What programs do you recommend to help with learning?

**chameleon** · 31-03-2010 14:51

I am looking at buying something to help DD1 with her learning. She is 4 and seems to be a bit behind in numbers and letters (counting, alphabet, recognising letters and sounds, etc.)

We read a lot and do practice counting but she seems to have no interest. I occasionally let her try out the computer and she loves those educational games so I thought she might be more interested in something like that.

I was thinking either some sort of Leap Frog thing, like the Leapster2, or subscribing to ABC Reading Eggs online, or buying a computer program. I also have a Nintendo DS but I can't seem to find any educational games for that.

Has anyone tried any of these things that they would recommend or advise against?

ETA: When I said she was a bit behind, I mean she can't count to 10 or anything yet. So it would need to start at the very basic...

**TurnedBatty** · 31-03-2010 14:53

Leapfrog is good but bs got bored easily. We bought those workbooks that you get from newsagents, plus boost maths has workbooks with CDs

**mordygordy** · 31-03-2010 15:40

As a primary teacher, I feel that at the age of 4 they are not ment to know all the alphabet, names of letter and sounds or even recognise numbers. Thats what they learn at school. It is not always good for them to be pushed into it bc sometimes when they get to school they are over it and won't perform. By the time they are finished K they are to know to 30 in number.

I think learning to write their name etc is fine and many schools look for it when looking at the next years kinders. But if she is not interested don't push her. Playing games that are fun for her such as counting toys or steps when she is walking up them is fine but she doesn't have to know it yet. She will become interested in time.

I know this isn't answering your question but just don't want you to stress to much over it.

**Ffrenchknickers** · 31-03-2010 15:42

If your child is interested then I woulD DEFINITELY recommend Reading Eggs

My 3 and 5 year old LOVE it and so do I...it is done really well.

There is a special on at the moment, I paid 100 dollars for two kids for 12 months.

**chameleon** · 31-03-2010 16:14

Originally Posted by mordygordy

As a primary teacher, I feel that at the age of 4 they are not ment to know all the alphabet, names of letter and sounds or even recognise numbers. Thats what they learn at school. It is not always good for them to be pushed into it bc sometimes when they get to school they are over it and won't perform. By the time they are finished K they are to know to 30 in number.

I think learning to write their name etc is fine and many schools look for it when looking at the next years kinders. But if she is not interested don't push her. Playing games that are fun for her such as counting toys or steps when she is walking up them is fine but she doesn't have to know it yet. She will become interested in time.

I know this isn't answering your question but just don't want you to stress to much over it.

Okay thanks. It just seems all the other kids at kindy, as well as friends her age and younger, are doing SO much! They all seem to be counting well, writing their name from memory. Some of them can write a few words and type them out on the keyboard, memorise the alphabet, etc. Even starting to learn the time!
I was reading a counting book the other night and she could only count to 2. We've done it hundreds of times.

Anyway she used my Nintendo DS the other day and was just playing the piano game and buy the end was recognising some of the letters, and wanted to keep playing, but there aren't many things on there for her. So I thought I would get something like that aimed at her age. Also she did try the Reading Eggs and seemed really interested. I must just make things too boring for her

Thanks though. I'll try not to worry too much!

**chameleon** · 31-03-2010 16:26

Originally Posted by Ffrenchstar

If your child is interested then I woulD DEFINITELY recommend Reading Eggs

My 3 and 5 year old LOVE it and so do I...it is done really well.

There is a special on at the moment, I paid 100 dollars for two kids for 12 months.

Oh good to hear. She did the trial but I was worried it might get too boring and repetitive. I was leaning towards that actually...

Did you get the books too or just the subscription? If so are they worthwhile?

**Leeee** · 31-03-2010 17:07

Originally Posted by mordygordy

As a primary teacher, I feel that at the age of 4 they are not ment to know all the alphabet, names of letter and sounds or even recognise numbers. Thats what they learn at school. It is not always good for them to be pushed into it bc sometimes when they get to school they are over it and won't perform. By the time they are finished K they are to know to 30 in number.

I think learning to write their name etc is fine and many schools look for it when looking at the next years kinders. But if she is not interested don't push her. Playing games that are fun for her such as counting toys or steps when she is walking up them is fine but she doesn't have to know it yet. She will become interested in time.

I know this isn't answering your question but just don't want you to stress to much over it.

i'm glad i'm not the only one who thinks that, it's good to hear especially from a teacher.
children learn by playing so let her play. teach her to count by playing with blocks or something. let her teacher teach her how to read. it would be nice if my future children can read/write even their own name before going to school but i won't be stressing if they can't. i knew the alphabet before going to school but i couldn't read/write it. i did two years of preschool so didn't end up learning to read/write til i was 6. didn't do me any harm.

**mordygordy** · 31-03-2010 20:31

Originally Posted by chameleon

Okay thanks. It just seems all the other kids at kindy, as well as friends her age and younger, are doing SO much! They all seem to be counting well, writing their name from memory. Some of them can write a few words and type them out on the keyboard, memorise the alphabet, etc. Even starting to learn the time!
I was reading a counting book the other night and she could only count to 2. We've done it hundreds of times.

Thanks though. I'll try not to worry too much!

Just thought I would add that I have seen kids come to kinder that can write there name, count to 20, identify some letters etc that burn out way to quick and other kids that come to school not knowing a thing and quickly catch up and even take over from those kids that knew so much before coming to school.

**chameleon** · 31-03-2010 21:33

Originally Posted by .mpeg

i'm glad i'm not the only one who thinks that, it's good to hear especially from a teacher.
children learn by playing so let her play. teach her to count by playing with blocks or something. let her teacher teach her how to read. it would be nice if my future children can read/write even their own name before going to school but i won't be stressing if they can't. i knew the alphabet before going to school but i couldn't read/write it. i did two years of preschool so didn't end up learning to read/write til i was 6. didn't do me any harm.

She does play, but she does seem to like those games so I thought if they could help her too that would be great. I have actually tried with blocks but she isn't interested and prefers to just play with her Barbies. I have just been told to work on those areas more with her from her teachers and therapists as she was premmie and has always struggled a bit, and I thought if that is by computers (which I actually vowed my kids wouldn't use until school age) than so be it.

I do appreciate everyone telling me not be concerned but I would still like to get her something else that she may enjoy and benefit from

**KatiesMum** · 31-03-2010 22:04

My DD is not quite 4 .... but is quite into learning about numbers and letters and reading etc, so we started that much earlier. (That isnt to say that you should have started things off ... the whole idea is simply to follow her lead. If she wants to - go for it. If she isnt interested, dont push it)

Anyway - as far as what to do ..... I found that DD responded much more to games than anything else. Started with learning the alphabet (and what sound the letter makes). Then started if we were playing with a ball, asking her what letter ball started with ... and then what other words she could think of that started with B.

We then went on to eye spy kind of games ...what does grass start with, what does park start with ... basically anything you could see.

For numbers, I started in the car ... if she said when are we going to get home, I would say when we can count to 20 we will be home - and then help her count to 20. Just putting it into everyday things.

We have just started with ABC reading eggs - and she is really enjoying it now that she already knows the letters and is starting to put sounds together and can write the words etc.

For just starting out, for computer games, I would stick with some of the web sites such as Nick Jr, Bob the Builder etc that have things like 'paint Dora' ... dot to dots, matching games, color by numbers etc on screen. they are free and quite enjoyable. They have heaps of printables as well. Also - I just found this website which gives good letters and numbers pages to print which DD LOVES!!!