Kidwidget

Editors' ReviewDownload.com staffSeptember 21, 2011This educational program is rich with learning tools, but is marred by odd parental controls. Kidwidget's interface is designed like a child's study area, complete with a desk with a working calendar and clock, and drawers for saved materials. There's a board nearby where children can click icons to write, draw, paint, play keyboard, study flashcards created by parents, or solve puzzles. The word processor even has a listen feature that reads back the text. There's also a built-in dictionary. Work can be saved and/or printed. Parents can enable or disable any of the kid-friendly features through a password-protected control panel, although we can't fathom why anyone would want to do so. Additionally, the only way to exit the program is through the control panel. Load Automatically on Start-up, a useful feature especially when parents are not around, is available for Mac users only. This 10-use trial software is good for parents who want to regulate children's computer usage without compromising learning and fun.