Reader Rabbit: Playtime for Baby

Amazon.com Review:
Can educational software be more fun for a busy 10-month-old than rummaging around in kitchen drawers? No. But Reader Rabbit Playtime for Baby does manage to capture infant attention with bright, happy images; baby-friendly audio; and a format that responds well to chubby, not-so-coordinated hands. A game of tag between Reader Rabbit and Mat the Mouse ends with Mat hiding in a toy box. With Mat's help, each of the 10 toys in the box leads your baby into a new experience: singing, manipulating shapes, hide-and-seek, discovering body parts, reading storybooks and (oh joy!) rummaging in drawers. Your baby controls the action by hitting any key on the keyboard (or just hitting the keyboard as they are wont to do) or simply moving the mouse. No clicks required. The cursor is a big fat star that leaves a trail of twinkles and makes a magic-wand noise every time it moves. Brushing it against objects onscreen will elicit anything from a childlike giggle to a "ker-plunk" to the appropriate animal noise. The only critique of this CD is that the artwork is simplistic. It would be nice to see more depth and smoother movement, if only to make the CD more enjoyable for the adults who must guide their babies through it. Such subtlety probably doesn't matter to the scads of 1-year-old consultants The Learning Company must have on staff. By developing personalized storybooks with pages that don't rip and farm animals willing to engage in endless games of hide-and-seek, the creators of this CD have managed to tap into your baby's wildest dreams. No cupboard locks in Playtime for Baby! (Ages 9 to 24 months.) --Anne Erickson

Amazon.com Product Description:
Reader Rabbit Playtime for Baby introduces children 9 to 24 months to singing, dancing, words, parts of the body, movement, and more. Ten printable activities provide developmental exercises for your baby to practice while away from the computer. Any movement of the keyboard or mouse brings an instant response of colors, sounds, and motions. You and your child can interact by moving the mouse or by pressing any key, and an instructional video for parents shows easy ways for you and your baby to use the computer.

Easy mouse interaction:
I learned about this by checking it out from the library. It is the only program out of 5 that we have tried that has been able to teach my 2.5 yr old how to move the mouse. Still needs help at times, but it's been way better than Jumpstart and 2 pooh products for our son. Doesn't need to click to work the mouse; can use keybord instead.