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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Saturday, November 11, 2006

SATURDAY SCOOPS
Whiz kids in training

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 •  Two more days of Makahiki activities at Hale'iwa park
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 •  Keiki: Bring used treasures, toys to sell in Kaka'ako
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 •  Early craft fairs' alert in Honolulu

By Catherine E. Toth
Advertiser Staff Writer

Youngsters can try out the Cyberventures program at this weekend's Oh Baby! Family Expo at the Blaisdell Exhibition Hall.

Photo courtesy Family Exhibitions

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OH BABY! FAMILY EXPO 2006

When: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. today and tomorrow

Where: Blaisdell Exhibition Hall

General admission: $4.50 (free for children 5 and younger)

Information: 239-BABY (2229); www.ohbabyfamilyexpo.com

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Last year Jody Frederick, a stay-at-home mother of two, was blown away by how quickly her son's preschool class learned to use computers.

She decided right then that she wanted to encourage this kind of learning in early education programs.

"You could see the focus and concentration and attention they had in what they were learning," said Frederick, who lives in Makakilo. "It just clicked in my head."

So, after months of research, in September Frederick launched Keiki Cyberventures, a company that provides customized curriculum developmentally designed for young learners.

She hopes to provide on-site classes soon, while offering the program as an educational supplement to computer training young students already are getting in the classroom.

Frederick will demonstrate the program — the software is developed by Imagine Tomorrow — at the third annual Oh Baby! Family Expo this weekend at the Blaisdell Exhibition Hall.

The expo will feature more than 150 vendors, a twins fashion show and the popular baby-crawling contest.

Parents and kids can try out Keiki Cyberventures' program on laptops the company will provide.

No software installation or Internet access required.

The cost to enroll a child at her on-site location will be $325 for an eight-week course. It will cost $195 for eight weeks to bring the program into a classroom. Each session lasts 30 to 90 minutes, and will run alongside the state's school schedule.

The program, which was created by a former schoolteacher, makes the children main characters in a story where they need to complete a mission. In the process, they learn vocabulary, alphabet, colors, shapes, counting, language development and early reading, writing and listening skills.

She knows kids will enjoy the program — hers do. "Everything is, 'Mommy, can we play Puterbugs?'" Frederick said. "They literally love it."

Reach Catherine E. Toth at ctoth@honoluluadvertiser.com.