Read, Write & Type by Talking Fingers

I was just telling a friend the other day that I think it was time I looked into buying our daughter some sort of typing software.  She uses the computer several times a week to write stories, play games, and email her friends.  The main problem she has though, is that she only uses one finger to type, her other hand is usually resting under her chin, holding her head up...lol!

Literally, within weeks of me making that statement, I received notice that I would be reviewing Read, Write & Type by Talking Fingers!  I was initially very excited, but when I saw that it was for ages K-3, I became a little worried.  Our daughter has been able to read and write now for many years now.  I just wanted the part that teaches her how to type.  Would it be a good fit for us?

Well, my daughter LOVES and so do I!  Here is how it works.  The child hears the individual sound of the letter and associates each sound with a letter and fingerstroke on the keyboard.  It uses a multi-sensory and motor approach, which helps children who have different learning styles.  The child gets auditory and visual feedback to correct their answers and their progress is then tracked by the program, which suggests activities to help them in problem areas. 

And the best part is, all this learning takes places with colorful characters who inhabit a fascinating world, filled with music and animation.  A lively gang of storytellers live in two houses that look like the two halves of a keyboard.  A very mischievous computer virus called Vexor tries to steal the letters and prevent the storytellers from writing down their stories (Vexor is my daughter's favorite character)!  Two Helping Hands, Lefty and Rightway, help children foil Vexor through 40 exciting levels, building hundreds of animated sentences and stories as they go.  Children are rewarded with certificates of advancement after every four letters.  For a more detailed explanation, you can take a Product Tour, which takes you through just about every activity. 

 My Thoughts: I really like this product and my daughter loves to use it.  The storyline and characters are a great way to get children to learn to read, write and type.  It is very easy to use and although our daughter already knows how to read and write, the story is engaging enough for her that she wants to keep going to see what will happen.  

I think our daughter is at a good age to learn to type correctly because of her hand size.  That being said, I can see how this may be harder for smaller children whose hands are not as big.  They may get tired more easily or may not be able to stretch to reach the letters as well.  For us though, it is a perfect fit!  We will continue to use this product! 

Thoughts of a 7-Year Old: Without Vexor, it wouldn't be half as exciting as it is! It has a mixture of phonics, picture reading, and typing, along with extra details such as capital letters, periods, etc. Each letter has a character, and they do funny things. My favorite character is Hug the Hamster (see picture above). As you can see in the picture, your child will have to write H words (with no time limit). Three strikes, and Vexor will huff, puff, and blow you out!  

Find Out More: Read, Write & Type by Talking Fingers online pricing varies depending on the number of users, but it starts at $35 for one student.  You can find more information on pricing HERE.  With the online version you get a FIVE-year license but for the home version, it is yours to keep, and for multiple users, for only $79. 

My Crewmates are also reviewing Read, Write & Type, so you can check out what they think HERE.

Disclosure: This product was given to Our Homeschool Reviews for free for review purposes, and I do not have to return the product to the vendor. I have received no compensation from it and all opinions and experiences within this review are my own.