House That You Built, The

$39.95, Win, Mac

Teaches: creativity, art, design, architecture

CTR Review

This is a complete 3D house-making kit that includes a CD-ROM, a cardboard base, scissors, tape, glue sticks, and 100 sheets of paper (for $39.95). Note that a CD-only version is available with a cardboard house base for $24.95. When assembled, the cardboard base serves as the frame of the house, to which kids attach their own designs. On the CD-ROM, children must select from five house types: Georgian, 1950s UK, Thatched Cottage, Baronial Gothic or New England. Next, they "paint" their house, using a handful of "textures" and lots of colors. They can use brick or stone for the exterior, and can choose the roof style, trim color and so on. When they move to the interior, kids can design and decorate seven rooms: den, bedroom, playroom, bathroom, kitchen, dining room and lounge. They'll choose wall and floor coverings, furniture and accessories, and paint them all. When it comes time to print, it's easy to see why the kit comes with all that paper-- it takes a lot. Check your ink, too. The house can be printed in black and white, but kids will want the color version. Next, it's time to glue the walls, floors and so on to the cardboard frame, and to cut out and assemble the 3D furniture. Older kids should be able to do most of this on their own, while younger kids will need help. In general, we found the program easy to use and the final product pleasing. The CD has some quirky design elements in coloring and placing furniture. Overall, though, our test kids liked the experience.