A couple of months ago I purchased  a software called “Brainware Safari” through the Homeschool Buyers Co-op for my children. The software is advertised as a way to boost your thinking ability. Here’s how it describes itself on their website:

BrainWare Safari combines decades of proven clinical techniques with video-game technology into a fun and challenging mental workout that builds cognitive skills in a comprehensive and integrated way. It’s cross-training for the whole brain and the whole family. - http://brainwareforyou.com/

My eldest child had a delayed auditory development and has learning differences because of that. I’ve learned through observation, trial and error and asking a whole lot of questions to speech pathologists, that conventional approaches for certain activities won’t work for her without some coaching.

Brainware Safari provides the coaching that she needs. I knew it was a home run when she started crying while doing Ribbit Rhythm. I know that sounds mean, but when she gets frustrated enough to cry that means we’ve discovered an unknown kink in her auditory processing that needs to be ironed out.

I’m proud to say that she completed the tasks over the course of two weeks and surprised herself because initially she was “never” going to be able to complete the board. She’s hit trouble spots on most of the games that involved motor skills and auditory skills combined, but it’s taught her that she has to focus more when she’s given tasks that have multiple steps and stimuli.

Don’t for a minute think that Brainware Safari is just for kids who have learning differences or styles. My middle child, who would be considered “normal” by educational standards has also benefited from the exercises. Although she doesn’t get frustrated enough to cry, she has had a few one-sided arguments with the program’s “encouraging” voice.

This software isn’t just for kids — we adults can use with a little sharpening of our memory retention as well as sensory integration (think multi-tasking) , attention and more. When I’ve been called on to provide help, I must admit that on certain tasks I had to tackle them a couple of times before I got it right.

You can find out more about the program and what it has to offer by visiting their website at http://brainwareforyou.com.