Friday, March 6, 2009

JumpStart Review and Giveaway! 100th post!

Hey there everybody! Today is the SITS Spring Fling - and the end of this giveaway! Go check them out here and link up! They are giving away a prize every hour AND they have a Mister Linky up full of other blog giveaways too!

I started in November of last year and finally made it to my 100th post. Fun stuff! I thought it would be a good time for a giveaway and Knowledge Adventures has generously offered one of my readers a 3 month membership to JumpStart.com. The free games are fun but the membership gives you so much more to explore. Here's my review of the JumpStart site.

For more than 15 years, Knowledge Adventure has set the standard in kid’s software by creating the finest educational products for use in the home and the classroom. In addition to their CD games, they’ve launched a beta version of their first browser-based virtual world at http://www.jumpstart.com/

We had been given a few of the earlier JumpStart CD games awhile back and have loved them. The graphics were not the best (they are from 1995) but the games keep the kids interested. Also, the very best Chick-fil-A toy that was ever obtained was a JumpStart Artist CD that both of my older girls LOVE. So when I was contacted to review the new on-line version, I couldn't wait to see what was in store. I was not disappointed.

Kids can create characters called Jumpeez that are their little players in the on-line world. This is what my 6 year old likes to do the most.....in fact, after about each of the different games she plays she goes back to change her Jumpeez. If her Jumpeez is going to be in the water (they swim!) she will change her into "swim wear" if she is at the arcade she is going to get a different look altogether. You can do this with different pets, robots, etc. as well. It's a fashionista's dream.

My three year old likes to move all around the park just exploring. You don't have to be playing a game to find little surprises. She loves to play with the dragon or adopt animals and then make them dance. She is so excited when finding new things, which seems to happen all of the time. We discovered the interactive map a few days after we had started and realized we hadn't even scratched the surface of what is there. There are a ton of different areas to explore - with more under construction due out later this year.

You can set up an account for each child so their individual settings, prizes, points, etc. are saved. And then they can tell if you have been playing under their name ("Mom, did you adopt a purple Elephant named Fluffy and make it wear a pink zebra striped hat?....."Umm, yeah, that was me.") My kids really weren't concerned about getting the most stars, although they did think it was neat to get one. There were some games though that they would do over and over in order to get the most points.

There is a section for parents with discussion boards, articles and newsletters. As a subscribing member of JumpStart you have access to all the JumpStart 3D Virtual Worlds - play any product whenever you want! This alone is well worth it. I think the best part about it all is the mobility. When we go to Daddy's work or to Grandpa's house, they can still play.

GIVEAWAY INFO: To enter the contest simply put a comment on this post (make sure I have a way to contact you if your profile does not contain your email address).

Additional entries (leave each entry as a separate comment):

1. Blog about this giveaway.

2. Follow my blog.

3. Subscribe via email to my blog.

4. Add my button to your blog - the HTML is on my side bar

You have until Tuesday, March 10 at 8:00 PM EST to comment. I will email the winner, who will have 3 days to respond. I will give your information to the JumpStart representative, who will sign you up for the membership. Simple!



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