Parents' Guide to ABCmouse.com

This educational site/app combination is loaded with activities and is encouraging -- but the uneven content, busy presentation, and reward systems distract kids from the learning activities. From the colorful kindergarten classroom homepage and learning zoo to interactive books and songs, there are so many choices here that will engage most pre-K and early elementary-age kids. There are also multiple ABCmouse apps that offer additional ways to interact with specific parts of the curriculum and are included with subscription.

Unfortunately, one of the most positive points of the site -- there are no ads directed at kids -- is somewhat dampened by the fact that learning is rewarded by shopping. Also, there's so much content that it may be overwhelming for some kids to choose from the variety of options, especially since simpler is better for little ones. Kids who need more direction can follow the "learning path," which guides them step-by-step to activities of increasing difficulty. Not all content is top-quality: Some is basic point-and-click, and then kids simply listen to the audio response, and the overall look and feel of much of the content is outdated. But other ABCmouse.com activities and books, including titles from National Geographic Kids, are thoughtfully crafted, interactive, and aligned with many fundamental pre-K, first grade, and second grade curriculum goals. There's also a rotating collection of original video series that get kids inspired to learn more. Parents can customize kids' learning level, time allowed, and more. They can also choose to navigate in English or Spanish, and there's a large collection of Spanish activities, though they're somewhat limited. Overall, it may be a great fit for some kids, and some of the content is strong, but it may not live up to the promise for all parents.