JumpStart Kindergarten Deluxe 2 CD Set

JumpStart Kindergarten is another solid effort. Our son thinks that he is playing games, but he is really honing his skills. Basic skills, like counting, phonics, and telling time are included. These skills are critical building blocks for any child's future academic success.

The interface is typical for this type of program. Kids enter a virtual "schoolhouse" and click on items that represent the activities to hone/learn particular skills. For example, users click on a clock to go to the telling time activity.

One thing we appreciate about the game is that it teaches a skill that we may overlook at times. It is very important for the child to listen to instructions prior to undertaking many of the activities. For example, in a game that teaches counting, users find themselves in a garden with Hopsalot, the rabbit who is the guide. Hopsalong tells users that he needs a certain number of a certain item growing in the garden ("I need 7 red roses."). Initially, our son was not paying attention, and he would be caught off guard when the game started. We kept telling him that he had to be quiet and listen to the instructions. He now listens attentively so that he can complete his task correctly.

We will definitely consider purchasing other titles from Knowledge Adventure. We've been pleased with the 2 products we own thus far.


JumpStart Kindergarten (Deluxe version) - Good Game   December 8, 2007
Hello. I am StoryMaker, a kid reviewer. I reviewed this game a while ago when I was younger, but it wasn't really the best review - it was too focused on gameplay and other areas that 90% or more of readers don't really care about. So, I'm making a better one.

First of all, JumpStart Kindergarten (Deluxe version) was my first JumpStart game ever, and ever since I got it, I've enjoyed JumpStart games. I don't remember it from my kindergarten days very well. However, I do know about its "kindergartener appeal" because of this young girl I know. When she was in K, I got to play with her sometimes. So, I let her play JumpStart Kindergarten (the first disc). She turned out to like it very much.

I'll be mostly talking about the first disc (the one BESIDES the Around the World thing) because I've had the most experience with it. After all, there's more to say about it anyway.

In the first disc, Hopsalot the rabbit, a friendly animal school-teacher, introduces youngsters to a Kindergarten schoolhouse. The schoolhouse is full of games and activities that are intended to teach Kindergarten subjects. They seem to be more entertaining than educational, but are good for a little bit of educational fun - even if it's not the world's most educational thing. It seemed like the girl I know found all the subjects fairly easy, but hey, maybe she's just smart.

Subjects taught include: ABC order, 123 order, patterns, matching, shapes, bigger & smaller sizes, early phonics, colors, (reading??) comphrehension, and more.

Playing enough games will earn kids the right to go to a petting zoo, taking a picture of an animal, and putting it in their scrapbook. The animal photos do silly things when clicked.

One part with a high kindergartener appeal was a place where all you really do is watch people eat grapes (no kidding!). It's not really educational, but if kids need a break, they can go over and watch this one kid eat grapes and being really messy about it. It'll have kids laughing out loud.

Overall, I'd say the first disc is good for some mildly educational fun. It can be easy sometimes (I'd say by Age 6, it will be a piece of cake), but for entertainment with a spoon of learning mixed in, it does well.

However, the second disc, Around the World...not as good. First of all, I have absolutely NO IDEA of the kindergarten appeal of Around the World. This is because, as a youngster, after I installed it, a window popped up telling me that I had to insert the regular JumpStart Kindergarten disc. In truth, this means that you boot it from JumpStart Kindergarten and the 2nd disc is just for installing it. However, my pea-sized kindergarten mind assumed that it meant I had to "finish the JumpStart Kindergarten game" (get a full scrapbook). So, I never played ATW (Around the World for short) when I was in K, and once I found out how to work it (far after I was in Kindergarten), I didn't show it to the girl I knew when she was in K. So, my opinions on fun & such will be from an older kid's appeal.

OK, so anyway, about Around the World. In short, BARELY EDUCATIONAL. There are three educational bits: 1. To earn tokens, you must play a Pacman-styled game that teaches patterns and 2. When traveling around the world, kids can get a little head start on geography & such and 3. When you get stuff for your scrapbook, some stuff (like the fun fact card) teach you a wee bit o' geography, culture, history, etc. However, other than that, it is just arcade games & video. Maybe for fun, but not a teaching tool. Also, the Pacman game gets boring and annoying sometimes.

Overall, JumpStart Kindergarten is good, but not the world's most educational. Buy it mostly for fun. Also, I think it's best for ages 4-5, 6-year-olds will probably find it pretty easy. Signed, StoryMaker. "Gotta trust the kid's review!"


Not as good as the older preschool version   October 19, 2001
Thelma R. Allcock (Connecticut)
14 out of 14 found this review helpful

Since my daughter really enjoyed the older preschool version, I was excited about getting this cd rom. The difference is drastic. There isn't a reward system like the older version. Some of the activities aren't clearly explained. The '99 version for preschoolers was much better. My daughter rarely uses this version.