Cashing in for tots

Some programs arrive for review at just the right time and Window Shopping came just as I needed reinforcement work for some children in money manipulation.

I was doubly delighted to find the tape was also quite a good one with clear simple instructions explaining an equally clear and simple idea.

By "window shopping", a child can gain valuable practice in using money.

Buy Two and Buy Three show a series of nine objects, all drawn rather well with some cute animation. Each object is labelled with a price between 1p and 10p.

A sum of money is shown, and the child has to select which two or three objects will total that exact amount. They are easily selected with the spacebar moving the cursor around, and the Return key used to select an item.

A little tune plays if the items are correctly chosen, while an incorrect choice brings a request to try again.

Choose One appears in two levels with the idea being that the child has to decide which object to choose so that, for instance, three of them cost 24p.

This gives valuable practice in division or multiplication. The different levels have differing parameters, so that all tables from two to nine are practised.

Change One and Change Two deal with the change received from 20p or 50p. The amount of change is given, and the child has to decide which two objects could then have been bought. This was quite challen ging, and well worthwhile.

The same window display theme is shown throughout, although the objects themselves vary. Again, the child selects the items in the same manner so that minimum attention is needed from the teacher.

Another feature I enjoyed was that there was no time limit imposed which allowed a group of children to discuss when necessary, or perhaps to use plastic coins to try out their answers.

Sound can mercifully be turned off, Esc takes the program back to the menu, but unfortunately Break is not dealt with. Surely this should be standard policy in the class room?

It isn't the best educational program I've seen, but a very creditable attempt from Tynesoft, a new house fronted by a primary school teacher.

It will certainly be used at appropriate times with my children and it could prove an enjoyable and entertaining way to learn at home. Children who learn by enjoying themselves tend to want to return to try again. My children seem to be keen enough.

Phil Tayler