Tonka Construction

Tonka Joe and his animated pals guide children through a variety of construction projects using "real" Tonka brand trucks in this game from Hasbro Interactive. There are rocks to crush, skyscrapers to build, and roads to pave spread throughout the five environments of Tonka Land. Fourteen different virtual Tonka vehicles are available to accomplish these tasks and as projects are completed, the player earns printable certificates to show off their construction skills. Ultimately, a child who completes all seven projects earns the title of "Master Builder" and the respect of the Tonka team. Although not overtly billed as educational software, this does emphasize learning how to follow a design plan and how to select the right tool (truck) to resolve a problem. As a bonus, virtual 3D Tonka trucks are much safer than the sharp cornered metal Tonka toys responsible for so many childhood injuries in the 70s (although they aren't as much fun to use in the sandbox).