Product Overview
The Berenstain Bears have been a real fixture in many families' homes — the storybooks are filled with important lessons to be learned, and children can easily identify with the adventures, and often misadventures, of this famous bear family. I would even venture to say that parents can learn a few things from the realistic problems — and solutions — presented in the Berenstain Bears books. These lovable bears have recently made the leap to a video series and a feature-length direct-to-video movie is in the works.
Now kids can interact with their favorite characters in this series of computer games entitled "Life's Little Lessons". Although the Berenstain Bears have been represented in the form of interactive storybooks (Living Books) on the computer, this new series has a more interactive "feel" to it..Each title in the series features 4 short stories, a related activity (taking the form of a thinking puzzle, arcade-style game, sorting puzzle, and art activity), and a summary that helps kids understand the important life lesson associated with each story/activity.
This title focuses on cooperating, recognizing and understanding emotions, and showing concern for others. The 4 short stories each have a related activity, as follows:
- Sister Bear hosts an activity that teaches kids about cooperation. Players help Sister and Brother get supplies up to each of their treehouses. Whether the game is played in 1 or 2 player mode, cooperating gets results. Players help direct a balloon to lift objects into the cubs' treehouses. The different difficulty levels control the speed of the balloon.
- Brother Bear's activity is all about learning the value of trading. Kids help Brother complete his toy collections by making sensible trades with other cubs. Straightforward trades are made on level 1, and two-step trades are required on level 3.
- In Mama Bear's activity, a gust of wind has scattered old family photos, and Mama needs help re-organizing them in the family album. Players must sort the photos according to emotions (such as happy, bored, worried, and surprised).
- Papa Bear needs help designing a greeting card. Players listen to his instructions and find a title, picture, and background for the card. Then they are free to create any card they wish.
The activities include adjustable levels of difficulty and have two-player options. Each mini-story is hosted by a member of the bear family and starts with an introductory poem (much like the Berenstain Bears storybooks). After watching the story (optional), the associated activity is presented. Once successfully completed, kids earn a reward certificate that can be printed in color or in a format that allows for children to use crayons or markers to decorate it away from the computer.
The life lessons learned are wonderful — and stay true to the positive and helpful nature of the Berenstain Bears storybooks. For example, Mama Bear's sorting activity helps kids understand that all kinds of emotions are part of life and are acceptable, but that happy emotions are especially fun.
The characters are very encouraging and say things like "Don't worry about making a mistake". This title is set up so that kids complete the game and get their final reward certificate after completing the 4 activities. Our 5 year-old tester completed the game (which was set on the hardest level) in only 30 minutes. While the game can be replayed, it is rather short compared to most titles on the market. It may be especially suited to children with short attention spans for this reason.
Technically Speaking
Minimum requirements are Windows 95/98, a Pentium 133 (Pentium 200 recommended), 24 Mb RAM (32 Mb recommended), and 4X CD ROM. Mac users require a Power PC with 32 Mb RAM, System 7.5.3 (7.6.1 recommended) or higher, and at least 4X CD ROM (8X recommended). A color printer is recommended as well. It takes up 10 Mb of hard drive space, and is easy to install and load.
Skills Covered
thinking skills, arcade skills, creativity, sorting, social skills — cooperation, empathy, trading, understanding emotions, caring
Educational Value
This title doesn't have a whole lot to offer in terms of traditional academic learning. However, children can learn some basic social skills from the stories. The "lessons" to be learned are positive.
Entertainment Value
The characters and basic activities were immediately appealing to the kid testers. There is a good mix of styles of activities as well.
Design
For the most part, the program is designed in such a way that using it is quite straightforward for even the youngest testers (aged 3). A difficulty level must be chosen at sign-in, but can be adjusted at any time during the activities.
Replayability
Kid testers enjoyed playing the program, but we do wonder about its long-term appeal, mainly because there is not a whole lot of content to the program. Children generally wanted more activities, or at least longer ones. Children with shorter attention spans will probably enjoy the game more than others who are looking for longer, more absorbing activities or adventures.
Dollar Value
The program sells for $19.95 US.
Released: 1999
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