Good product but hard to install | Typing Instructor for Kids

Lots of games, but need to know how to use them | Typing Instructor for Kids

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	• Typing Instructor for Kids Windows \| Individual Software, 2004 average customer review:based on 6 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

This actually seems to work, but start them young before they learn bad habits

I thought I had tried every kids' typing program and they were all as bad as each other. Mostly the same program with the same apples but different characters, and so difficult that I, a proficient typist for over 25 years, couldn't pass the tests.

Then I came across this in the Scholastic catalog. It is so important for kids to learn to type these days that I was prepared to throw away another twenty bucks. I have to say I'm blown away. This actually works. The lessons progress a few extra letters at a time. The top half of the screen is the letters they are to type and the bottom half is a keyboard with transparent hands showing which finger to use if they can't remember. In-between the lessons are games that reinforce what they have just learnt.

My seven year old has had limited exposure to the keyboard and has really got excited about working her way across the island. She is enjoying the games and hasn't yet figured out that they are just exercises with different characters and pretty pictures. In less than a week she has learned two thirds of the keyboard and can't wait to begin again the next day. Several shorter sessions a day are better than one long one because her fingers get tired and I worry about her eyesight concentrating so hard at the screen. As a side effect, it is also helping her reading.

My ten year old has been typing with two fingers for a few years now and is having a great deal of difficulty 'unlearning' what he has done in the past. The most useful thing about this program over all the others I tried is that the goal 'words per minute' can be changed to suit the child and their progress, at almost any time during their practice. Unfortunately, my son was smart enough to lower the 'wpm goal level' when I wasn't looking so he could get to the castle quickly by 'cheating' with his two finger method. Not taken in by 'the games' he has since required extra incentives (read candy treats) to repeat the lessons over and over and over and over again until he really did know without thinking which fingers to use.

Today I caught my ten year old giving my four year old a typing lesson, making sure he was following all the instructions for the correct posture and using the correct fingers. The little one has completed the first two lessons at 5 wpm and 100% accuracy. Not bad considering he had to learn the names of some of the letters at the same time.

I give this software 4 out of 5 because the lessons can get a bit boring given the number times they have to be repeated to improve both speed and accuracy. The program has 'crashed' a few times but I've not yet worked out if it is at any particular place. It starts up again fine and remembers exactly where the child was. It is quick and easy to switch between different users. The progress charts are very useful to see exactly where more practice is required (For instance I myself need practice on the bottom row of letters). I am proud to say I reached the castle with a speed of 78 wpm and 97% accuracy to become 'ruler of the kingdom'. My reward was to get to play 'Tomb Typer' in the dungeon of the castle which was really fun.

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Good product but hard to install

I intalled three times before it got installed in my computer. It also took too long to install (about an hour). My kids just started to use it and they like it.

Lots of games, but need to know how to use them

Got this software for about half year. Was very frustrate at first. It's hard to navigate. My 8 years old and 5 years old both like typing at first. But if they accidentally hit the go button while they are still learning the home row key, they are forced to learn more keys. They can't come back to the home row key any more. Soon they are at the point that they can't handle so many keys and loose the interest. But recently I found a sneaky way to fix this. Under C:\Program Files\Typing Instructor for Kids, there are lots of sub directories contain all executables. I create lots of shot cut for all those executables and put them under one folder. Now my kids can play the games they like. They finally start to learn typing. I like those games which have choice to select only the keys you learnt, or only home row key. So that they can play while learning.

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Fun and simple to use

I bought the typing instructor for kids software for my 8 year old grandson and he is really enjoying it. My 11 year old granddaughter is also getting in on the fun. They are both learning how to type and it is very simple to use. Typing is a very much needed necessity for any one who uses a computer and since computers are used today in most schools children need to learn the proper way to type. This product helps kids learn while having fun at the same time. Thank you for making such a product available and I look forward to purchasing more instructional software for kids in the future.

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Excellent and lots of fun, to boot!

I bought this for my oldest daughter. She had no prior experience with computer games, etc. She tried it first soon after turning 7 and enjoyed it, but when it got to teaching the shift key found it too frustrating. So, we put it away for a few months. About 6 months later, she tried it again, and just took off. She is now 9 and types fast and accurately. She loves the games, but she will also sometimes go through the whole program again and capture the castle and go through the tombs. She has been able to use this program almost entirely on her own, not requiring much help from me. My second daughter (6yo) is now clamoring to start it, and I've told her as soon as she's reading well she can begin. I highly recommend this program for those kids that are reading and able to follow instructions well.

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Typing Instructor has helped individuals improve their typing skills. Now, Typing Instructor for Kids delivers the same proven typing methods for children in an entertaining and educational environment. Software includes Lessons, Challenges, Saved Results, Practice material and Games. Kids find it educational, motivating and entertaining. Winner of many awards including those from Newsweek, Critics choice, Eddie Awards, Bessie Awards, All Star Software and many more. Give your child a gift that he will use a lifetime. The fun typing teacher for kids.

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