“The girls LOVE JumpStart World. Unlike most of the computer games and websites we've seen, JumpStart is a mix of learning games that aim to develop specific academic skills like matching, phonemic awareness, counting, etc., as well as "missions" that emphasize basic social goals like sharing and friendship, and activities that are purely for fun. A "Camp" setting allows children to explore freely, entering various cabins, learning "arcades," and even an art studio. The overall program is set up with the aim of linear progress through grade-level skills. After completing "Adventure Packs," parents can purchase additional, incrementally advanced Packs via retailers or the JumpStart website, but kids can choose how they go about completing each individual Pack. "Gems" are easily earned by playing a wide variety of games, and can be used to make cyber purchases at the "Zippy Mart" or even to buy a pet that then follows along on the adventure.

Up to three children's information is stored simultaneously, so both the girls and my son each have their own character whose progress is tracked individually. The customization and linear progression of the program, combined with the full-screen, 3-D graphics, and realistic "nature" sounds sets JumpStart World apart from other games, and the girls spend plenty of time simply exploring the varied topography. The software's web connection provides both new learning material and regular changes to the landscape to reflect real-world holidays and seasons. The girls were so excited to see that winter had arrived at Camp JumpStart--complete with snow, Hanukkah, Christmas, and Kwanzaa. The website maintains a Parent Center, where parents can customize "rewards" for their child's progress and send messages to their kids which appear on billboards throughout the Camp (we're not big on rewards per se, so we haven't tried these features). Additionally, parents can sign up to receive e-mail updates on their child's progress.

The #1 downside of JumpStart World is probably cost. The starter kit is around $20 (though it does include a lot of material), and additional packs are around $8 apiece (you can subscribe and automatically download monthly). Also, my husband had a hard time installing the software on our computer (though we were thinking that maybe since we tested the product when it was brand new there were still a few bugs to be worked out). Finally, the progress reports were somewhat sporadic and didn't match up with what the girls were actually doing; for example, one said they were "missing all the fun and learning," when they in fact had been on JumpStart World the day before.

Overall, though, this is a great product. My guess is that JumpStart has since worked the installation bugs out, and other than the installation, the software has always run without issue. Also, an added benefit of JumpStart is that your child never needs to access the Internet at all. You just click on the JSWorld icon on the desktop, so there’s no need to worry about ads or anything like that.”

Now, are you ready to rock JumpStart World? Here’s how to enter to win one of the 30 copies* we’re giving away: