Deutsche Presse Agentur

Aschaffenburg, July 18:

It’s understandable that parents and other potential buyers of computer software for children feel helpless while searching for appropriate computer programmes for their little ones. After all, department stores and computer shops offer seemingly endless rows of shrink-wrapped software packages. Yet sealed programmes cannot be quality tested beyond looking at the packaging, meaning that parents need to find other ways to get educated. Experts offer some tips. The best way to evaluate software before buying it is to try it out in some form. Many public libraries lend out software, for example. For current programme, demo versions can often be downloaded from the manufacturers’ web sites. Game makers often put information about the individual programme on the pages of online retailers like Amazon.com. Most children grow up with computers and the Internet nowadays, explains Ute Diehl, who has written on the subject.

“It’s obvious that even the youngest family members show interest in the computer,” since anything that is of interest to the parents awakens the curiosity of children. With software for children under four years of age, the goal is not just to draw on the excitement of moving images and sounds. The children should also have an opportunity to get familiar with the mouse and the computer with their parents’ help. Interactive picture books are a particularly effective way to do this. These usually tell a story, and the children can set off animations by clicking on the objects onscreen. Young children crave repetition; so another click repeats the process. Here and there a little game is also included. Appropriate graphics and sounds are important factors when choosing these games. Teaching hand-eye coordination and encouraging fantasy is of primary importance.

If the children are somewhat older and are already familiar with the computer, then an exciting theme is not the only important point. The software should also be designed in child-friendly ways. To keep children from feeling overwhelmed by the PC, the games and tasks should be offered in various difficulty levels. Since children often receive the parent’s older computer as a hand-me-down, it’s important to make sure that the computer and its graphics card have enough power for current software. For many parents, the worst part about the games is convincing the children that it’s time to turn off the computer. It’s a good idea to reach for games that can be saved at any point. Games that demand that a player complete a level before saving the game can instead lead to fights.