JumpStart Baby
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| JumpStart Baby | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Knowledge Adventure |
| Publisher(s) | Knowledge Adventure |
| Series | JumpStart series |
| Platform(s) | Microsoft Windows, Macintosh |
| Release | October 1, 2000 |
| Genre(s) | Educational entertainment |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
JumpStart Baby is an educational entertainment video game developed by Knowledge Adventure (Mattel Interactive), specifically designed for infants and toddlers as young as nine months old. Released in 1998, the game belongs to the category of "lapware," which entails software intended for use by young children while sitting on a caregiver's lap and interacting with a computer. JumpStart Baby offers a colorful and engaging learning experience, introducing young players to basic concepts through interactive activities that encourage exploration and stimulate cognitive development.
Development
The development of JumpStart Baby, an educational entertainment video game developed and published by Knowledge Adventure, was a response to the growing demand for early childhood educational software. As reported by Education Week, computer programs aimed at children under the age of 5, including infants as young as 9 months, were becoming a rapidly expanding market in the late 1990s.[1]
The game was part of the larger trend of "lapware," where infants and young children could interact with the software while seated on a caregiver's lap. Manufacturers marketed these programs as a means for parents to bond and interact with their children, tapping into infants' natural inclination to mimic other household members who use computers.[1]
To ensure the developmental appropriateness of JumpStart Baby, extensive research and testing were conducted by Knowledge Adventure. Toby Levenson, the manager of education design for Mattel Interactive, led the development process, drawing from studies of infant learning and observing children and parents in playgroups.[1]