Pros
- Familiar characters and situations
- Several tasks levels to keep kids challenged
- Simple mouse moves keep it easy for kids just learning to use a computer
- Virtual reward stickers are a nice motivational tool
- Play in English or Spanish
Cons
- Some of the puzzles are challenging even for adults
- Some of the puzzles need more instruction
Overview
Bob the Build Can-Do Zoo starts with an fun storyline. A number of animals have been dropped off in town in preparation for a new zoo. Bob and the gang are tasked with building the zoo and finding appropriate homes for all of the animals. What follows is a series of building-related puzzles and tasks that reinforced skills such as pattern recognition, shape identification and problem solving.
Bob the Builder Can-Do Zoo - The Good
Our experience with this software was mainly positive. Here are some highlights:
Use of the Mouse. It is very difficult to find software for a three-year old. I typically find that they are either too difficult in terms of fine motor skills (i.e., click-and-drag) or the content is so far over their heads that they just flounder around trying to progress. Bob the Builder Can-Do Zoo is a refreshing addition to the software pool for this age group. It requires the basic mouse skills of moving the cursor and clicking. Since the activities aren't timed, kids have plenty of time to click on just the right thing. This is exactly what kids need to learn to use the mouse.
Difficulty. The most basic level of play for most puzzles is also the perfect difficulty for younger kids. My son's favorite activities included finding tools hidden in a pile of leaves and loading building supplies onto a truck. As he progressed through the game, they got more and more difficult, allowing him to learn how each game worked. By the end, he was able to sort by shape and color. Since he has been known to click on every object in a puzzle rather than trying to solve it first, this was certainly progress.
Motivation. The software includes a built-in sticker book game. As kids progress, they earn stickers that they can then utilize to create scenes in their sticker books. After the structure of the games, it's nice to have a place for some free and creative play. My son had a little celebration each time he earned a new sticker.
Bob the Builder Can-Do Zoo - The Bad
Although our experiences with Bob the Builder Can-Do Zoo were mainly positive, there are a few areas where the software could be improved.
Feedback. This is a common complaint for me, but I'd like to see more constructive feedback built in. For example, if a child needs to find a red wrench and chooses a blue one, instead, the game should say something like, "Uh-oh, make sure the tool is the same shape AND color." In same cases, simply reiterating the directions would be useful. Younger kids, especially, need to have the directions reinforced. When he plays with me by his side, I provide that feedback, but it would be more useful to have it build in.
Conceptual Difficulty. There is one particular puzzle that is more difficult for younger kids than others. It involves choosing pieces of a blueprint and placing them in the correct order. This puzzle is too challenging for many reasons. First of all, kids much be able to understand what the pictures on the blueprint represent. How many three-year-olds will recognize a building foundation? Second, the idea of placing steps in order is still a very difficult concept for many kids. My son randomly clicked through this level each time and didn't learn a thing. I would have liked some more coaching from the software and even a short video clip that shows how the game works.
Pattern Planning. The first time my son played the game, we had a developmental specialist visiting the family. There is a game that requires children to recognize a pattern painted on a fence and continue the pattern. For example, two red slats, one blue slat. The child would then paint two more red slats and one blue slat. The advanced levels of the game have patterns that even she found confusing at first glance. Teaching complex patterns to kids isn't easy. Once again, this is a place where some coaching from the software would help.
Length. The game isn't terribly long. Because they are puzzles, they have a lot of replay value, but some kids with shorter attention spans may get bored quickly. This will depend entirely on the child. My son would play this exclusively for days on end if he could.
The Bottom Line
Bob the Builder Can-Do Zoo is a nice introduction to basic computing skills for preschoolers. The puzzles are fun and engaging, even if you aren't a huge Bob the Builder fan and they have enough difficulty levels for kids of different abilities. I even enjoyed some of the puzzles the first time through.
Manufacturer Specifications
- The software is compatible with Windows and Mac operating systems.
- Recommended for ages 3-6
- ESRB Rating : E for Everyone
