Play and Learn: Virtual Worlds for Kids

June 20, 2007 — -- Innovation is alive and well in the children's technology sector. Once a month, I will share with you something new that is happening involving children and technology. We will look at Web sites, video games, software, toys, and other areas where children are using tech.

A series of three products for kindergartners, first graders and second graders is brilliantly melding the gaming world and education.

For years, Knowledge Adventure has produced cutting edge children's educational software. In the 1990s, this is the company that ushered in grade-specific learning adventures known as JumpStart software, which taught a whole generation of kids how to read, do math, and variety of other school subjects. When you entered kindergarten, you would play "Jumpstart Kindergarten." Going into sixth grade? No problem, you got to play "JumpStart 6th Grade."

While these older, grade-specific software titles were revolutionary at the time they were introduced, they no longer play well with the current generation of kids who've grown up on video games.

But Knowledge Adventure is a company that knows kids and understands the changes in the children's technology landscape. After years in development, Knowledge Adventure has just ushered in their newest version of Jumpstart called "JumpStart World," and it's a masterpiece. By providing a gaming world that contains educational content, these games are a fun hip, and engaging place to learn.

You can enter the "JumpStart World" at kindergarten, first or second grade.

When you do, you find a personalized 3-D gaming world, full of learning games and fun activities that are constantly changing.

"JumpStart World" creates a dynamic world by making use of both broadband Internet access and your computer's hard drive. While your child plays within the "JumpStart World," the program connects to the Internet to send information about your child's progress and receives new content based on that progress. But parents needn't worry about their children's safety, because their children are never playing online.

Best for ages 5-8
From Knowledge Adventure, www.jumpstartworld.com, $20 (for first two adventure packs, then $8/each for remaining 10), Windows only, with Broadband Internet connection.

Jinny Gudmundsen is the kid-tech columnist for the Gannett News Service and USA Today.com, and is also the editor of Computing with Kids Ezine (www.ComputingWithKids.com ).