Jump Ahead 2000: Preschool

• Packed with activities for ages 3-4.
• Teaches pre-reading skills.
• Builds early maths skills.
• Rewards success and tracks progress.
• 10 activities at 3 levels.
• 17 sing and learn songs.

As soon as the bright pre-school train puffs its way out of the station, young children enter the magical world of Charlie the Cat and his friends.

Just move the mouse and Peter Polar bear starts swinging in a tree, Eleanor Elephant begins to skip and Charlie starts bouncing a ball. But the fun really starts when you go into the play school.

Here there are a whole host of educational activities to take part in. Cecil the Mouse clearly explains what is available and his instructions are easy to follow. If you click on the artist area, you can play an engaging game of numbers and all the time the friendly cartoon-like bear provides support and encouragement.

But the outstanding feature of Jump Ahead 2000: Preschool is the piano. Click on the piano and the rolls of music immediately unfold and the catchy songs begin. The quality of the singing is excellent and the words of the popular nursery rhymes appear at the same time–young children are guaranteed to love them.

This CD-ROM is full of incentives and you can even collect tickets if you do well to go on a special train ride. Packed with puzzles, high-quality songs and learning activities, this is probably one of the best examples of children’s software aimed at this age group. — Justin Hunt