When the right software is paired with a computer and enthusiastic children, the computer can sing or draw; tell stories or write stories; play individual games or operate a robot; and take its place beside books, blocks, toys, paint, and crayons in the lives of young children.
- Patricia Hutinger & Joyce Johanson

Levels of Interactivity

Many software titles are available that provide a way to "read" a book to a child. The range of interactivity varies widely from program to program. Some interactive features found in children's software include:

narration (voice reading of content)
the ability to follow a predetermined path
event-triggered animation
video (automatic or on-demand)
text-highlighting
re-reading
divergent pathways (user chosen)
integrated content
cursors designed to communicate functionaltity

Several features (including interactivity) are found in quality software for young children. Other features which make software appealing and appropriate for children include use of variable settings to appeal to a wide range of abilities, elements which nurture the various children's learning styles, and support activities at home and in the classroom.

Interactivity focuses on how many things children can do and how much interaction the software provides. The more interactive the software, the more the child is able to manipulate what happens when the program is used. The child has the opportunity to choose from more options, with a wider range of responses, and a greater control of design features.

The Center for Best Practices in Early Childhood has defined five levels of interactivity for software. Each level has distinctive software characteristics and example programs.

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Learning Standards

Many states have developed early childhood learning standards for three to five year old children. All states have learning standards for K-12 children. The standards generally address the following areas:

Language Arts
Mathematics
Science
Social Science
Physical Development and Health
Fine Arts
Foreign Language
Social/Emotional Development

	National Child Care Information Center Good Start: Selected State Early Learning Guidelines on the Web http://www.nccic.org/pubs/goodstart/elgwebsites.html
	Tech Standards http://www.cnets.iste.org/students/s_stands.html
	Education World National and State Standards http://www.education-world.com/standards/

Some software companies provide information about how their products correlate with language arts and other standards. View the following links to see how various activities are aligned with language arts learning standards.

	Riverdeep Correlations http://www.riverdeep.net/educators/teaching_tools/correlations.jhtml?SECTION=Educators&HEADING=Correlations%20and%20Standards
	Sunburst Software Correlation to Standards http://www.sunburst-store.com/cgi-bin/sunburst.storefront/EN/Catalog/1134
	Tom Snyder Productions: Standards and Correlations http://www.tomsnyder.com/standards/Correlations_Menu.asp