I did it Mum
Since Sibeal inherited her brother’s repackaged, that is, case changed to a pink one, Nintendo DS, we have been on the lookout for a game that would suit her. As she can’t read yet, many of the console games out just didn’t work for her. I bought the Imagine Fashion Designer initially, as she loves playing the dressing up games on nickjr.com or webkinz etc. This didn’t work for her though as there is alot of reading involved and she hasn’t reached a stage where she could competently follow the games and tasks so that DS game was abandoned and she was peeved.
I then spotted ‘I did it Mum’ online. I was unable to track it down locally but purchased one on ebay for approximately 23 euro. Initial impressions were great. You record a parent’s voice saying an encouraging or congratulatory sentence. This is then what is heard by the child as he/she completes a task or game. She was delighted with this, as I did one and Conor recorded a second one.
The basic layout is very graphical with keywords and she is able to navigate it easily. The games are fairly basic: colouring, puzzles, dress up, find the difference, a couple memory games: one cards, one sounds, counting, drawing and a tiny piano keyboard where you can record and play back.
So far she has enjoyed having her very own nintendo game and the independence of being able to tackle it alone and not needing reading assistance from us. My only complaint is that the games are very basic and she is tiring of them at this stage so I can’t see its appeal lasting much longer which is a pity.
I do think the whole layout and especially the touch of being able to customise the recording of the parent’s voice to praise the child is excellent.
2 comments June 15th, 2008
