Bringing home baby’s first computer game will make parents happy, too! Giggles Computer Funtime for Baby interactive programs from Leveractive are well designed for the little curious ones who want to understand the world around them. Giggles are full of a variety of learning tools to interact with the computer, combined in a layered format that keeps young children entertained for hours, which makes parents giggle with delight watching their progeny explore the digital playground. The goal of the programs is to allow the child to explore the computer keyboard and mouse without fear of it being too complicated for their developing fine motor skills. The programs are aimed at babies between six and 24 months old. We found two willing volunteer techies-in-training, William Gabriel and Alec, and put them to work to see if Giggles Computer Funtime for Baby could pass muster in our test labs.

The Giggles series consists of three different applications; Shapes, My Animal Friends, and ABC's & 123's. Each one of the Giggles programs is superb and installation is easy, a necessary thing when bouncing an infant or toddler on your lap. The activities load full-screen, and all you have to do is just let the child interact with the software, and enjoy the happiness around you! The programs are amazing and versatile, from soundtrack choices to visual stimulation. Each click or tap by six-month-old tester William Gabriel (or, in the case of almost-one-year-old tester Alec, banging!) of the keys prompted a reaction on the screen, i.e., animals, shapes, letters and numbers, making the interaction between child and computer a rewarding one, as each lesson stems from action with a reaction. (Of course, I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out that both of these little guys are geniuses, according to their parents!) William Gabriel loved the Animals edition, especially Flopsy, the friendly doggie. Little Alec was very stimulated, as he got more and more jazzed about getting to interact with his mommy’s computer. His mother suggests that the purchase of an extra keyboard might be prudent, so that your young one can pound away with glee, and you don’t have to worry about your own keyboard getting damaged. Of course, you can also use the programs with your laptop for educational fun on the go.

What the parents of both of our mini geeks found pleasingly unique to this program was the variety of choices a child can have - no matter which developmental games you choose, they take advantage of the layering of multi-faceted learning skills. The team at Leveractive has successfully discovered a way of integrating the computer with the world of the new generation of infants and toddlers, the first generation to explore the digital arena from such a young age.

Despite all the visual stimulation combined with sound effects and choice music, these programs were very consistent in keeping the children's attention. And, no matter how rough the young learners can get, the software never crashed. All three of the Giggles Computer Funtime for Baby titles are absolutely great purchases, both for your own offspring or as a shower or baby gift.

Nancy Burlan, with contributions by Avril Losacco & Evin Milite, Posted 12/20/2007

For more information on Giggles: www.giggles.net

Photograph of William Gabriel Milite playing Giggles by his mom! ©Evin Milite 2007 (top)

Photograph of Alec Losacco playing Giggles by his mom! ©Avril Losacco 2007 (bottom)