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Aki: I've been reviewing some kiddie games. When it comes to computers and the way technology is moving today it's really important to try and get kids, especially little kids, excited about using computers. I think that integration has been quite difficult over the last few years, but there have been some products available which I've had a look at over the years. One of these is Knowledge Adventure, which has come out with products for kids from the age of about three right up to 14. I am particularly interested in the ones that introduce kids to computers and the way small children become friends with the computer and don't see it as a threat in any way. I've got a little girl who is four-and-a-half. I've been giving her these little games to play and I've been monitoring her since she was three years old. She really enjoys spending time on the computer, and what is remarkable is the amount of information that these kids learn - not only about the computer, but also about words, grammar and maths. It just makes learning so much fun. The other day I was watching her and she goes up to the computer and switches it on by herself. She knows which buttons to press and she knows how to get into the particular software.

Malcolm: At four-and-a-half years old?

Aki: It's just remarkable and I felt myself wishing I was like that at her age. It's important for kids not to have that fear about computers and it is these games that make it easier to adapt to a computer and learn the basic functions of the mouse, for instance. The Knowledge Adventure series are the biggest in the world when it comes to children's education. You'll find them on www.knowledgeadventure.com. They have a huge range of products. Although they are American products they are certainly very generic. Take Maths Blaster for instance - you learn to solve simple puzzles and simple maths formulas and you really get to grips with the basics of maths. They've got them from the age of 6 right up to 13 years of age. Then you get the Reading Blaster as well, which really teaches you how to read and how to pronounce words correctly.

Malcolm: Tell me it's not American, Aki.

Aki: It is American and although I'm very against Americanised products, this is a very generic product. It's got an American accent but it is not overwhelming. It's a really good product. I've watched them grow from three years ago to now, and they improve each time they bring out a new product. They're really good for kids and if you want to introduce kids to computers, I really recommend these products. They've got a great range as well and they sell them for about R229.

Malcolm: That's not bad at all. There is one type that I wish had been around when I was four, and that's the maths ones. For kids who are soft at maths, learning things like bonds and multiplication tables was such a pain. I was fine with geometry but when it came to trigonometry I found it conceptually very difficult. Did you find that these sorts of programmes would help with that.

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