Presents for Future

It’s never too early for kids to dream about what they want to be when they grow up. And what better holiday present could you give a child than a chance to test those dreams?

New educational software geared to youngsters in fifth grade and up offers a glimpse of careers from high finance to deep mystery.

If you know a junior Donald Trump--a kid who started out with a lemonade stand and now aspires to bigger profits--check out “Hot Dog Stand: The Works” (Sunburst, $19.95). A talking wiener guides your tycoon as he orders inventory from a choice of suppliers, pays by check, sets prices and evaluates the weather’s effect on sales. Then he opens the stand and sees how much he makes--or loses. Sunburst titles can be difficult to find in stores. Call (800) 786-3155.

Young theater lovers should find American Girls Premiere irresistible (The Learning Co., $34.95). While aimed at girls, and specifically at fans of The American Girls Premiere book series, it also might appeal to boys who enjoy planning, writing, directing and performing in plays. It uses a selection from characters inspired by different historical periods.

Budding architects can dabble in Fun With Architecture (Learn Technologies Interactive/Voyager, $24.95). A reading portion explains why castles and barns have distinct shapes. The playing portion challenges kids to design buildings or replicate ones in their own neighborhood. Also hard to find in stores. Call (888) 272-5584.

Animal enthusiasts who like to draw will go for Drawing Discoveries (Brainstorm, $39.95), which teaches about animals as well as drawing.

Some history fans are born; others made. The Oregon Trail 3 (The Learning Co., $49.95) should suit both. This game calls on kids to pick pioneers with the right mix of complementary skills to survive a trek across the arduous Oregon Trail in the Old West. And it puts the players right into the history lesson as they fish, hunt, trade and make a myriad of decisions that will make or break the journey.

Got a chess whiz? Show the movie “Searching for Bobby Fisher.” Then treat him to Chessmaster 5500 (Mindscape, $40), featuring Josh Waitzkin, the real chess prodigy portrayed in the film. When you get your confidence up, click on Chessmaster Live and challenge opponents all over the world.

All your child wants is her own Web site for the holidays? Try Net Explorations with Web Workshop (Sunburst, $19.95). The program gives her the option of art reflecting hobbies and interests; or writing and drawing her own.

And if you want to help your kids at school while they’re having fun, there’s plenty of new grade-specific software. Knowledge Adventure has just expanded its popular Jumpstart series to Jumpstart 5th Grade ($30), sneaking lessons in math, English, history and science in the case of a fifth-grade detective, Jo Hammet, determined to stop mad genius Dr. X.

Junior sleuths can also learn while stopping evil in Where in Time Is Carmen Sandiego and Carmen Sandiego Word Detective (Broderbund, $35 each). Where in Time sends kids through 3,000 years of history to stop Carmen’s crimes. The Word Detective game challenges them to disarm her “Babble-On” Machine by solving language puzzles.

Still more detective work is called for in Davidson & Associates Inc.’s new Reading Blaster: Ages 9-12, set in Dr. Dabble’s Mystery Mansion. Also new is Math Blaster: Ages 9-12, which has that blasted Blaster ship crashed on a strange planet. Both are new and fun and $30 each. But shop carefully if you already own Blaster titles. Many have been renamed, but not changed, to make the line more grade- and age-specific.

Finding algebra a tad dry? Mindscape gives test-taking techniques as it injects humor in Algebra Smart ($29.95) with questions such as, “Bill Gates is twice as rich as the entire country of Sweden. If Sweden has X dollars, how many dollars does Bill have?”

The Learning Co. also has a game-like Grade Builder Algebra ($29.95), guaranteed to work with Algebra 1 textbooks from seven major publishers.

Finally, there are reference guides, invaluable for school reports. Microsoft’s Deluxe Encarta 98 ($79.95) complements its Virtual Globe ($54.95). Creative Wonders also offers a terrific 3D Atlas ($29.95) that allows you to fly over landmarks and zoom in on 10 levels of detail.

With The Learning Co.’s Deluxe Compton’s Encyclopedia ($64.95), a kid can send his research topic and age to Compton’s librarians on the Internet and get suggestions and resources.

That sounds like a parent’s dream come true.