Tiny Minies: Learning Games

About Tiny Minies: Learning Games

The application Tiny Minies: Learning Games is a pre-school and toddlers’ game-based app to improve their intellectual, physical, and social-emotional development under 5 core areas: Memory, Problem Solving, Learning Ability, Creativity and Attention. The educational games are suitable for ages 2,3,4,5,6 years old toddlers and preschool children. The application is available on both Android and iOS platforms and works well on a mobile and tablet device in landscape mode.

The application opens with a delightful and beautifully animated home screen. It is noted that the application takes a while to load initially. The colours and graphics of this application are truly wonderful and would appeal to toddlers and preschool children. The animation scrolls to the left and right to reveal the learning games that include: Jigsaws, Matching Pairs, Learning Numbers, Music, Reflex, find and collect, shadows and colouring. Each game is accessed by choosing the colourful train carriage.

The home page also includes a parental setting in the top left which is number protected. Here a parent can access the following:

Reports – This is a valuable insight into the child’s progress from overall to monthly reports as well as screen time and pedagogical recommendations. Each game must be played at least 10 times to process and analyse individual performance data in a healthy way.

Settings – This includes options for sound, music, notifications, screen time, baby lock (lock video buttons), download management and languages (Turkish and English).

Games – This provides the parent or teacher with a game description and what learning takes place. This is a great feature as parents are often concerned that their child is just simply playing a game, however, this clearly outlines their educational value.

Account – This includes the child’s age, gender, name and email along with your subscription details.

Help – This option includes information about the application via an external link, help and support via a messaging service, terms of service and frequently asked questions.

The developers have covered all areas when it comes to user information and optional settings.

Jigsaw Game – The developers suggest that this activates many nerve connections by using a trial and error method. It also contributes to the formation of shape concept, goal setting and memory development. Here the user is shown an array of delightful, colourful jigsaws varying in difficulty from 4 pieces up to 36 pieces. Each jigsaw displays a cute animal in several different settings. Each piece is very easy to move and will improve fine motor skills for those younger users. The game celebrates the child’s success with correct answers.

Match the Cards Game – The developers suggest that this game is beneficial in the development of visual memory and perception ability. It also contributes to the development of your kid's reasoning and understanding skills. Choosing a selection of cards creates a four-card mix and match game. The game celebrates the child’s success.

Learning Numbers – The developers suggest that this game interactively teaches children the numbers 1-9. The interactive games are a delight to play and focus on number recognition, form and shape. The game celebrates the child’s success with correct answers.

Music - The developers suggest that this game supports your child in the formation of music awareness, the development of rhythm and coordination sense. This was by far our favourite game! Choosing a song and playing the xylophone is easy to master and children will be delighted by the songs they can create.

Hide and Seek - The developers suggest that this game helps with the development of reflex and instant decision-making skills, this game contributes to your child's attention development and coordination. Watch the cute animals hide and seek in the colourful boxes. Award them presents when they can be found.

Objects - The developers suggest that this game helps with the child’s ability to concentrate, compare and distinguish is revived. It also provides support for memory development. Each scene asks the child to provide objects that are related to the profession such as a cooking mixer for a cook and a paint pallet for an artist. 

Shadows - The developers suggest that this game improves your child's problem solving and reasoning skills. It also contributes to the development of visual memory and concentration. Drag the objects to match the shadows. Once again, the animation and presentation of the game is very engaging.

Colouring - The developers suggest that this game enhances your child's imagination and also improves his/her focusing skills by allowing the left and right brain to work together. Your child can choose from a large selection of different pictures and colour them in using different size brushes and colour pallets. We love the fact that a photo can be taken of the finished picture.

Fairy Tales – This gives the user access to a library of fairy tales. This narrated fairy tale is accompanied by some wonderful animations. The feature also offers options for repeating the story on a loop (ideal for sending a baby to sleep), a baby lock to stop the story being paused and a slide feature to progress to a certain point in the story.

It is noted that new content is added each month.

Tiny Minies: Learning Games app easy to use?

Tiny Minies: Learning Games is an incredibly in-depth application and the menu systems and features are very easy to navigate. The application has a very clean look to the colours and animations. At no point does the screen look over cluttered. Each of the menus can be easily accessed and the user interface is very intuitive.

How will parents benefit?

Parents can set their child off and running with the application with very little support from the outset. The progress reports in the Reports section are an ideal way to monitor the progress of their child as well as identifying areas of weakness. The screen time feature is an excellent idea that will ensure that your child does not spend too long using the application. The personal pedagogical recommendations are great and will reassure parents that what their children are playing has educational value.

How will teachers benefit?

Teachers can set their students off and running with the application with very little support from the outset. The progress reports in the Reports section are an ideal way to monitor the progress of their student as well as identifying areas of weakness. Taking screenshots and photos of completed games or pictures that have been coloured in by using the application is a great way of celebrating success.

How will the user benefit?

It’s great fun! Our users found the application a delight to use and kept playing the games again and again. They particularly enjoyed the differentiation of gameplay, there is something for everyone!

What we love about the Tiny Minies: Learning Games

For a parent or teacher, the report section of the application is a valuable educational tool for assessing progress. This is ideal for recognising gaps in learning or for teachers who wish to use certain games to support a child’s progress. The pedagogical reports could be extremely helpful for particular learning styles. We simply love the quality of the animation and music. Adding new content every month feels that you are getting value for money.

What the Tiny Minies: Learning Games could improve on

Tiny Minies: Learning Games is an excellent application and there is a limited amount of improvements that can be made, however, we have suggested the following:

• The developers might consider the ability to add multiple accounts for other children from the family or classroom.
• Within the Mix and Match Cards, we would have like to have seen more card sets rather than just a set of four cards.
• Some of the games are referred to differently from the home screen. We believe that Hide and seek should be shown rather than Reflex etc.
• The developers might consider the ability to paint fill in the colouring pictures rather than use a brush may help those with limited motor skills. A single click of the paint bucket would fill the area of the colouring book rather than brushing it in.
• The developers might consider an added feature which could include words accompanying the fairy tale narration, this could help with word recognition and for those who are hard of hearing.
• The developers might consider links to the age-relevant national curriculum for the parent and teacher. This could sit alongside the game pedagogy ensuring that the gameplay is linked to the current curriculum taught in schools.
• We noted that once the brain game Memory grid has been completed the option for a ‘Hard Game’ is still given although this cannot be played as the previous simple game has been completed.

How much does Tiny Minies: Learning Games cost?

Tiny Minies: Learning Games is free initially on a trial basis and offers further plans as a monthly or yearly subscription. 

Is Tiny Minies: Learning Games safe to use?

Yes. The application does require an account and email to start with. Parental controls are number protect which is great to see. The developers ensure everything you view is age-appropriate and secure. The developers are committed to protecting your privacy and the privacy of your children. We adhere to the strict guidelines set forth by COPPA (Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule), which ensure the protection of your child’s information online. Tiny Minies: Learning Games is free from in-app adverts and is 100% safe for children.

Overall Rating of the application

Tiny Minies: Learning Games is by far one of the best multiple learning educational games we have played. Not only does it come with a user-friendly platform and a variety of content the application encourages your child to explore the gameplay activities whilst providing a unique fun and educational experience. Tiny Minies: Learning Games comes highly recommended by The EducationalAppStore.com

You can download Tiny Minies: Learning Games on your iOS or Android devices from the app stores. Download the Tiny Minies: Learning Games app from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store.