KIDWARE helps teachers assist children in developing basic reading and writing skills. Basic requirements of the reading process that are highlighted in KIDWARE include: an awareness that print carries a message, understanding that oral language is made up of separate sounds, knowing that written words are composed of letters, understanding that letters correspond to sounds in spoken words, being able to sound out words, connecting letters to sounds, developing phonics skills, recognizingg and identifying words and applying these skills in various writing and reading activities.

KIDWARE software is designed for young learners in grades K through 2. KIDWARE incorporates computer-based and hands-on activities that focus on the following reading and writing skills:

J identify shapes and numbers
J identify upper and lower case letters,
J recognize letter names
J connect letters to sounds
J listen for sounds in words
J identify rhyming words
J recognize blends
J sound out words
J write letters
J use basic writing skills
J tell stories
J sequence, create and read stories
J spell words with picture prompts
J recognize sight words
J spell simple words
J use letter sounds to spell words

The design and development of KIDWARE reflect what the research advocates about the complex processes involved in becoming literate (learning to read and write).

When children are becoming fluent readers they must learn two different kinds of skills:

1. how to comprehend written material, and
2. how to identify words in their printed form.

Learning how letters of the alphabet represent sounds in words is very important in the development of early reading skills. When children understand, and can use letter/sound correspondences to "sound out" new words, they are on their way to becoming fluent, efficient and independent readers.

Learning how alphabet letters are used in representing words requires that an awareness of sounds is more explicit than is required for speech. Phonemic awareness activities should be conducted separately from letter recognition, especially in the English language. Letter names and letter sounds are much more phonetic in some languages, e.g., Spanish.