Disney Mickey's Kindergarten

The nine activities in Mickey Mouse Kindergarten range from one-dimensional to fully rendered and absorbing. At the shallow end of the scale is Mickey's Town Clock, where kids help Mickey adjust his digital watch to the correct time on the analog town clock. We won't judge Disney too harshly for this, since reading clocks isn't necessarily something that lends itself to creative overkill. On the more fully developed end of the range is Bellhop Shuffle, a hotel lobby where kids learn deduction and observation as they meet the needs of fussy guests by sending the right bellhop scurrying to do the job.

Sleepwalkin' Goofy is another richly detailed adventure that teaches early reading skills. Kids must patch scaffolding with the correct letters as Goofy sleepwalks high up on a construction site. Letters come attached to everything from buckets of paint to lunch boxes, and Goofy reacts according to the type of "patch" used. Other engaging spots include a video arcade, where kids learn adding as they battle robots in a video game, and a back alley, where kids help a policeman track down a weasel by using listening and spatial awareness skills.

High marks should go to Disney for their Active Leveling Advantage. It's one of the most subtle systems we've seen for making sure the level of play is appropriate to the skills of the player. Parents won't find any report cards or places where they can automatically adjust learning levels on this lighthearted CD-ROM. Disney's Mickey Mouse Kindergarten is a place where kids can play and learn, with minimal adult intervention. (Ages 4 to 6) --Anne Erickson

Amazon.com Product Description
With Mickey Mouse, ace detective, kindergartners will investigate Main Street for newspaper cover stories. Teaching over 40 developmental skills, the software is based on the Active Learning Method, which encourages kids to explore, discover, and create while they learn. The product enhances memory, listening, and observation skills as well as inspires creativity and imagination.