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Conference moira::parenting_v3

Title:Parenting
Notice:READ 1.27 BEFORE WRITING
Moderator:CSC32::DUBOIS
Created:Wed May 30 1990
Last Modified:Tue May 27 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1364
Total number of notes:23848

1293.0. "Socrates or other electronic educational toys" by CPCOD::SARJEF::ARRAJ ("1 taco short of a combination plate") Wed Jan 29 1992 13:46

Hi,

My daughter is turning 5 and I was considering buying her a video educational
tool that is made by VideoTech (VTECH) called Socrates.  I was originally
going to buy her a video drawing item made by VTECH or SONY that just does
drawing  (like DECpaint or MACpaint, I guess), but I thought Socrates would be 
more versatile since it claims to do drawing plus has some math, spelling,
etc. capabilities.   I was wondering if anyone has had any experience with
any of the above mentioned items or might recommend something else (these
are the type of things that have keypad drawing pads and plug into your
TV).  Unfortunately, a PC is a budget buster at this point.

Thanks in advance for sharing your comments.

Valerie
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name		DateLines
1293.1Yes - Get it!CUPMK::JETTEThu Jan 30 1992 11:2717
    I bought Socrates for my son when he was age 3.  I would highly recommend
    it!  We did not own a PC (until this year) either.  I would say he used
    it often until 8 years old.  He was working on PC's at school by then
    and it wasn't as challenging for him at that point.  He absolutely
    loved Socrates.  It has many capabilities which give the children
    variety.  Each Xmas Santa would buy a new/more challenging cartridge.
    These included ones on history, geography, math, spelling, composition
    etc.....  The software has been designed in a way that it is FUN for
    the kids to use.  I must say David did learn many things without him
    even knowing it!  Even his friends that have Nintendo's enjoy using the
    Socrates (we do not have Nintendo)  David never really complained of
    not having it - The Socrates interested him enough.
    
    I would recommend it highly.
    
    Kathy
1293.2Cost/Appropriate Ages, etc.TENVAX::MIDTTUNLisa Midttun,285-3450,NIO/N4,Pole H14-15Thu Jan 30 1992 12:083
    What's the (approximate) cost of Socrates? My sister was just telling
    me yesterday that they are looking for something like this for their
    (soon to be) 6 year old daughter. What are the suggested ages for it?
1293.3CPCOD::SARJEF::ARRAJ"1 taco short of a combination plate"Thu Jan 30 1992 12:317
Socrates cost about $99.  I comes with 5 (I think) built in subjects including
paint.  Additional cartridges are about $25.  It also has add ons like a 
mouse/drawing pad to enhance the drawing capabilities ($50) and some sort
of a voice box which I think is to talk kids through some of the activities
(for nonreaders I guess).  The box says ages 5 through 10.

Valerie