<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000719612 <NAME> THE LEARNING COMPANY <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> APR-05-1998 <PERIOD-END> JUL-04-1998 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <CASH> 101,998 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 105,226 <ALLOWANCES> 25,972 <INVENTORY> 38,178 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 290,937 <PP&E> 44,143 <DEPRECIATION> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 492,178 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 175,948 <BONDS> 190,955 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 0 <OTHER-SE> 64,877 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 492,178 <SALES> 129,251 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 129,251 <CGS> 38,515 <TOTAL-COSTS> 113,372 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 2,105 <INCOME-PRETAX> (24,741) <INCOME-TAX> 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> (24,741) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (24,741) <EPS-PRIMARY> (.42) <EPS-DILUTED> (.42)