ABCD for Kids – which learning software are you using?
So, which of the packages are you using?
Do you favour a package such as ClickNKids which the children use themselves and is all encompassing or do you prefer to download and print out flashcards and worksheets which involve more input from parents and carers?
Are you teaching the ABCD for kids who are only 2 or 3 years of age? If so, it may be that you will need to consider your child’s specific abilities. Not all children of this age will be able to use some of the software packages on their own. Other ABCD learning software packages involve the parents or carers much more and they will work together on the scheme rather than sitting at the computer alone. The programme above is one that specialises in younger children and has amazing results. Click onto the ad for a quick look around to see how it works. There is also proof of their success with a video of a two year old reading aloud. Stunningly successful programme.
We have already discussed the advantages of using the computer as a means of aiding the education of pre-school children and, obviously, parents who are keen to give their children a head start with learning the ABCD will already be using one of the choices available. But are you using the best format and system for your particular circumstances and the learning preferences of your child? Would you be better off using educational games to teach the ABCD for kids?
Identifying the package which will give your child the best advantages is not easy and can really only be done by having a good look at the options and, if possible, trying some of them out – preferably as a free trial! The majority of these ABCD learning software programmes will let you have at least a short free trial. This is important as not all children respond to the same learning tools.
So…. there you are… I have done some homework for you! I have hunted out some links to a choice of different sites which offer a range of systems for teaching the ABCD for kids and which give good details of what they offer. Some of them are allowing free sample lessons so that you get a good idea of the way they work.
This is a completely independent and impartial selection which you can look through and compare. In my opinion they all offer different advantages and you may find that your child would benefit from using more than one.
I have added links throughout this article to a number of sites which you can check out for yourselves and then choose the one which suits you and your children the best. You can click on any of the pics to get further details regarding these educational programmes which will all help to teach the ABCD for kids at the same time as providing fun and amusement.
You can even have free trials with all the products so that you can compare them yourselves.
ABCD for Kids – FREE lessons now available via the link below
ABCD for Kids – Technology, Research and Reviews
Click here for access to the FREE ABCD for Kids lessons which I refer to in this article.
The advancement of technology with respect to the teaching of literacy both at home and in schools is rapid – so much so that re wsearch has difficulty in keeping up. But, this is a subject that demands a good deal of research so that we can establish the advantages or disadvantages of teaching the ABCD for kids, phonetics and reading using readily available software.
Such a revolutionary step is not one to be taken lightly and it is obvious that parents of young children will be unaware of research on the subject. For this reason they be reluctant to move ahead with technology as a home teaching tool – after all, most parents of young children will have been taught their ABCD and reading skills using the blackboard and books and may not have had access to a computer at all.
So should we take the plunge and take advantage of one of the reading software programs available for our children? There is a range of them available – some much better than others – which are easy to download and fun to use.
For the purpose of this article I have been looking in particular at the ClickN KIDS program as it is one of the most popular and has received superb reviews based on it’s progressive lessons, popularity with the children and the storing of progress reports for each child.
Let’s see what the researchers say regarding the use of technology such as this and the benefits when it comes to teaching the ABCD for kids and getting them started with learning to read.
The following is an extract from the NEIRTEC Report*…
Making Decisions about Technology in Reading Instruction
Our review of the research on technology and teaching children to read leads to the conclusion that multimedia digital technology, with capabilities such as hypertext, text-to-speech conversion, and speech recognition, has significant potential to enhance reading instruction at the K-6 level.
Technology and Students’ Motivation
One additional benefit of computer supported instruction is the effect technology may have on students’ motivation to learn and to read. A study of kindergarten students using hypermedia-based software to teach letter recognition found that, although at-risk readers benefited the most from the software, all studen
ts were enthusiastic about using the computers and were motivated to explore and learn from the software**. Presented with comparable paper and electronic resources, kindergarten and first-grade students preferred to wait for an opportunity to use the electronic version, even if a print version was immediately available ***. An earlier study of such motivation found that the enthusiasm for learning in the target content areas persists even after the computers are taken away**** .
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One of the main advantages seems to be the enthusiasm of the children to learn using the computer. A good deal observation should be given to the child during their time on the computer as unsupervised time could be confusing and negative as well as bringing with it all the obvious problems.
It is also important to emphasize that this time spent at the computer should not be seen as time for you, as a
parent or carer, to take a break or do something else! Sorry, but for children learning is a social activity and not something that benefits from time alone. Sit with them and encourage them. Make sure that they are using the program correctly as, especially the younger children, may have problems with the basics of computers. Do not prompt them but help to increase their understanding what they are doing. Also praise them when they succeed. Although they will find it fun when a computerized character gives them a “well done” this is nothing compared to the praise of someone truly important.
Computers are here to stay… that is a fact! Rather than fight their existence we can benefit from the careful use of certain programs to help our children and give them the chance of a solid base of reading. The availability of the ABCD for kids in this format is a positive step forward and the benefits are now being proved by research. Used in conjuction with good old fashioned books the children will soon be motivated to learn and will benefit from a good foundation of literacy.
* http://www.neirtec.org/reading_report/report.htm
** Boone, Higgins et al 1996
*** Mitchell & Fox 2001
****Moxley & Warash 1990-1991
Kids ABCD on the computer – is it a viable teaching tool?
For many years the ABCD for kids has been taught using traditional methods which have worked very successfully and are responsible for the majority of us being literate. However, is it time to move on and take advantage of modern technology and the wide range of websites for kids which teach the alphabet, letter sounds and reading and spelling?
Games for kids have always been a great way of teaching the ABCD and they learn easily and without pressure or even knowledge of their increased awareness and many parents implement this in the home with the use of flash cards, books and kids games which stimulate the child’s interest. These are known to be a success and are also popular with the children. But what about the computer? As adults the majority of us have a computer at home which will be used for a variety of purposes and it is easy to see the appeal that it has for the children. The highly visual attraction is hard to resist and they often become keen to investigate. However, not many parents are keen to have their children spend hours playing computer games which give little or no educational instruction and often over stimulate their brains to no advantage. But how about using the computer to actually educate the children and teach them their alphabet and get them reading easily and without pressure?
Activities for kids cannot be replaced by a computer. Fact. Children need to be given activities away from the computer and this is also true when teaching the alphabet and learning to read. To leave the job entirely to a computer package would be to take away some of the practical elements of learning. Puzzles for kids are an important part of their lives and can never be replaced by a keyboard and screen. The tangible experience of doing a puzzle is irreplaceable. They stimulate minds at the same time as increasing dexterity – something which goes beyond using a keyboard and mouse. But I do believe that a combination of manual, traditional methods and computer software packages is a great system.
Children are attracted to computers on account of the colourful moving graphics. This is fun and fun is what appeals to kids. Many children would choose the computer over flashcards and books on account of this and this is the ammunition that software producers are using to gain popularity. Many of the programmes, however have drawbacks and are not using well grounded teaching techniques to educate the children. As children are such sponges when it comes to taking in information, it is easy to give them the wrong signals and information and this will become implanted into their minds and difficult to remove.
Some computer programmes for example have poor sound reproduction which can confuse the children. Letter sounds can be misleading and this can be a stumbling point right at the onset of learning the ABCD. Confusion is disastrous for a child’s mind and it is easy to cause confusion but very difficult to clear up. The brain of a child is very accepting. They believe many things without question and if the phonetic alphabet is being badly pronounced and reproduced with poor sound quality this will become easily imprinted into their minds and accepted. It will then become difficult to change – you cannot just hit a delete button in their memories.
Yes, computers are a superb way to teach the ABCD for kids, but make sure that the package that you choose is a good quality one. Check the pronunciation of the words and the sound quality. Make sure that the package is working at a gentle pace and covers all the aspects necessary for them and does not give half the information before moving on to the next step. Websites for kids will never be able to fully replace what they need in the way of stimulation and education. Children need to progress with tangible products such as books and flash cards to encourage dexterity and practical learning. A computer should not be seen as an alternative but as an aid. Neither should it be seen as a solitary tool for teaching. Sit with your child and make a time to spend together and encourage them to think as well as just look at the pretty graphics!
Make use of the facilities that technology is giving us but do not forget the pleasures of books and puzzles for kids.
ABCD for Kids – Is it ever too early to start?
Can you start teaching the ABCD for kids who have a naturally hungry mind too early?
Children have amazing brains! They are often far sharper than we give them credit for and their capacity for learning is obviously much greater than that of an adult. They are constantly learning as they are subjected to a world of stimuli which their brains process and make sense of. But what about reading? Is this something which they will learn naturally? Only if they are given the information in the right order so that they can retain the information and make it useful. This way they will learn quickly and easily and without any confusing messages.
Learning to read usually starts in school when the children are around 5 years old. But prior to this you can start teaching ABCD for kids as young as 2 years as preschool games. At this age they are hungry for information and learning the alphabet can be done in such as way as they see it only as a game and not a chore. Once they have an understanding of the alphabet they will finding putting the letters together into words a simple step.
The ability to read is very important for young minds. They can establish an independence once they can read which comes from being able to sit quietly and learn at their own pace. Children love books and once they can read they will be able to stimulate their own minds with books that they choose and find subjects which they are interested in. They will no longer have to wait for Mum or Dad to read to them, they will have found their independence. This, as you can imagine, is also a great benefit for busy parents! It is so much better to see the children with a book rather than sitting in front of the television or playing computer games.
That does not mean to say that either the television or the computer are detrimental to a child’s education. Quite the opposite. Obviously we are not talking about them sitting for hours on end watching cartoons or playing “shoot ‘em up” games on the computer. Rather we are talking about using some of the educational websites for kids to stimulate and educate their inquisitive minds. Games for kids are good and can often be educational but there is a fine line and it is one which we must be aware of and use to their benefit rather than detriment.
Start when they are young. Kids games are a good way as the availability of the ABCD for kids who are wanting to be stimulated will mean that they learn to read early and then will go on to do better throughout their school life. Early learning is definitely a benefit, as is the continued use of games for kids to keep them focused and to improve spelling and grammar.
