Giggles Computer Funtime for Baby: Shapes - EC
Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that the American Academy of Pediatrics discourages television viewing for babies under age 2, in part because it takes away time that babies spend interacting with adults. Likewise, Common Sense does not recommend media -- including video games -- for kids under 2. This computer program is meant to be used as a tool to enhance baby and adult interaction. Other than in the introduction, the software program doesn't talk to the child. Rather, the parent or caregiver must generate the interaction and commentary about what's happening on the screen.
Families can talk about the funny things happening on the screen. Also, parents can help kids learn new vocabulary through their comments and questions ("That square is blue ... where's the pink circle?").
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Jinny Gudmundsen
If you occasionally sit with your baby on your lap while trying to sneak a peek at your e-mail, you might be interested in a new software title called GIGGLES COMPUTER FUNTIME FOR BABY: SHAPES.
Tim Leverett, a computer professional whose own son wanted to sit on his lap while he worked at the computer, created this software as a way "to share more laughter and fun with my own child." The concept is that the bright bold geometric shapes change when a baby whacks the keyboard. Hitting any key or keys will cause something new to happen on the screen. Your baby can have fun pounding away on the keyboard without you having to worry that your computer files will be corrupted.
If you or your child moves the computer mouse, adorable animals glide across the screen. And clicking the mouse results in geometric-shaped confetti shooting across the screen.
The software offers 14 activities. Ten feature colored shapes appearing on the screen to slide, dive, rotate, or even play peek-a-boo. In most of these activities, a silly-looking animal is connected to the on-screen cursor. If you move the cursor when the teddy bear is attached, the bear's bow tie moves first, and his body follows after it, creating a fun visual effect.
The software also offers four bonus games. In one, the game's mascot, Flopsy the Dog, wiggles into outlandish positions each time a key on the keyboard is touched. In another, kids can make animals hop out of their hiding places and make sounds by tapping a key.
Parents can choose to have the 14 activities accompanied by 50 different songs. For quieter times, parents might want to select "Classical," and for high energy times, "Baby Boogie."
In many ways, the kind of communication that a parent creates with Giggles is very similar to the kind of communication that a parent generates while reading a book -- "That square is blue ... where's the pink circle?"
For families in which babies are drawn to the computer because of adult usage, Giggles Computer Funtime for Baby: Shapes can provide an amusing way to play with your kids and introduce them to simple cause-and-effect scenarios using the computer.
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Social BehaviorMay encourage parents or caregivers to provide commentary about what's happening on the screen (like picture books do). |
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Educational ValueEnforces the idea of cause and effect. Parents can also help kids learn shapes, colors, the names of animals, etc. |
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