Jump Ahead Baby

Created with the help of parents and child development experts, Jump Ahead Baby appeals to children at a range of development stages. There are eight separate games using the computer. The programme also acts as a springboard to other real hands-on activities described in each game as "Playtime Ideas". These are related activities that can be enjoyed away from the computer.

Jump Ahead Baby starts with "Lets Play" showing Teddy standing beside a fun mobile that acts as a doorway to all the exciting activities. Each item hanging from the mobile represents one of the games. In the first activity "Colour Train" every object that is revealed when a cupboard is opened by keystroke or mouse click has its place on the train. The child must match the colour of the object with the colour of the train car. The second game, "Let's make Music", shows Teddy and his friends playing songs and familiar nursery rhymes. A stroke of any key or click of the mouse shows them using some musical instruments. Game three is "Join the Stars" where the stars in the sky make a recognisable object or creature. A mouse-click or keystroke draws a line and when finished the picture fills with colour and animates delightfully. "Puzzle Time" takes a look at a complete puzzle, and then breaks it up. The child must put it together again. There are 15 puzzles to be rebuilt. Game number five, "Where's Teddy?" wants the child to find Teddy, who is hiding in the house or in the garden. A click or keystroke shows a hiding place but it's not always Teddy that's revealed. "Picture Fun" shows a black-and-white line drawing become vivid, and come to life. There are 16 pictures to complete. The seventh activity is called "Dress Teddy" where the child helps Teddy to dress in clothes that match the weather conditions or time of day. Teddy goes through snow, sun, rain and bedtime. Last of all, game eight is called "Down on the Farm" where the child meets all the farm animals and hears the sounds they make.

All these games have developmental and educational benefits, such as teaching the child the cause and effect relationship of creating an effect on screen by pressing a key. Some of the activities extend the child's vocabulary, develop their attention span and help them perceive shape. Their listening skills are strengthened, and they learn to wait and respond to questions. They are encouraged to name animals and associate them with different sounds. The songs and rhymes aid their memories, and give them musical enjoyment. Jump Ahead Baby is a developmental toy like a rattle, or set of building blocks, that has been enhanced by the numerous benefits of multimedia learning. --Lynne Unwin