Eager To Learn
Reviewed by Julie Green
Published by Sierra

Age Group: Age 8 and Up Type: Thinking Games Price: $34.95 US

Description:

Eager To Learn is supplied on two CDs; the first CD is a children's interactive virtual play area with many activies that occur in both indoor and outdoor settings. These activities can include gardening, cooking (complete with real recipes), building and painting. The second contains educational tasks in the areas of math, science and English for 2nd to 5th grade children.

The first thing your child will do is create himself using various selections of hair color, eye color, ears, etc. These attributes are saved with your child's name for future sessions. Children are then led through all activities by Adi Jr., "a lovable, playful creature" with pixie ears and a chubby belly. He speaks directly to your child, giving advice, help and encouragement.

Visual and Audio

Effects throughout the game are very professional and geared toward children. Bright colors and unusual features on characters will hold a child's interest and are appropriately complimented by zany sounds.

Educational Content

The educational CD contains many levels appropriate for children of all abilities. The mathmatical problems provide everything from matching to actual equations and children are encouraged to try a higher level after successfully completing their first level.

The play CD allows children to change their setting by planting vegetable and flower gardens, painting their house or hanging pictures in the living room. The kitchen area provides a place to store the vegetables that your child has planted, watered and grown as well as a place to cook them. Recipes are included and your child can mix the ingredients, bake a cake and decorate it. A print option allows you to print these recipes and actually cook them in your own kitchen. Creativity is the key on this CD.

Technical Notes

One of the most unimpressive features with the game is the rather slow loading times. Most parents won't have spent a fortune on a top of the range PC, but without 32mb RAM, the loading time between scenes can sometimes be at a speed that might have your child losing interest very quickly. That said, it is certainly playable on 16mb, and it could teach your child that "patience is a virtue!"

Installation is very easy, just insert the first CD, and run the SETUP program. The computer will take it from there.

Overall

Eager To Learn is a good, solid package, professionally presented, and interesting and fun for children around the 3-7 age. At $35, it's not a bargain, but it should keep your child amused for many more hours after you've switched the TV off - and for the most part, it's educational, and great for releasing their creative flair.

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