Michelle and Laura-Ashley learn…

JumpStart Advanced Preschool World

I had a great little chuckle to myself today. I was in the study working/playing on my computer while my two girls (Michelle and Laura-Ashley) were playing on their computer. They were playing a new JumpStart game that I recently bought them that they absolutely love – JumpStart Advanced Preschool World.

It’s a very cool game with 3D animation, great sound and beautiful animated scenery with butterflies, rainbows, waterfalls and slides. The thing they absolutely love doing best at the moment is dress-up where you can change the clothes your character (avatar) wear, what the colour of your skin is, your hair colour and style, shoes etc. Just this part of the game alone is heaven-sent for two little girls and well worth the money spent. Next best is probably going down the slide into the water – clothes and all! It always evokes a giggle while they are trying to figure out what to do next that their little character does a handstand or something weird.

Normally they would be playing together on their own computer and they have to take turns at it – fairs fair you know. And it’s a little frustrating for Michelle as Laura-Ashley is 14 months younger than her (Michelle is 5 on the 21st October).  So Laura-Ashley naturally struggles a little bit more than Michelle – who is quite sharp I must admit (yes I’m biased). Add to the fact that Laura-Ashley is left-handed and has battled to come to grips with the mouse (pun intended) although it’s clear that having her do little computer classes at Wishing Wells creche has brought her on in leaps and bounds.

Anyway, today as Mommy was being lazy (ok, not feeling so well) and lying on the bed; I said to Michelle why doesn’t she play the game on Mommy’s computer provided she makes me a mega-promise not to touch the very expensive 23″ Apple LCD Display that spoiled Mommy has!  Solemnly she made the promise that she would be very very careful and began to play (to her credit she was very good).

Laura-Ashley

Needless to say every few seconds there would be a cry from Laura-Ashley:
“Michelle! I’m stuck, how do I get to the movies?”
“Michelle! Help, how do I get back to my house?”
“I want to have the same hair as you Michelle”
“Michelle what’s happening here?” (this was usually after she had accidentaly right-clicked the mouse, or minimised all the application and started up Outlook Express or something of that nature – sheesh!)

If it wasn’t the pleas for help getting around the game, there would be squeals of delight:
“Michelle, come see what I’m wearing.”
“Michelle, listen to my song”
“Michelle, look at this kite I just won”
“Michelle…”
“Michelle…”
“Michelle..!.”
I love it! For once they were leaving me alone. Hallelujah. But I could see MIchelle slowly but surely getting irritated having to get off her chair each time, wander over to the other computer, often climb up on the desk next to Laura-Ashley in order to help her out.

So I said to Michelle: “Now do you understand why Daddy gets so frustrated when you’re on the computer and I’m busy doing other stuff and you keep calling me”.
“Arrrgh, I know; it’s so annoying!” says Michelle. “Laura-Ashley, stop bothering me!”
And she’s only four! God help us.

  Kids! Gotta love em! They  are actually very cute it has to be said.  The game is really good for them. It teaches them about friendship, sharing and following directions.  They don’t actually play that much on the computer as they usually need supervision. If it’s not time needed to teach them what to do it’s mostly seperating the two from a full-out fight threatening to throw the computer away unless they behave immediately!  Besides you know how precious time is!  Then again time with them is also precious.

Have a great week everyone.
Ian