Pea has been begging to use the computer for a while and I’ve been very hesitant. She specifically requested ABCmouse.com after seeing commercials for it on Nick Jr.
ABCmouse has a leveled learning approach on their website, with each level geared towards your child’s age group. Of course, you can start your child at any level that you would like if you feel that they are smarter than (or not ready for) their age-specific level.
- Levels 1 & 2 correspond to Preschool aged children (3 & up)
- Levels 3 & 4 correspond to Pre-Kindergarten aged children (4 & up)
- Levels 5 & 6 correspond to Kindergarten aged children (5 & up)
(There is also an area for toddlers on the site as well)
I started Pea on level 1 (she is 3 1/2) and it is just the basics- letters, colors, etc. There are songs, games, puzzles, books that are read to her and more. She is still trying to figure out the learning path and gets a bit frustrated because she can’t figure out how to go back a screen on her own, etc. She is very much independent and having a website that I need to help her with annoys her.
She does, though, love the tickets/rewards system. Whenever she completes something, she receives tickets which she can use later on. She also loves all of the songs because she is a big singer.
There is every single subject imaginable- Science, Social Studies, Reading, Art, Math and more! Pea loves the painting and the puzzles as well. The children have the option to save a painting they’ve made and/or print it. (I encourage Pea to save and not print, otherwise we would be out of printer ink!)
Children can work directly out of the classroom (which has a virtual teacher) or they can follow along the learning path. They can gain a sense of accomplishment watching their avatar make their way along the learning path!
Speaking of printing, you can also print out worksheets for your child to work on off of the computer. These worksheets correspond with the lessons on the site.
I think this is great because it gives parents a comprehensive idea of what their child should be working on at any given age. You know what else I like? That in your parent settings you can set a timer for how long you want your child to be on the ABCmouse website. I set the timer for 1 hour, after that, Pea is logged off. For the parents worried about too much screen time, this timer puts you in charge of how much screen time your child has.
If you sign up for ABCmouse, you get one month free to determine if you and your child like it. After that, the cost of the site is $7.95 per month or $79.00 for the entire year. I’d say $8 a month isn’t bad for a website that grows with your child and has so much comprehensive information. If you have more than one child- no worries- you can add up to 3 children onto your account with your subscription.
I look forward to building upon what Pea already knows on this site. She is very interested in the planets right now and 3D shapes. These, and more, are covered on the site. I think for parents who are looking for ways to supplement instruction with their child or parents who would like their child to use the computer, but want to make sure it is something meaningful- ABCmouse.com is a good site to check out.
The folks at ABCmouse.com were gracious enough to offer one of my readers a one-year subscription to their site (You have to sign up for a 30 day subscription first).
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