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Fun Learning At Its Best

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 35 / 35
Date: October 21, 2002
Author: Amazon User

My 4 1/2 year old son needed a fun learning challenge. Blue's Clues Kindergarten provided just that. With the three different levels of fun we were able to customize the game to suit his learning needs. Our son played the game for hours not even knowing he was learning.

Pass, unless you really love shelves.

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 33 / 36
Date: September 05, 2002
Author: Amazon User

This Blue's Clues game looks like it was rushed through development. With the show's old host Steve gone, they now have to quickly replace Blue's old computer games so that the new host, Joe, is in them. Most of the simplistic activities have a recurring theme: taking and putting things off and on shelves. Here's a list of what to expect:

Activity 1: Go to the bakery and pick items off shelves.

Activity 2: Go to the library and put books where they're supposed to go, by matching the book with the letter on the shelf.

Activity 3: Go to the Toy Store and help customers buy presents by picking from a shelf full of items.

Activity 4: Go to the grocery store, and help Mr. Salt and Mrs. Pepper select groceries by taking food items off of ... you guessed it, shelves.

The only activity that is different, is a mediocre music activity, where you match what Purple Kangaroo does. Eh.

Sounds pretty exciting, doesn't it! Well, not really. The only reason this game will sell like crazy is because it has Blue in it. If it wasn't for that, no one would pay attention to it. The activities are simplistic and rapidly become boring due to the recurring and unimaginitive "shelf" theme. Worse, the program doesn't really explain anything to your child. It just jumps right in and says "Match the letter on the book, to the letter on the shelf." Your child may likely ask, "What's a letter?"

The show is good, but this game isn't. Pass, unless you really love shelves.

Hours and Hours and Hours of fun!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 28 / 29
Date: August 05, 2004
Author: Amazon User

My daughter has had this software program for several months now. She is four years old and doesn't watch Blue's Clues that much, although she knows what it is. That's what's so amazing to me about this software, your kids don't have to sit in front of the TV for hours to know how to play it!

It strays from your typical Blue's Clues adventure of finding the 3 clues. The software runs like a virtual preschool (which she can appreciate now that she's attending one).

My favorite feature (and hers!) is how you can give your drawings and paintings away to other school "members". Then a few minutes later along comes Joe explaining that you've recieved one too!

I've found the "outside" part of the software to be very full of knowledge about animals. Children take part of a scrapbooking adventure and in the process learn many facts about different animals.

All games/tasks can be made more difficult with "leveling" so that the software never gets old.

This game is WAY better than TV!

Lots of fun for a 2 1/2 year-old

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 25 / 26
Date: December 29, 2002
Author: Amazon User

I bought this game for my 2 1/2 year-old nephew, even though it's billed for ages 3-5. I didn't realize, however, that he would take to it so quickly. In the week since I've had this game, he's basically played it for an hour every day, and cries when I try to protect his little eyes by turning it off sooner.

He can use the mouse to navigate his way quickly and accurately through Blue's neighborhood. There are many different screens to go through, from Miss Marigold's school, out to the streets, and into the five different stores where you perform the activities. He particularly likes to go into the library and place books back onto the book cart, matching the letters -- even if he doesn't yet know what those letters are called. Other activities seem a little pointless to me: after you go into the "present store" and select a gift, a pile of money appears (as much as $10) and then you have to transfer the bills one at a time into a talking cash register. I was afraid this would bore my nephew, but he actually does all of it. Only the music store frustrates him -- there are only three instruments to play with (a bell, a triangle, and a xylophone), and the music is basically tuneless.

Wisely, the game also has fun little extras for when your child doesn't want to complete the activities. At times, all my nephew does is click on the mailbox to make it talk, or watch the fountain shoot water into the air, or get the chimney to count to 9. It's a great idea to include games on Miss Marigold's computer that your child can print out and play with, even when the computer's off. I don't think my nephew will outgrow this game too quickly.

On the whole, this has become my nephew's favorite computer game (he also has "Elmo's World: Pets, Food & Telephones" and "Muppet Babies Toyland Train"). Although he lacks the patience, at 2 1/2, to complete some of the activities, he loves the colors and sounds and funny noises the game offers, and can keep himself occupied indefinitely (in toddler terms).

One thing the programmers probably didn't intend: although the game is hosted and narrated by Joe, my nephew still calls him "Steve". This makes me laugh!

Good, but not great

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 21 / 22
Date: January 18, 2004
Author: Amazon User

We've had this disc since my son was 3. Other reviewers have expressed the thought that the game is more suitable for toddlers. I don't entirely agree, particularly given that there are three distinct levels for each task.

The Grocery Store - level 1 directs children to put specific items in the basket. Higher levels direct children to items based on their relative position (e.g. the item below, or to the right of, bananas).

The Music Store - I admit that I find this one tiresome. The player repeats a pattern of beats on a variety of instruments. Each level increases the number of beats and instruments used.

The Bakery - Children choose items that are specific shapes. Level 1 uses only the most common shapes. Level 2 introduces lesser known shapes, like the crescent. Level 3 has the child look for objects that combine shapes - the task may be to find an item containing 1 circle, 1 triangle and 2 rectangles, which the child will find arranged as a cookie shaped like a little girl.

The Present Store - Here the child is asked to find one item that cost a specific number of "blue dollars". The number of dollars is displayed on the gift table and each item's price is displayed beneath it. The child places the item on the table and then counts out the appropriate number of dollars. In the higher levels, the child is given an amount, but they must find a combination of 2 or more objects that equal that total (probably the most complex activity in the game).

The Library - ok, I can't defend this one. It is ridiculously easy on any level.

All in all, it's not a bad game. It does move a little slowly and you do have to adjust the difficulty of each activity to the appropriate level for your child, but holds appeal for kids a variety of ages and gives them a chance to play with a favorite character.

Great!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 19 / 20
Date: November 04, 2002
Author: Amazon User

I have to disagree with most of the other reviews. My daughter is two and a half and loves this game. We also have Jumpstart Toddler, as well as Winnie the Pooh Toddler and this seems to be the best of all. As far as others saying its boring, I think they are missing the point. Moving things to and from the shelves helps toddlers develop the coordination needed to master the mouse. Although, adults may not find matching, counting and learning pre-reading skills challenging, most toddlers do. There are five different stores to visit, one for each activity. There are three levels of difficulty for each activity, so I really disagree with this one being boring. Once you visit all the stores and complete all the activites you go back to the preschool for a couple of suprises! The background music is nice throughout the game. If you happen to have a problem with Joe, (vs. Steve) I'll let you know that he doesn't have that big of a role in this one. Blue is the main character, so if you like her, get this one.

Age Group 3-5 ???

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 21 / 24
Date: October 08, 2002
Author: Amazon User

My daughter absolutely loves Blue. She can watch the videos over and over. I bought this game to allow myself a little quiet time. So far she seems to love playing it. The thing is, she's only 19 months old. To be honest the game seems to lack substance. It's mainly alot of repetition that I think would be extremely boring for a 3-5 year old child. If she can "get it" now, then I can't believe that in a year from now she'd still want to play it. I wouldn't recommend this game for the intended age group. I would however recommend it to parents of younger children who are interested in taking the time to play the game with their child. When we first bought the game I needed to explain what was going on. The more she played however she began catching onto the concept (you have to help pick out gifts for customers, go to the grocery store, the library, etc.)
If you have extra money buy the game, if not get your child something you're sure they'll enjoy. Like I said this game seems to be more for a younger child and I don't see it entertaining their interests for too long a period of time.

A Solid Toddler/Preschool computer game

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 16 / 17
Date: January 14, 2003
Author: Amazon User

This is only the second computer game we've gotten for our daughter, who is 2 1/2, but we are very happy with it so far. The game is very simple, but engaging for a toddler/preschooler. The educational content is standard preschool fare: simple counting, letter/number recognition, shape/color matching, etc. However, the best thing about this game is that it really allows a little one to learn basic computer skills like controlling and clicking the mouse. The editorial review mentioned that the mouse clicks had to be very precise, but I found this game to be more forgiving in this regard than our other game, which is intended for younger kids.

I also like the fact that we can play two ways. The intended way is to work on Ms. Marigold's checklist by visiting places in town and completing tasks. The other way is just to explore the street and click on things. Each thing on the street does something funny when you click on it. This flexibility is a great feature for toddlers, who -- on a whim -- might get discouraged by the game and just feel like observing, or might be motivated to complete the whole checklist from start to finish!

Lots of learning fun

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 12 / 12
Date: November 19, 2003
Author: Amazon User

My son started playing this game when he turned three. He loved it then, and still loves playing it at age four. I should say, however, that I believe the optimum age for this game to be between 2-4 years. Handily, there are different level settings, so children who are more advanced or less advanced in activities can still enjoy the fun. For example, my son does well in mathematics and reading, so the library and the play store are high level activities. On the other hand, hearing sounds and repeating them (the triangle goes 'ting', so you must then hit the triangle) is harder for him, so we use the easiest setting for the music store.

He has spent up to two hours playing in just the present store, picking out presents for friends within the money limit allowed. He loves choosing the wrapping paper and matching bows, as well.

As the game features many different activities (reading, mathematics, sound repetition, vocabulary, shape-sorting), it is a win for parents interested in educating their children in a fun way. I'm planning on purchasing it for my nephew, as well, and if I had more relatives with children, they'd be getting it for Christmas, too.

The main down side would be Joe, as compared to the beloved Steve, but he plays a very minor role, and is only seen when the child is switching between activity centers (library, grocery store, music store, bakery, present store). The other would be the lack of actual reading in the library. As my son can read, it would be more fun on the highest level if he could sort the books according to title, instead of just with the beginning letter. However, he still has a lot of fun with it, and the mathematics in the present store are great.

Go with the "old" Blues Clues programs

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 9 / 9
Date: October 20, 2002
Author: Amazon User

We were so excited to see a new title released with Joe in it. We quickly oredered this for my 3 year old twins and when it arrived we were very diappointed. The kids quickly bored of it and don't even ask to play it anymore. When asked if they want a Blues Clues with Steve or Joe in it they say "NO JOE!!". Stick with the older Blue's Clues, my twins love Blues Art Time activities.

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