The Fisher-Price dog leads to a specially created Fisher-Price games and activities Web site. Here kids find five options for play: puzzles and mazes, online coloring, arcade, learning, and print and color. While these activities are based on toy lines and sometimes promote the toys on which they are based, they do offer good opportunities for first-time computer activities. For example, under the online coloring activities, the Pixter dot-to-dot activity is perfect for teaching young children how to use the mouse. Kids are shown one blinking dot. When they click on it, another dot shows up. Click on the second dot and a line magically appears between the first two as a third dot appears. When children have negotiated their way to all the dots, a colorful object appears and animates.
Kids may need some help inserting the character keys. Additional smart keys are available in two-character packs for $6.99. Thomas the Train comes packaged with Bob the Builder. You can also buy Clifford and Arthur, and The Wiggles and Barney. All lead games on corresponding Web sites.
When children are finished playing with the Easy Link Internet Launch Pad, the software presents a password screen for parents. After parents type in their password, the system unlocks and returns the computer to normal. Another nice feature is that the program comes with parental controls that allow parents to set a timer for how long kids can play, and determine whether printing is allowed.
Common Sense Media is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing information to help parents make media and entertainment choices for their families.
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