Dora The Explorer Computer Games

No doubt, if you have a child below the age of eight in your dwelling, you are already intimate with Dora the Explorer. If your child loves Dora, Boots, Benny, Isa, Tico and Swiper, there is some fun software on the market that will keep your little one so busy that they won't even catch on that they are learning!

Dora the Explorer: Backpack Adventure is the first CD-ROM that stars Dora and her friends. The game accents Dora and all her friends, voiced by the same actors as on the TV show. The music from the show is there too, along with a ton of ability to interact with Dora and her friends. The game is based on the Dora episode "Backpack Adventure" in which your child will help Dora return her books to the library. Dora and your child will travel over the troll bridge and the "big rock", all the while honing problem solving skills. There are two different ways to play the game: the adventure format has a distinct story line for your child to follow, while free play allows your child to complete any activity he or she wishes. Adventure mode starts by asking your child to help Dora find the books. Depending on the difficulty level, Dora will ask in English, English and Spanish, or just Spanish. There are problems to solve all along the way, and The Map tells kids what they need to do next. In free play mode, the same activities are available with a few twists to keep them interesting. Upon completing tasks, the Fiesta Trio arrives to give kids stickers for their sticker book which kids can use to decorate scenes in the game. The game teaches color, shape, and number recognition, problem solving, pattern completion, listening skills, and basic Spanish words and phrases. The game is full of vibrant colors, familiar songs, and favorite characters that your child will love.

In Dora the Explorer: Lost City Adventure, kids begin by adding their name to the treasure chest, choosing a play mode, and off they go into a fun adventure featuring thinking and early math skills. Using adventure mode, kids find out that Dora has lost Osito, her favorite teddy bear. Kids create a paint-by-number picture of Osito, and then ask the Map for help to find the Lost City. Along the way, Dora's friends ask for help finding other lost items that Dora and Boots will need to look for in the Lost City. When kids have executed all the adventures along the way, they are rewarded with a great version of "We Did It!" The game teaches color, shape, and number recognition, basic math skills like counting and sequencing, and throws in quite a few of the Spanish learning words that kids love to hear from Dora.

Both of these games are sure to keep your pre-schoolers happy for hours. Kids will love seeing Dora, Boots and all their friends as they complete the adventures, and will learn lots of new things along the way. If your child is a big Dora fan, there are tons of ways to play the game- after your child has completed the adventure mode in each game, there is the free play method where they can enjoy their favorite parts of the game again and again. Each game retails for about $20, and makes a great gift for any little one.