Having to choose a typing program for a child was a challenge as I was inclined to get Mavis Beacon
since this is the program I learned to type on over a decade ago. Then after reading all reviews
on the different adult and kids versions of Mavis Beacon I sort of got discouraged and went with different
programs recommended by probably their sales people. I wasted tons of money, hours and they
completely sucked and my child was not a bit interested.
So recently I bit the bullet and decided to get Mavis after all but having an almost 9 year old I was
not sure if I should go with the advise of some and just get an adult version or the kids.
I decided to get both. And so I did.
Here is my review of both Adult Mavis Beacon version 18 and my thoughts:
1. I was trying to install both versions myself and apparently each of them will work for Operating system: Windows 7 without a problem however you need to know that this program will need to have your monitor
switched to lower resolution - which only makes sense as this is how it can work for new an old systems.
2. Once installed kids version and Adult version 18 they both worked flawlessly in the resolution 1024.
3. As soon as my child saw the Mavis for adults she immediately recognized it as the same software
they have at school!!! so I was like.. okay! Yey!
She was totally familiar with what to do and was able to get going as they did few lessons at school.
4. I was watching her starting with the assessment test and then proceeding to assigned lesson level.
It totally sucked!
I think that first mistake was to take assessment test and get to some level that was entirely inappropriate
as assigned by the software. Then after watching her to struggle with having to do way more keys then
the home row keys as we wanted to start from the beginning since she certainly had no proper introduction'
to keyboarding at school obviously.. so she was very frustrated and discouraged right of the bed.
5. I decided that she should switched to kids version and there it was.. your home keys, your home row keys and she could spend and master them to get good solid base and gradually and gently move on from this.
She was very happy to be able to do at her own pace what the software was asking her, making zero to one mistake only as opposed to previously typing slowly and with lots of mistakes so many new letters that were above and beyond the novice user.
In all fairness, both programs are good. We will keep them both and when she will be done with kids one then she can switch to adult one as the adult one has super cool letter game as the ants walk in row and represent letter and child has to type that letter and if you make mistake the ant get kicks out of the marching row with a funny sound and it is really hilarious.
The kids program just seems totally appropriate for a child that is just learning keyboard for the first time in their life. I personally believe that this kind of software is sort of like piano playing, if your child is not ready for somewhat repetitive and boring sessions then she he is not ready for typing. Software itself wont' make it interesting if a child is not motivated to get good at typing without looing and keyboard and will be motivated
by numbers and scores.
Games do not teach anything aside from little practice so ditch the hope and it is fun but not required.
If a child is in the state of mind that they want to be cool and able to type like a pro and have skills that others don't or to catch up with what others do then a child won't enjoy it.
The opposite is true. Once you have your kid typing and he sees his speed and his errors results, they get hooked to improve and improve and improve and before they know it they type. I see her practicing happily without being asked or told because she just want to do something others can't yet do and she know she will be able to master it fast.
I think it is much more important to move slowly at first and surely then just throw so many keys at a kid as the adult version does. I also think that the other programs we tried do suck because they don't understand the concept of teaching keyboard.
If you are all for games and bells and whistles, this kind of program does not exist yet and what I saw, suck as they put the bells and whistles so much that they entirely get kid confused what the kid is doing and what supposed to learn from it.
I am not speaking for every parent and every child but I certainly speak for myself - a parent of a kid who
is very fast learner, very curious, very ambitious, self motivated, smart, very active and has good attention span.
I think that this is good for any child who is ready to type up to the child who would be ashamed to get caught using it so that makes base age of about 7/9 and could go up to possibly 12? I dont' know.. probably till that age when kids do really care more about appearance of things then actual functions.. so you be the judge and then
probably get the adult, but be warned..
Again starting with an adult is really frustrating, I know that I was learning home row keys for good few days and adult one made my child to type at first seating home rows plus all the rows above!!! all the letters so what kind of learning was it? frustrating, unnecessary and not gradual building on skills. And above all for adult version, DO NOT take the intro skill test as this will throw you at some random level instead of basics. If you do.. then just reset or create new user and this time do not take test and compare.. . Still frustrating but not so fast.
My advise is always to have first opinion so best if you don't know what to choose pick software that can be tried and returned if you don't manage to work with it. I wasted my 4 other kids software programs as they were completely useless but I am happy with those both Mavises as she will get to move on to Adult.
It was totally worth the money comparing the convenience, the time and savings over taking actual class.
Again, make sure you can return your software if it won't work for you as not all kids and software are created equal.
WORKS FOR WINDOWS 7 AND ANY OLDER VERSION THAN THAT - JUST SWITCH MONITOR RESOLUTION TO 1024 AND IT LOOKS AND WORKS BEAUTIFULLY AS INTENDED.
Mavis Beacon Keyboarding Kidz
4.2 | 745 ratings
Price: 29.99
Last update: 12-29-2024
About this item
Brand new user interface that appeals to the tween market
200 plus practice sessions with on trend content
Arcade room with 10 typing games
Enhanced, detailed reporting by individual key
Printable certificates of achievement
200 plus practice sessions with on trend content
Arcade room with 10 typing games
Enhanced, detailed reporting by individual key
Printable certificates of achievement
Product information
| Software requirement minimum physical memory | 2 GB |
|---|---|
| Publication Date | April 1, 2010 |
| UPC | 705381201502 |
| ASIN | B0035N9VGI |
| Release date | April 1, 2010 |
| Customer Reviews |
4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars
744 ratings
4.2 out of 5 stars |
| Best Sellers Rank | #758 in Software (See Top 100 in Software) #16 in Typing Instruction |
| Package Dimensions | 5.55 x 4.92 x 0.47 inches; 1.76 ounces |
| Type of item | CD-ROM |
| Language | English |
| Rated | Everyone |
| Item model number | 20150 |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Item Weight | 1.76 ounces |
| Manufacturer | Encore Software |
| Date First Available | January 23, 2010 |
Top reviews from the United States
Claire B.
Having to choose between Adult Mavis 18 and this for my 8.5 year old. and what I did and what worked from me
Reviewed in the United States on July 2, 2014
Amazon Customer
Loved it but then not compatible with Mac OS Big Sur when we had to upgrade.
Reviewed in the United States on December 3, 2021Travis M.
I really like this program
Reviewed in the United States on April 8, 2015
JTL
Mavis Beacon teaches the 4th generation to type
Reviewed in the United States on February 18, 2018
Abigail G.
Great program! Second time using it and the kids love it!
Reviewed in the United States on July 8, 2017PDQF
Didn't work
Reviewed in the United States on December 31, 2019Heather L Pitts
The product was very good but the customer support is terrible!
Reviewed in the United States on July 7, 2020