Review: JumpStart.com

Computer details: Inspiron M1530, Vista Home Premium, 32-bit

Rarely are websites for children educational – and if they are, they grow old really fast.  I’ve been on my share of kid’s game sites, looking for something for my child to play (and learn at the same time – otherwise, we’ll just go outside, play, and get some good exercise!).  I’ve run into the typical Let’s-Raise-Virtual-Pets! type of websites and they’re not for my family.  They’re less learning and more product promotion, in the end (No, I don’t want to buy a $19.99 stuffed animal, magazine, or anything else just so my child can get something virtual and show off that he bought your product – my family is aiming to use the computer to learn!).

When I was approached to try JumpStart.com, I was understandably leery – learning and games usually heavily rely on the games part.  I wound up pleasantly surprised when the game turned out to be expansive, encompassed a lot, and fairly easy to grasp individual game objectives.

A 3D virtual world where you control what you see and what you do, JumpStart had me intrigued from the very beginning.

Pros:

• Expansive – there is a lot to explore and a lot to do at JumpStart.com (also see: Cons)
• Extensive – the variety of games and learning opportunities is impressive
• Easy to Navigate – using a fairly modern computer (within the last few years, I would hazard to guess), the game flows well.
• Fun – it has been both fun for my child to play and fun to watch them enjoying (And yes, I played myself and yes, I enjoyed myself.  There is no age limits on entertainment!)

Cons:

• Overall, I was duly impressed – as I had said, it is very infrequent that I find a website for children that I approve of, but JumpStart has fit the bill.  My child looks forward to future updates, new games, and the changing of the scenery (for winter, summer, etc.).

Ok, that’s a lie; I’m totally looking forward to those things, too.

www.JumpStart.com

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