PBS Kids Play! (www.pbskidsplay.org)
© 2010 Public Broadcasting Service 
From clunky to spunky, PBS Kids Play has become much more responsive since we first reviewed it, just weeks after launch back in 2008 (CTR, April '08), when it earned just 2.9 stars. Compare that with 4.4 stars on our instrument in the current version. Why the change? This year's edition is based entirely in Flash, so no downloads or installations are needed. All you need is a Mac or Windows computer and a speedy web connection.There's also a new three room menu that puts all the content within a click, making it much easier for a young child to get out of whatever he or she gets into. That's a good thing, because some of the content that has been hiding in the crevices is very poorly designed; right next to some gems, including full epsides of Mr. Rogers Neighborhood. If there was an award for "most improved," PBS Kids Play would be a viable candidate. If there's a downside, it is that there are still remnants of the original service on the lower part of the screen, in the form of a scrolling carrousel-style menu that can lead children into a sluggish, over-narrated maze of PBS characters. Kids will be smart enough to avoid this part of Play. Unlike Nick's www.mynoggin.com or Disney's www.preschooltime.com, no credit card commitment is needed. You get 15 days free -- no strings or codes; a practice that is refreshing and respectful of busy parents. That also makes it easy to have a look for yourself, which we recommend. Note that there's a new $500/year classroom edition option that makes it possible to track the progress for an entire classroom of kids, for up to a year, for either home or classroom access (each child gets his or her own login).
$10, Windows, Mac OSX, Internet Site
Teaches: reading, school readiness, upper/lower case letters, logic, classification
CTR Rating: 88%