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Software for kids that's both challenging and fun
Todd Copilevitz
Kid's Studio Kid's Studio is the first truly interactive multimedia program I've seen. Kids can combine their drawings with pictures, clip art, sound effects and their own narration to create computerized slide shows. Words don't do justice to this high-tech version of arts-and-crafts time. Kids love to draw on computers. This adds a library of 200 images such as animals, planets and other odd objects to spice up your child's work. If you've got a CD-ROM, Kid's Studio opens up the awesome capabilities of bringing in your pictures off a Kodak Photo CD. Once they're on the screen, junior artists can crop them with a variety of cookie-cutter patterns, paint over them or add sound effects. Kids can even add their own sounds or words, using the microphone that comes with the newer Macs. When the work is complete, save it as a slide show, print it out or just enjoy it on the screen. Get the idea that this is fun? At a recent Macintosh show in Dallas, the sales reps from all the serious companies were slipping out of their booths to check out the CyberPuppy show. If you own a Mac, get Kid's Studio; it will remind you why you didn't get a PC.
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