preschoolers and is a pioneer of the contemporary educational television standard, combining both education and entertainment. : Get Set To Learn School Zone's Alphabet Express by School Zone Publishing Co. The conductor takes your preschooler through ever letter of the alphabet. With interactive animation and lots of activities, children will see word building in a whole new light. Ages 3-6; $39.95; Mac/PC; 800-253-0564 Reading Blaster Jr. by Davidson & Associates Join the Blaster Pals (Spot, Kid Blasternaut and G.C.) as they visit different planets, learning how to build and sound out words. Watch your child progress from Phonic phon·ic adj. Of, relating to, or having the nature of sound, especially speech sounds. phonic pertaining to the voice. Ranger to Galactic Reader! Ages 4-7; $35; Mac/PC; 800-545-7677 Also available: Math Blaster Jr., Money Town Kid Pack 2 Deluxe by WizardWorks Kids Pack 2 features games that teach children certain everyday skills. Games like Type-Kwon-Do and Coin Alley teach kids how to type on the keyboard and distinguish different coins. Ages 3-10; $19.99; Mac/PC; 800-229-2714 Reader Rabbit's Reading Development Library 1-4 by The Learning Co. With Reader Rabbit Reader Rabbit is an edutainment software franchise created in 1989 by The Learning Company. This series currently makes up the greater part of a franchise of grade-based and subject-based titles, where the games for infancy through second grade feature Reader Rabbit. and Sam the Lion, children develop their reading skills with familiar stories like The Three Little Pigs and The Ugly Duckling Ugly Duckling scorned as unsightly, grows to be graceful swan. [Dan. Fairy Tale: Andersen’s Fairy Tales] See : Beauty Ugly Duckling ugly outcast until fully grown. [Fairy Tale: Misc.] See : Ugliness . Ages 4-7: Parts 1 & 2; Ages 5-8: Parts 3 & 4; $45; Mac/PC; 800-227-5609 Middle School: Algebra Quest by Media Quest Ali Gebra, the genie, helps children break algebra down into fun, easy exercises. Children learn how to form algebraic equations, solve variables and interpret word problems. Ages 14 & up; $19.95; Mac/PC; 800-698-MATH Also available: Geometry Quest The Random House Kids Encyclopedia by Knowledge Adventure The Vid Kids take your child on a tour of this interactive, 3D-animated encyclopedia. Research a number of subjects - from Abraham Lincoln to the Roman Coliseum. Ages 7-12, $40; Mac/PC; 800-542-4240 The Student Writing & Research Center by The Learning Co. Put together great reports with The Student Writing & Research Center. Includes Compton's Concise Encyclopedia for instant information. Ages 10 to adult; $99.99; PC; 800-227-5609 A.M. DATA: The Multicultural Database by A. M. Data Systems Inc. The ultimate guide to different cultures. This database provides comprehensive information on five American ethnic groups - information your child won't find in most textbooks. Ages 10 to adult; $79.95 (volume discounts available); Mac/PC; 609-307-1370; http://www.libertynet.org/~amdata High School/College Students: Inside the SAT & ACT '97 Edition by The Princeton Review This is the complete guide for the 1996-97 school year. The set includes detailed information on over 1,200 colleges and a review program with dozens of tips guaranteed to boost your teen's scores. Ages 17-18; $29.95; Mac/PC; 617-272-7027 Also available: Inside the GRE (Generic Routing Encapsulation) A tunneling protocol developed by Cisco that allows network layer packets to contain packets from a different protocol. It is widely used to tunnel protocols inside IP packets for virtual private networks (VPNs). , Word Smart Learn to Speak Spanish by The Learning Co. With lots of exercises, Learn to Speak Spanish makes conversational Spanish easy. Follow Thomas Smith Thomas Smith may refer to: U.S. congressmen:
Ages 14 to adult; $109; Mac/PC; 800-227-5609. Also available: Learn to Speak French, Learn to Speak German, Learn to Speak Japanese and Learn to Speak English (for non-native English speakers) StudyWorks for Math by MathSoft Inc. From algebra to calculus, StudyWorks provides a step-by-step worksheet to help your teen understand every part of a math problem. Includes a feature that integrates graphics and text, creating impressive documents. Ages 14 & up; $39.95; Mac/PC; 617-577-1017 Also available: Studyworks for Science RoadTrip For The GRE/GMAT/LSAT by Kaplan Educational Centers College students ride down the multi-media superhighway in this three-in-one Kaplan title. Students can work on problem areas from all three graduate-school admissions tests This is a list of standardized tests that students may have to take for admissions to various schools: Secondary School Admissions
Adults; $29.95; Mac/PC; 800-KAP-ITEM AUDIO/VISUAL TAPE PROGRAMS: Get Ready by Get Ready Inc. Legendary Philadelphia deejay "Jocko" Henderson uses rap and rhyme to teach basic academic skills. The tape series also deals with lessons on avoiding drugs and alcohol. Ages 5-17; $49.95 for the basic skills package; 215-79-LEARN ELECTRONIC DEVICES: World Book Learning Center by Tiger Electronics
This laptop-style electronic learning aid exposes kids to a number of subjects - including science, social studies and mathematics. Just insert a card, enter the card number and your child is on his or her way to learning. Ages 6 & up; $99; 800-TIGER-ED Also available: Video Quest Master Computer Tiger Learning Computer by Tiger Electronics Inc. The Tiger Learning Computer provides children with a version of the Apple IIe The Apple IIe was the third model in the Apple II series of personal computers, produced by Apple Computer. The "e" in the name stood for "enhanced", referring to the fact that several popular features were now built-in that were only available as upgrades and system for under $150. Plug the system into your television and choose from six cartridges, including a writing program and educational games. Ages 9 & up; $150; 800-TIGER-ED Franklin FUN-damental Dictionary by Franklin Electronic Publishers Franklin Electronic Publishers (formerly Franklin Computer Corporation) is an American consumer electronics manufacturer based in Burlington, New Jersey, founded in 1981. Today it makes hand-held electronic references. Define the word and watch it come alive using LCD animation. This hand-held electronic book also includes a slot in the back to insert Franklin Bookman titles like Speaking Spelling Ace and Math Blaster Mystery. Ages 6-10; $109.95; 800-266-5626 Also available: Great Documents of American History, The Concise Columbia Encyclopedia The Columbia Encyclopedia is a one-volume encyclopedia produced by Columbia University Press and sold by the Gale Group. First published in 1935 [1], the current edition is the sixth, printed in 2000. It contains over 51,000 articles totaling some 6. and Bartlett's Familiar Quotations Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, often simply called Bartlett's, is an American reference work that is the longest-lived and most widely distributed collection of quotations. ComQuest Plus by Team Concepts Children finally have a laptop of their own. Includes word processing, keyboard and mouse, and a PC link to upload documents for printing. Ages 9 & up; $149.99 ($39.99 for the PC link); 800-486-0898 BOARD/CARD GAMES: Black by Design by Olmec Toys This matching game teaches children about black inventors and their contributions to everyday life. Ages 3 & up; Price has not been set; 800-677-6966 52 Cool Tricks for Kids by Chronicle Books This card game by Chronicle Books allows kids to learn and have fun at the same time. Kids are taught fascinating magic tricks and how they work. Ages 10 & up; $6.95; 800-722-6657 |
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