Teaching your child to read on the computer

By Dina Gerdeman

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Many preschoolers have little interest in sitting at the kitchen table with a pencil and running through exercises in workbooks designed to teach them how to read. But if Clifford the Big Red Dog is bouncing around on the computer asking her to pick out letters or sound out words, they'll sit for an hour or longer because it feels like play.

That's the beauty of computer software geared toward preschoolers who are ready to learn their letters, sound out words and take the first steps toward reading. The latest learn-to-read software, with its animated characters and catchy songs, gives children all the magical qualities of watching a kids' video, while interacting with the programs and learning to read in the process.

Parents will probably want to pull their children onto their laps when they first introduce these programs to help their youngsters get acquainted with the software – and with the computer itself. For super-small computer users – kids who are 1 to 3 – there are programs that require no mouse-clicking or other computer skills, including the Reader Rabbit Toddler software. A toddler can strike any key to move the activities along. And most of the software programs geared toward children as young as 3 and 4 require little, if any, computer know-how. A child may be asked to maneuver the mouse or press just a few buttons on the keyboard, such as the up and down arrows. (You can encourage young children to point and click by purchasing a child-sized Cookie Monster mouse made by Kidzmouse or a mouse pad with a picture of Curious George surfing made by Belkin.)

Some programs even respond to a child's voice, including Jump Start Read and Rhyme by Knowledge Adventure, which lets children use microphones to sound out letters and sing along karaoke-style.

Which software would be best for your budding reader? Look for characters you think your child will enjoy. You'll find programs that feature Clifford, Curious George or Dr. Seuss characters. And consider the different teaching approaches in the various programs, which are typically developed by reading experts. Educators have long debated which approach to reading works best: phonics, which asks children to decode sentences by sounding out pieces of words, or whole language, which emphasizes reading for meaning and encourages children to decode each word through its larger context.
 
While most of the software on the market today is phonics-based, you can also find some that use the whole language approach, including the Edmark Reading Program, which markets itself as software that helps children with learning and developmental disabilities. You might learn which approach your school district prefers, and start with software geared toward that approach.

Most learn-to-read software programs run between $15 and $200, and you can find them in major retail stores, such as Best Buy and Target, or buy them through the manufacturer online. The more expensive programs tend to include games and activities that get progressively more challenging, so children can move on to higher levels as they get older. Children who use the software to identify letters at age 3, for example, can move on to sounding out words at age 4 and putting sentences together at 5 and 6. (Most of the programs also include printable activities that allow parents to extend the lesson beyond the computer.)

Be sure to try out the programs before you buy; many local libraries carry learn-to-read software that can be checked out. As with any software, check out the computer requirements on the box to make sure it's compatible with your system, then follow the installation instructions.

There are a number of top-selling software packages designed to help preschoolers get started on the road to reading. Note that The Learning Company and Edmark are both owned by RiverDeep, but they target different segments of the market.

• The Reader Rabbit Reading Learning System 2007 by the Learning Company, which includes the Reader Rabbit High Flying Act and Reader Rabbit I Can Read with Phonics, intended for children ages 4 to 7. The program builds early reading skills by encouraging kids to practice rhyming, sounding out letters and recognizing words.
Cost: $14.99.
For more information, go to www.learningcompany.com.

• The Edmark Reading Program, Level 1, is intended for children 4 and older who have learning or developmental disabilities and have had trouble with other reading methods. The software, which takes a whole-language approach, encourages the memorization of 150 words through constant repetition and positive reinforcement. Children will learn how certain words are used in a story, and they can click on individual words or whole sentences to hear them read aloud.
Cost: $199.
For more information, go to www.learningcompany.com or www.riverdeep.net.

• Jump Start Phonics Read and Rhyme by Knowledge Adventure, intended for kids 4 to 7, lets children use microphones to sound out letters, and as they master certain sounds and make their way down "Karaoke Avenue," they get to the "Karaoke Clubhouse," where they end up singing a song as they read along with the words on the screen.
Cost: $19.99.
For more information, go to www.knowledgeadventure.com.

• Bailey's Book House Version 4 by Edmark, intended for children 3 to 7, explores letter names and sounds, uppercase and lowercase letters and compound words. Kids can click on a letter to see dinosaurs dance or rhinos roller skate. Children can create their own stories and print them out and fold them into books.
Cost: $59.95.
For more information, go to www.learningcompany.com or www.riverdeep.net.

• ClickSmart by Scholastic, intended for kids 4 to 7, does not require downloading software; but is instead accessed through the Internet. Children interact with space alien characters, using phonics to introduce letters and sounds. Four progressive levels of reading are included in 80 lessons. It also includes workbooks, reading books and flash cards for reading practice away from the computer.
Cost: $19.95 per month. (A free trial is available on the Web site.)
For more information, go to www.scholastic.com/clicksmart.