We've never met a child who didn't adore playing this pint-sized, problem-solving adventure. Perhaps it's the appeal of Putt-Putt, a cute little purple car. Perhaps it's the involvement kids feel as they direct the story. Whatever the reasons, the challenge of getting Putt-Putt to the zoo or the parade or back to Earth is somehow deeply satisfying for little kids.
Putt-Putt Saves the Zoo is the newest and best-looking title in this series. (If you're buying your first Putt-Putt, start with this one.) In this story, kids help Putt-Putt find missing animals and return them safely to the zoo. To rescue the animals - like a lion cub perched on a ledge midway down a roaring waterfall - kids really have to think and explore and experiment.
You won't find any educational agenda in the Putt-Putt titles, but there is educational value. Kids often stick with the challenge for 45 minutes at a stretch(!), following directions, identifying numerals, matching colors and thinking their way through Putt-Putt's little problems. And playing Putt-Putt together has been known to spark a spirited collaboration in young siblings!
The programs' staying power depends on your child's personality. Some kids, once they figure out how to get Putt-Putt to the parade or back to Earth, never come back for more. But others return again and again, much as they re-read a well-thumbed picture book you thought they'd outgrown.
The bottom line: tremendously satisfying and absorbing for many youngsters.
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for Learning | Kids figure out what to do and how to do it |
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for Looks | Putt-Putt Saves the Zoo has great graphics; other titles look jaggy |
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for Longevity | Kids love the little car and the gameplay |
