Educational Software for Toddlers, Kids, Teens and Adults.

Tips on how to improve test scores, grades and confidence for students of all ages. Information on the best methods for teaching the basics to toddlers, preschoolers and kindergarteners.

Saturday, June 25, 2011

Phonics, the Key to Reading Well

For those of you with youngsters who are starting school for the first time this fall, now might be a good time to start preparing your child for the adventure of reading.  By now, they should know their alphabet and be ready to start associating the letters with sounds, the beginning magic of phonics.  At Learning Is Fun Store, you will find a software solution that will adapt to any child's learning style and entertain and inspire them while they learn.

Designed to teach essential reading skills to little ones as young as two, Caillou Ready to Read has three skill levels that adjust as your child grows and develops.  Filled with over thirty activites that help kids master phonics and gain a sense of just how much fun reading is.  This wonderful program also has the added benefit of being playable in English, French or Spanish - a great way for children to begin to learn a second language.

I Love Phonics from DK is a program designed by educators that uses a series of games to start your child down the right reading path.  Children begin by learning the basic sounds that each letter makes, then, begin to distinguish the difference between vowels and consonants and how these sounds are blended to form words.  This program also includes a special parental section that will allow you to customize lessons and receive progress reports.

An enchanting way to learn phonics, Disney's Phonics Quest is a magical learning adventure.  Mickey Mouse is your child's guide as he portrays the Sorcerer's Apprentice.  Your child must help Micky find the Sorcerer's lost items by successfully gaining knowledge and phonics skills - with every task mastered, a lost item is returned.  A wealth of skills are learned, including; letter & sound recognition, vowel sounds, syllable recognition, word building, spelling, pronunciation, reading comprehension, rhyming, and more.

Monday, June 20, 2011

It's All About Family

Summer is here and it's time for family vacations and all the fun that goes along with it.  At Learning Is Fun Store, we have software that will help you share cherished memories with family and friends and it is so very easy to use.  While you are busy creating new memories, you may want to take the time to also delve into a little family history to pass on down to future generations.

So many people are into scrapbooking, but, did you know that you can make digital scrapbooks.  No matter what the occasion, Scrapbook Boutique will give you a wealth of tools and templates to create beautiful digital scrapbooks.  Just a few of the themed templates include love, weddings, family, babies, kids, holidays and much more.  There are tons of tools that let you customize and correct pictures such as the ability to crop photos, resize pages, add layers, do photo effects, do red eye removal, add text, color match as well as other neat features. You can even turn your scrapbook into a calandar, greeting cards or photobook.

Help keep family memories alive with Lineage Family Tree Software.  This is the simplest way to create amazing family trees in just four easy steps.  First off, you enter the information that you know.  Then begin your research, you will have access to an abundance of online resources to track information about your ancestry.  You can then design very impressive trees, charts and reports that you can customize with photos, colors, fonts, boxes and borders to create heirloom quality treasures.  Then share your unique story with family, you can even create a webpage complete with photos, audio & video clips.

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Summer Resources

Kids that get the whole summer off from school can use the break to enjoy themselves and just be kids. You can use the days that are either too hot or rainy to be outdoors in a constructive way.  Help keep their brains sharp with entertaining games and activities that help increase their critical thinking and problem solving skills.  Designate some time each day for reading and creative play.  At Learning Is Fun Store, we have software solutions perfect for almost any child.

For a wide variety of fun games that will keep any child entertained for hours, try 1001 Kidz Games.  It is loaded with arcade and sports style games, but, is also mixed with a healthy dose of brain teasers and challenging  puzzles that will exercise the grey matter.  Designed to be easy for children to use and maneuver through, it is a fantastic bargain for under $10.00.

Everyone knows the magic of Disney movies, but, did you know that they have a huge selection of online books for kids of all ages and interests?  Perfect for summer, you can get a trial subscription at a discount rate with a Disney Digital Books 3 Month Subscription.  There are over six hundred books available online and the subscription covers up to three children along with a parental account to keep track of their progress and give them words of encouragement.  There are challenging activities and the option to hear stories read to them with charming character voices, sound effects and music.

Older children (11+) will get a good workout with NeuroActive Program Learning.  Developed by educators and brain experts to help develop learning ability.  Not as daunting as it sounds, it is actually a collection of fun games and exercises that improve learning, make reading faster, boost memory, retention and problem sovling skills.  It is recommended that the program be used at least three times a week for fifteen to twenty minutes.  It will help keep your kids ready for the next school year.

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Keyboarding Correctly for Kids

Knowing how to type on a keyboard is a necessity for kids.  It is important to start teaching them at a young age before they begin to develop bad habits that will be hard to break.  Hunt and peck just won't do it in today's competitive world.  Kids need decent typing skills in order to complete homework, reports, and do research on the internet.  At Learning Is Fun Store, we have a variety of fun programs that will make learning how to type easy, even for the very young.

A program filled with a healthy dose of fun is JumpStart Typing.  Kids learn in an exciting arcade-style environment which, of course, includes lessons and videos that teach proper finger placement.  Children have a variety of activities on screen to keep them motivated including rock climbing, skate boarding and skiing down a slippery slope while they practice keyboarding.  The program automatically adjusts the difficulty level as your child's skills increase.

Very popular with both kids and adults, Mavis Beacon is a master at teaching everyone how to type with speed and efficiency.  Her latest,  Mavis Beacon Keyboarding Kidz, is ideal for younger students and tweens who may just want to increase their speed and accuracy.  Not only do they get great instruction, but, kids get to role play as they pretend to work the concession stand of a busy movie theater.  Kids have to improve their skills in order to keep up with the patrons.

Superstart Typing Arcade is an entertaining way for children who know how to type to hone their skills.  Great fun, kids build speed and accuracy typing the letters and words that appear on a variety of blimps, balloons, and aircraft.  There are over thirty levels for kids to conquer and three difficulty settings to suit abilities.  The graphics and sound effects are incredibly good and children can save a game and then return to finish it.

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Designing Your World

Whether you want to make upgrades to your home or you're just tired of looking at the same old surroundings, Learning Is Fun Store is here to help.  We have software solutions that are an affordable way to help you design both new interior and exterior spaces.  This next generation software puts you in the drivers seat and allows you to experiment with colors, materials, plants, etc. for any project that you want to tackle.  A great "try before you buy" approach that gives you a vision of your ideas.

Design the perfect outdoor space with Landscape, Deck & Patio by nexGen.  Loaded with video tutorials that are accessible from the help menu, it is easy to get started almost immediately.  Do you want to add new landscaping features to your yard?  Import a photo of your landscape, then, start clicking in the plants, shrubs, trees and flowers that you would like to add.  You can even see what the plants will look like when mature with just the click of a button.  Want a new deck, patio, outdoor fireplace, sauna, etc. - editable designs will let you see how they will look to make an informed decision.

If you like to do-it-yourself but have been a little nervous about tackling a project, Home & Landscape Weekend Project will help give you the courage to go for it.  Pick out the area of your home that you want to improve, then, using NexGen technology, it's easy to visualize what your improvement will look like.  You can try out new paint colors, lighting, bath and kitchen fixtures, cabinets and so much more.  Step-by-step videos will instruct you on how to accomplish your project.  A built-in estimator helps you calculate materials and keep track of your expenses.

Friday, June 3, 2011

Language Learning for Kids

Traditionally, kids begin to study foreign languages when they enter middle school.  Young brains, however, are like little sponges that soak up information and retain it well at an amazing speed.  Because younsters learn so readily, it is very easy to begin to teach them the basics of a different language as young as the age of three.  At Learning Is Fun Store, we have software designed to introduce children to language learning in a fun way that isn't intimidating and is very entertaining.

From JumpStart, software that is highly trusted and praised by parents and teachers, comes JumpStart Languages for kids between the ages 3-6.  Little ones join Frankie the Dog at a world festival where they can explore four different language pavilions; Spanish, French, Japanese and English.  They learn vocabulary words of everyday objects, phrases, colors, numbers, and time.  So much more than just language learning, kids also watch videos where they will learn about the landmarks, sports, customs and culture of each land.

Designed for children ages 6-10, Mia's Language Adventure is a grand way for kids to begin to learn both French and Spanish.  Mia is an adorable mouse who's grandmother, Mimi, has been kidnapped.  Kids participate in all sorts of fun language learning activities in order to gain the information to get her back.  Children learn letters, numbers, and hundreds of words and receive instruction in grammar, construction of sentences and much more!

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Play and Learn

Computer fun time can also turn into learning time with games that challenge and entertain the brain.  It is important to let kids be kids during their summer break, but, it's also good to keep their minds working.  Make sure that they enjoy plenty of outside activities along with a healthy dose of brain building exercise.  At Learning Is Fun Store, we have a wide selection of software solutions that are highly entertaining and keep the gray matter busy.

Kids will use their problem solving skills and the creative sides of their minds with Max and the Magic Marker.  Max has drawn a terrifying monster with his marker and it has gotten loose in his drawings.  Children will use their creative skills and Max's marker to draw objects and solve problems to capture the evil Mustachio.  They will need to put their thinking caps on as they solve puzzles, challenges and secrets.

Whether your child is a spelling whiz or needs practice in order to get up to par, Merriam Webster's Spell Jam is loaded with words to spell.  Family-friendly, the difficulty levels can be adjusted to make playing fun for anyone.  There are three play modes; practice, competition amongst friends and family, and, game show, the ultimate challenge.  There are thousands of words to keep the action going.

National Geograpic Kids has software that is loaded with activities and learning games.   Not only are they entertaining, but, they will get kids thinking about ways to help out planet earth.  Animal Rescue is a funfilled safari that introduces children to wildlife preservation and animal habitats.  It includes special videos that will be unlocked as they complete challenges.  Saving Planet Earth teaches children important environmental concepts from air pollution to water contamination as they go on exciting adventures on land and sea.