Editorial Review
The phrase "teaches early math skills" can translate into "steer clear" for a numbers hater. But as Blue, the dog, accompanies your youngster through this backyard carnival, visiting snack booths, pattern parades, and souvenir stands, she (and her inimitable squeak) turns the dread phrase into a series of enjoyable activities.
The seven activities in Blue's 123 Time are all designed to encourage counting, pattern recognition, and deduction. Real-world applications abound here: kids can put objects on a scale and weigh them in Bell's Souvenir Stand; save, spend, and count money in the Prize Tent; and develop card-sharking capabilities playing Baby Bear's Card Game. In fact, since successful completion of each activity pays off in Blue Dollars to spend in the Prize Tent, parents who frown on gambling may raise an eyebrow at the little felt bear dealing a deck. But there's nothing like a good game of cards for fostering pattern recognition and counting skills!
Fear not, Blue won't lead your preschooler down a path of vice. Everyone here is benign, encouraging, and comfortably two-dimensional, just like the television show. The games subtly increase in difficulty as they're played, easing kids into fairly complex concepts like sets, subsets, and estimation. The activities teach on an almost subliminal level, with enough counting out loud and positive reinforcement to make numbers friendly to any child. --Anne Erickson
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Customer Reviews
Favorite Toddler Software 
2005-09-01
I bought this for my son when he was 2. He really liked it then, but didn't have the mouse skills to use it alone. Now that he is 3 this is his favorite computer game. His mouse skill are good enough that he can play it on his own while. The games involve pre-math skills like sequences, sorting and matching. As the child completes tasks correctly, the games become more challenging.
Need to update to Mac OSX 
2005-07-09
The product seems nice, but runs in a clunky and confusing Mac OS9 window. i wouldn't recommend this for Mac users until it is updated.
Super Math Game! 2005-02-09
As a parent and former preschool teacher, I can highly recommend this game. My 5 year-old comes back to this game again and again. The activities in this game are creative and unlike other preschool games. My daughter particularly enjoys one game which requires choosing the heaviest/lightest toy, and uses a scale in addition to numbers to show the concept. There are games to teach sorting by multiple characteristics, pattern recognition, and addition as well. All games are fun and provide hints if needed,with constant reinforcement. This game is a worthwhile addition to your software collection!
Excellent and Educational 2003-12-21
This is a fun cd with several games all aimed at teaching a child math skills. There are sorting games where a child has to sort out items into two sets of like items. There are games that encourage number, color or shape recognition. There are games that encourage measurement (in that something is bigger or smaller than something else) and weighing. As children play games the games get progressively harder. Also, as children play they earn blue dollars that they can later spend.
By little four year old boy still enjoys playing with this game. We bought it when he was three.
This is a fun computer game. It is easy to use and required very little input or direction from me as my son learned how to play the games. It grows with the childs skill level. This computer game makes math fun.
Enjoy.
Loved by my 4-year old 2002-04-09
My wife and I purchased a computer for my (then) 3-year old's Christmas present. We also purchased some educational software for him to use, and Blue's Clues 123 Time Activities was one of the titles selected.
The software installed easily on his Windows XP-based HP computer. He was up and playing in "no time flat."
Game play is intuitive, and his favorite game is a Crazy -8s-based card game that he plays against one of Blue's Clues charming characters, a little bear. All of the games progress in difficulty depending on the child's level of success.
After winning or successfully completing a task, the player is given a certain amount of "Blue Dollars," which can be used to buy items at the prize tent. These items are accumulated and are put together (by the computer, not by the child) to form a neat object like a toy boat or toy car.
My now 4-year old still enjoys the game, and has experienced a limited amount of frustration. His mom helps to guide him often, and he also helps to guide me through some of the activities!
My kids like it 2002-01-08
The phrase "teaches early math skills" can translate into "steer clear" for a numbers hater. But as Blue, the dog, accompanies your youngster through this backyard carnival, visiting snack booths, pattern parades, and souvenir stands, she (and her inimitable squeak) turns the dread phrase into a series of enjoyable activities.
The seven activities in Blue's 123 Time are all designed to encourage counting, pattern recognition, and deduction. Real-world applications abound here: kids can put objects on a scale and weigh them in Bell's Souvenir Stand; save, spend, and count money in the Prize Tent; and develop card-sharking capabilities playing Baby Bear's Card Game. In fact, since successful completion of each activity pays off in Blue Dollars to spend in the Prize Tent, parents who frown on gambling may raise an eyebrow at the little felt bear dealing a deck. But there's nothing like a good game of cards for fostering pattern recognition and counting skills!
Fear not, Blue won't lead your preschooler down a path of vice. Everyone here is benign, encouraging, and comfortably two-dimensional, just like the television show. The games subtly increase in difficulty as they're played, easing kids into fairly complex concepts like sets, subsets, and estimation. The activities teach on an almost subliminal level, with enough counting out loud and positive reinforcement to make numbers friendly to any child. --Anne Erickson
Great Fun 2002-01-05
This is great software for kids. My two year old plays it with me and it's one of his favorites. His favorite characters from the show all have fun activities in the game. I love it because it doesn't get boring for me.
Great preschool numbers game 2001-11-18
Bought this for my 3 year old & she loves it. She figured it out very quickly & plays it with no help from mom! Very clever games & lots of fun.
More, more, more! 2001-09-03
My 4-year-old has had this game for over a year, and while he had problems at first (with the mouse, not the game) he begs and begs to play it. It's become a reward for good listening in our house, since you have to listen to the game to play. He loves helping his "friends" in order to make money, and really feels a sense of accomplishment when he completes his job! He has a few games that he loves to play, but this is definitely one of his favorites!
We Love you Blue! 2001-07-15
Our 3 year old son loves this game! He has been able to play it all by himself with just a little help the first couple of times. He enjoys figuring new things out each time he plays and he is progressing rapidly in his abilities to figure the computer and programs out all by himself. This a very well-developed game.
I have found a wonderful teaching tool in the game that I never expected. My little son is learning to take turns talking! Since he cannot do anything on the game while the characters talk, he is learning to really listen to what they say. It is delightful! He has started really listening to what Mommy says, instead of dashing off to do something else. He is even learning to show more patience to his baby sister! I had never thought that a computer game would be teaching manners. Kudos to the programmers!
