Preschool & Kindergarten Games

Once the user has loaded the application they are greeted with an exciting home dashboard and accompanying music. The application works in landscape mode and offers several settings. The ‘Options’ setting in the top right has a parental lock feature and provides access to:

‘A Progress Report’ – Providing a detailed insight into Maths, Language and the Basics this feature is ideal for both parents and teachers to support and monitor their child’s progress.

‘Lesson Builder’ – This feature enables the user to add activities to a lesson builder from the applications shown. This is ideal to tailor a lesson to a child’s needs.

‘Manage Users’ – The user can add multiple users and manage them accordingly.

‘Switch User’ – The application can switch between users, ideal for those sharing devices.

‘Help Icon’– Provides support from the developers.

‘Set Pin’ – Enabling the user to set a pin to access the activities or lessons.

‘Music’ – Enabling the user to turn the music on and off.

The ‘Child’ icon displays the child currently using the device in the form of a chosen avatar. The developers have made this simple to use but may consider the option of loading a photo from the device particularly if used in a classroom situation with multiple users.

The application supports 24 interactive educational games categorised as Basics, Language and Math. For this review, we will focus on 2 interactive educational games within each category.

Basics – Shapes and Colours – The user is shown several shapes of different colours. The narration asks ‘where is the brown octogen?’. An incorrect answer allows the user to choose again. A correct answer moves onto the next question. The games are clear and easy to understand with bright vibrant graphics. Once the game has been completed the child is presented with a sticker to collect. This is ideal for motivation, competition and a sense of reward or achievement. These 5 games are very interactive and include other game formats within this section such

as matching pairs and choosing shapes as they float up. Other elements within this format can also be pressed such as butterflies, balloons and stars. The narrator is soft, clear and encouraging even if you get the answer wrong!

Basics – Measure – This game format focuses on measurements and relevant vocabulary such as longer, shorter, capacity, heavier, lighter and taller. Once again, these games are beautifully presented, help with fine motor skills when moving objects and are very interactive.

Language – Alphabet – Pop the bubbles in order according to the alphabet sequence. The narration helps with the pronunciation of the letters. We love the fact that there is an option to change the letter from lower to upper case to accommodate the users’ needs as well as how letter formation is taught across the globe. Further games include finding the next letter on the alphabet line.

Language – vowels and consonants – This game explains the difference between the two categories: vowels and consonants. Tap the vowels within a word or tap on the consonants within a word to move on. It is noted that many of these games are repeated but this is to reinforce practise and the child ability to recall this knowledge.

Math – Ordinal Numbers – These games focus on ordinal numbers such as 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th etc. Choosing positions of objects and ordinal numbers in the sequence is a great way to teach this often-difficult topic.

Math – Addition – The user is shown some simple addition sums in this game format. Using single figures choose the correct answer from a selection of four. Once again, the animation and graphics enhance the gameplay of this interactive educational topic and users will find it a delight to play. There is also an option to change the symbol from plus to a minus.

‘Preschool & Kindergarten’ is a wonderful application that offers users a multitude of different games at various levels. The game format is intuitive and the UI experience is excellent. The collecting of stickers as rewards is a great way to motivate the user and the unlocking of different backgrounds and completion of stars will keep your child entertained and engaged.

The developers of ‘Preschool & Kindergarten’ can be congratulated on the content and presentation of this delightfully interactive educational app and it comes highly recommended by The Educational App Store.