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Q: Hi! I am a parent of an NLD child who is in Grade 3. I was recommended to get my daughter to start practicing typing on the computer with a software program. I was recommended to get "Mario teaches typing" but am having trouble finding it. I was wondering if you had any ideas on any other typing software programs that might be easier to find?
A: The quest for the right typing program is a tough one. My best recommendation is to try a program that is used in schools (but comes in a home version) like Type to Learn 3 ($29.95) from Sunburst (http://store.sunburst.com). This basic program is for kids in 3rd to 12th grade and covers all the basics and has a combination of games and instruction.
You can even download the free demo and try it out.
While you are on the Sunburst site you might also want to check out some of their other typing programs like Type for Fun and Type Through Time. Learning to type is a long and sometimes boring process so these additional titles might be good to know about when the doldrums set in.
Another good school typing program you might consider is UltraKey from Bytes of Learning (http://www.bytesoflearning.com). For keeping typing fun, my favorite typing program is Disney's Adventures in Typing with Timon & Pumbaa (available on Amazon) but like a lot of the typing programs that are still on the market, make sure it is going to work on your computer. There were lots of typing programs on the market for kids 5 years ago but operating systems have changed since then.
No matter what typing program you pick you are going to need to work at making it fun. Your child will need to work at it every day so make a progress chart of some sort so they can see how far they have come. You might even want to think about some kind of reward system passed on how much time they spend on task or by achieving various levels.
Good luck!
Q: Where can I find Zoo Vet? I live in Maryland.
A: You can buy Zoo Vet on the Legacy Interactive site at http://www.legacyinteractive.com. I apologize that I can't tell you where to get it locally in Maryland. You can email them and ask on the Legacy site.
The responses and opinions contained herein are those of the respective authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of Power to Learn or Cablevision.
