Clifford Reading (Leapster) - NR
Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that this software for the Leapster handheld gaming system targeted at ages 4 to 6 is a fun way to introduce kids to early reading activities. Kids will learn about the alphabet, letter recognition, writing each letter, spelling using word families, rhyming, phonics, and other important early reading skills -- all in the context of games. Parents will be pleased to know that automatic help appears when kids are struggling and that additional help is available by pushing the "Hint" button. This game will play on any of the Leapster systems.
Families can talk about what it would be like to have a pet as big as Clifford. Do you think Clifford likes being that big? Do you like the Clifford in this video game as much as you like the one on TV or in books? Which of Clifford's friends do you like best? Why?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Jinny Gudmundsen
Clifford the Big Red Dog and his owner, Emily Elizabeth, have long been kids' favorites in books, TV, and computer software. Children can now practice their early reading skills with Clifford by playing CLIFFORD READING on the Leapster educational gaming system.
When Clifford, a dog the size of a house, accidentally sneezes on Emily Elizabeth's favorite joke book, all the pages of the book scatter throughout Birdwell Island. Kids join Clifford and his doggy friends, Cleo and T-Bone, as they play five different reading games to earn back the missing joke pages.
To earn a joke page, kids must play four rounds of any of the five games. There are 50 joke pages to collect; and each time they earn one, Emily Elizabeth reads the joke found on that page out loud as the words highlight for the players.
The games help kids ages 4 to 6 practice alphabetic knowledge, letter recognition, writing each letter, spelling using word families, rhyming, phonics, and other important early reading skills. The software monitors a child's progress, and automatically adjusts the content up or down depending on how the child is performing.
Since children will be playing the same five games over and over again to earn the jokes, the key to this title's success is the games' edu-tainment value. Kids get to pop balloons that have a requested letter (or in higher levels, words that start with an announced sound), drag letters onto an easel to spell words, trace letters on the Leapster screen to fill a movie marquee, scan a store window to photograph specific objects (and on higher levels, to find objects that start or end with a certain sound), and direct Clifford through a maze of streets to find objects that rhyme. While clearly educational, all of the games are fun because of the interaction with Clifford and his friends.
Clifford Reading starts young children down the path to reading. The animations with Clifford are clean, crisp, and charming. Little kids love earning the jokes like "Why shouldn't you tell jokes when you skate?" (Answer: "Because the ice might crack up."). Kids will experience success while playing the games because the software recognizes when a child is struggling and offers immediate help. And because the games automatically pick a level for the player, the content is constantly changing and adjusting as the child learns.
Clifford Reading would make an excellent addition to any home's Leapster library. Other good Leapster titles include: Dora the Explorer Wildlife Rescue and Letters on the Loose.
For families who can't get enough of Clifford, you can catch him on TV in Clifford the Big Red Dog or Clifford Puppy Days. Parents might also want to check out his books starting with Clifford the Big Red Dog.
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CommercialismClifford is a branded character. |
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Educational ValueFocuses on early reading skills, offers hints, and matches to a child's level. |
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