- US has 5% of the world’s population and 25% of the world’s prisoners. That's just not right. Can our schools help? http://t.co/aovP5Gb9 #
- Five seats open for Dust or Magic 2011 (Nov 6-8, 2011); the Inn is now full – http://t.co/jCu2Wocq #
- Just released: Puzzle Pop by Duck Duck Moose; also Android version of Wheels on the Bus YouTube – http://t.co/K7fy7jt6 #
- Five seats open for Dust or Magic 2011 (Nov 6-8, 2011); the Inn is now full – http://t.co/jCu2Wocq #
- Just released: Puzzle Pop by Duck Duck Moose; also Android version of Wheels on the Bus YouTube – http://t.co/K7fy7jt6 #
- Pediatrics: Every hr child < 2 yrs spends w/screen = 50 min. less w/parent, and 10% less in creative play. http://t.co/AyLpvaOn #
- Children's Technology Review Blog: Hey Doc. What About my Toddler’s iPad? Reaction to the #AAP Position Statement at http://t.co/3DSBjnZE #
On Monday, October 17, the American Academy of Pediatrics released a revised position statement on the the use of screen media with children aged 2 years and younger. Personally, I thought the statement had no surprises; anyone knows that developmentally there’s very little for babies and toddlers to get from zoning out in front of a TV screens that are not interactive. But sadly, the AAP keeps on narrowly defining “screen media.” I was hoping they’d start thinking of it this way – if screen media were a disease, it would have extraneous symptoms. You wouldn’t treat every runny nose with a sulfonamide, right? Likewise, you can’t combine interactive media like the Wheels on the Bus by Duck Duck Moose, into this definition.
Scott Traylor covered the AAP press event for CTR, and he asked AAP spokesperson Dr. Avri Brown if the AAP considered iPads and other forms of INTERACTIVE media in their definition of “SCREEN MEDIA.” Scott’s questions start at 12:28 at http://youtu.be/9EuXIrWUkI0. I recommend that everyone give it a close listen. It provides an important window on the thinking of this very important group.
Dr. Brown’s answer to Scott: “We know that media now, or screens are ubiquitous and very portable. What we have research on as of today is televised programs. Televised programs can appear on multiple screens. We do not have any research on apps and games that are educational. There may in fact be some merit to those things because they’re interactive and they take cause and effect to a different level. But we don’t have any data on that so this policy does not address that.” And later “I know that this a topic that is being explored” and “it’s a good question.”
- Video game use is exploding among the youngest, according to a new NPD survey. http://t.co/bpCnupAe #
- Eight Noteworthy Apps for Children – NYTimes.com – http://t.co/RxwRzmF5 #
- Video game use is exploding among the youngest, according to a new NPD survey. http://t.co/bpCnupAe #
- Eight Noteworthy Apps for Children – NYTimes.com – http://t.co/RxwRzmF5 #
- Here's a history lesson with meaning — the history of a the cell phone. See LittleClickers cell phones at http://t.co/NuloMCTh #
- Just posted LittleClickers:Batteries to help kids learn how #batteries work; and don't miss the YouTube playlist http://t.co/5YjQrAUu #
- IPad parents: "present range of quality apps, and keep your hands in your pockets." in #chinadaily http://t.co/xHyB2jIz #
- How we want every kid to feel at the end of a school year — Watching Jessica's "Daily Affirmation" on YouTube http://goo.gl/7rK8 #
- If pilots have a checklist before they take off, why can't media designers have such a tool before they launch #frc #
- In 1978 Claire Green's mom started Parents' Choice Foundation after teaching a class at Radcliff #frc #
Based on the printed book “When I Grow Up” by Al Yankovic with illustrations by Wes Hargis, this 18 screen book deals with the age-old question “what will I be when I grow up.” In this case, the question is answered by the author, “Weird Al” Yankovic, the famous wisecracking comedian/musician. Note that the app was initially released as a book but has since been enhanced with five story-related games. For example, in Haute Cuisine Hero you’re a cook who is supposed to tap an ingredient when it is above a pot of stew. Subscribers, please log into our database using your password to read the full review along with our rating.
This is a peaceful story set to the theme of the night, stars (that twinkle) and owls. There are three modes: Read to me, Read myself, and Auto play. You can touch the screen to launch animated events, such as making the owl’s wings flap, or making the owl blink. There is also a counting game where you touch stars (up to 20) to hear them labeled. Subscribers, please log into our database using your password to read the full review along with our rating.
This four-pack of previously released apps consists of four chapters: Into the Snow We Go (make pictures in the snow, decorate a snowman); Rainy Days and Rainbows (draw paintings, dig through leaves for treasures, race pine cones); Backyard at Twilight (look for bugs, discover constellations, learn about shapes); and Go-There-Square (pop musical bubbles, collect dandelions, build a bridge out of flowers). Each adventure combines original animation from the Canadian Television series, and three activities that support free play. Subscribers, please log into our database using your password to read the full review along with our rating, and see why this received our Editor’s Choice Award.
This 3D flying game lets you help Fox McCloud lead battle against a squadron of fighters in aerial outer space combat, for up to four players. The goal to shoot down the evil forces of Andross while saving the galaxy from destruction. Both screens are used — the top screen shows the 3D combat and the bottom screen displays characters and dialogue. The game also features two control methods. The Nintendo 64 Mode offers the original controls, and the Nintendo 3DS Mode use the motion controls of the built-in Gyro Sensor. Subscribers, please log into our database using your password to read the full review along with our rating, and see why this received our Editor’s Choice Award.
You know you’re living in the future when you can go to a toy store and pick up a 128 MB of memory, a tiny lithium polymer battery, a microphone, camera and video camera for $40. To top it all off, all these components have been crammed into a pair of sunglasses that can record what you see. The only clue that the camera is on is a tiny red LED mounted — on the inside of the frame — is the only clue that the hide a small camera in the center of your forehead. You can either take snapshots or shoot video by pressing You can record up to 20 minutes of video, which can be transferred to your computer by way of a USB port. Subscribers, please log into our database using your password to read the full review along with our rating, and see why this received our Editor’s Choice Award.
This Mickey Mouse follows last year’s larger, heavier, gyrating Dance Star Mickey. This time Mickey comes pre-dressed in rock star gear that includes sunglasses and a permanently attached guitar. Other than being able to press his foot to change songs, or his nose to start a tutorial, there are no interactive features. When placed on a flat surface, he kick-steps and can do a “mouska-split: at the end of his act, where he “plays the guitar” with his nose. Subscribers, please log into our database using your password to read the full review along with our rating.
This playful baseball simulation features a roster of Nickelodeon characters that take on professional players from 30 MLB teams. The Nicktoons roster includes SpongeBob SquarePants, ZIM, Dudley Puppy, Fanboy, Chum Chum, and Ren and Stimpy. Major League players include Matt Holliday (St. Louis Cardinals), Andre Ethier (Los Angeles Dodgers), Miguel Cabrera (Detroit Tigers), Jason Heyward (Atlanta Braves), Cliff Lee (Philadelphia Phillies), and Robinson Cano (New York Yankees). Subscribers, please log into our database using your password to read the full review along with our rating, and see why this received our Editor’s Choice Award.
Singing and Storytelling Belle (from Disney’s Beauty and the Beast movie) is a large (20 inch) soft-bodied doll dressed in Belle’s signature outfit. But this doll does a lot more than just look pretty. Besides the doll, seven special accessories trigger one of 100 related phrases, stories or songs. For example, when you place the storybook in Belle’s hand, she will read a Beauty and the Beast short story. Place her microphone in her hand to hear her sing her two songs (including “Be My Guest”); hold a teapot to her mouth and you hear her take a sip of tea. Belle can also interact with her friends Chip, Mrs. Potts and Lumière (included) when placed in her hands. Three AAA batteries fit into her back, hidden beneath her clothes, along with the on/off/demo switch. Subscribers, please log into our database using your password to read the full review along with our rating, and see why this received our Editor’s Choice Award.
If you’ve ever tried to roll a marble through a maze (by tilting the game board), you get the idea of the Mercury games. In this new edition, called Hg (the element symbol for mercury), 60 new levels offer nearly unlimited challenge. Why? You can always go faster. The game uses the six-access motion sensing in the PS3 controller (we’re not sure how the Xbox version works) to move a ball of Mercury through a series of creative twists and turns. Subscribers, please log into our database using your password to read the full review along with our rating, and see why this received our Editor’s Choice Award.
Eight timed games give young children a chance to play with firehouse themes. Games include Firetruck Traffic (help the firefighters get to the fire while avoiding other cars by tapping on the screen); In The Trees (tilt the screen to guide a firefighter into the trees to rescue pets); Put Out the Fire (spray water on burning windows); Safety Net (guide a net to catch jumping animals); Find & Rescue (a hard to control maze game); Helicopter Drop (a confusing game where you drop water out of a fire helicopter onto flames) and Firefighter Gear (a confusing matching game). Subscribers, please log into our database using your password to read the full review along with our rating.
Mercer Mayer’s rendition of the classic folk tale comes to your iPad. As you know, this fairy tale has a dark theme. Mayer deals with that by turning the wolf into a frustrated Shakespearian actor who simply ties up Grandma instead of eating her. When it comes time to eat Little Red Riding Hood, she’s able to hide while the woodcutter chases the wolf away. There are two word search games. The more you read or play, the more coins you collect, although there’s no real connection between the coins and the story. Subscribers, please log into our database using your password to read the full review along with our rating.
Powered by six AA batteries, Let’s Rock Elmo comes with three small plastic instruments, two of which are playable (the drums and tambourine). Elmo’s hands and feet have pressure switches that trigger songs related to the instrument he holds. Other Let’s Rock instruments (sold separately) include a guitar and keyboard. Let’s Rock Elmo can sing six songs and requires six AA batteries (included). Subscribers, please log into our database using your password to read the full review along with our rating, and see why this received our Editor’s Choice Award.
Lego Life of George lets you test your pattern matching skills under the pressure of a stop watch, providing you have a camera equipped iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad 2, and have downloaded a free app called Life of George from iTunes (see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grNO42UK5q8). The app serves as your blueprint, timer, progress tracker, and — most interestingly — your judge. The $30 kit contains the basic supplies — 144 Legos and a special cardboard grid that serves as a backdrop, allowing your camera to “see” your work, using special software called EyeCue (see www.eyecue-tech.com). In addition to Game Mode which can be played alone or against one competitor in a pass-and-play format, it is possible to design and capture your own models to be saved in a scrap book. Subscribers, please log into our database using your password to read the full review along with our rating, and see why this received our Editor’s Choice Award.
In this one player game you navigate through the maze-like stages by learning a series of two-step swipes. For example, to get Kirby to float, you have to drag a star onto him, and then draw a line. In the story, Kirby is split into 10 pieces by an evildoer with a magic cane. You use the stylus on the DS touch screen to control a group of Kirby characters (up to 10) as they set off on a journey to return to their original form. The number of Kirby characters you control is important, because some challenges require a specific number of Kirbys in order to be solved. When the number of Kirby characters is increased, you can gain the upper hand. You can control each Kirby in a variety of ways, for example, a Kirby character can be launched into the air with a flick of the stylus, or you can make a swarm of Kirby characters dash to a given point by tapping on that spot on the touch screen multiple times. You can also swipe the touch screen to launch them in a mass attack against enemies, then tap the enemies into submission. The goal is to collect medals hidden throughout the various stages and to unlock additional minigames. Subscribers, please log into our database using your password to read the full review along with our rating, and see why this received our Editor’s Choice Award.
The Kid-Tough See Yourself Digital Camera from Fisher-Price (in stores now, $70, www.fisher-price.com) features a swiveling lens. So your child can take a traditional front-facing snapshot, or flip the lens 180 degrees toward something of greater interest — their face. An SD expansion slot augments the onboard 256 MB of memory, and the 1.8″ color preview screen makes it easy to review pictures, crop photos, or edit on the fly with a set of playful face-warping tools. It is also easy to toggle the camera into video mode, making this a handy digital camcorder. The 4 AA batteries are preserved with an auto-off mode. Subscribers, please log into our database using your password to read the full review along with our rating, and see why this received our Editor’s Choice Award.
Originally called the InnoPad, InnoTab is designed for children aged 4 to 9 years-of-age, whose parents are wary of giving them a smart phone. As tablets go, InnoTab is massive in size. When layed over an iPad you realize that it is the same height and width (but much fatter). Despite the bulk, the screen is relatively small; just 5 inches diagonally, which is slightly larger than an iPhone. Inside, are accelerometers for tilt and motion sensing, a microphone, headphone jack, SD card slot and a USB connection to a computer for downloading additional content. There’s also a game card slot. The screen is touch sensitive, like the Nintendo DS. Included software includes a music player, games, an Art Studio with painting and drawing applications and a Photo Viewer/Editor. Other included apps: an MP3 player for both videos or songs, a Calculator, Calendar, Notepad, Clock with personalized voice alarm and Friends Address Book. Subscribers, please log into our database using your password to read the full review along with our rating, and see why this received our Editor’s Choice Award.
In this app, your job is to run a helicopter taxi that picks up different characters that need to get to certain places. Your kids can fly the helicopter by walking around the room, and rotate the iPhone to see all different angles as well as turn it upright to see the pilots Rita and Skip. When your kids get a call from someone who needs a ride, they place the iPhone on any flat surface to land and pick up new passengers. The app features five characters including Señor Fox, Minda, Rooster, T-Bot and Dr. Clifton, and five locations to bring them too. Subscribers, please log into our database using your password to read the full review along with our rating, and see why this received our Editor’s Choice Award.
First the bad news. This app, based on the book of the same name, costs $13. That’s plenty for a muggle. But the good news is that that it succeeds in satisfying the curiosity of any Harry Potter aficionado, young or old, with added (“oh wow!”) interactive features that include pinch and zoom set blueprints, behind-the-scenes photos from the movie sets, and trailers for each Harry Potter movie. See… that’s why you spent $500 on an iPad. Subscribers, please log into our database using your password to read the full review along with our rating, and see why this received our Editor’s Choice Award.
Based on the 1955 book of the same name by Crockett Johnson, this app tells the story of a little boy’s journey into his dream, where he uses a crayon to draw things that he wants to see. For example, when he falls into the sea, he draws a “trim little boat.” Subscribers, please log into our database using your password to read the full review along with our rating, and see why this received our Editor’s Choice Award.
Here’s what you get when you cross a frozen Antarctic world full of penguins with a Guitar Hero theme. The musical rhythm adventure game for one or two players is inspired by the of the upcoming film Happy Feet Two. In the game, new dancers are threatening the penguin nation and everyone must work and dance together in rhythm to save them from extinction. How? By dancing, carefully matching the beat by tapping on your game controller or touching the screen (with the DS). Subscribers, please log into our database using your password to read the full review along with our rating, and see why this received our Editor’s Choice Award.
This farm-related interactive sticker book lets you touch and hear items and add your own stickers, which can be arranged on the screen. Content includes 500 pieces of art on 20 pages, including a sticker drawer that lets you drag and drop different items on the page. Each scene can be toggled between day and night (just touch the sun or the moon). Subscribers, please log into our database using your password to read the full review along with our rating.
This well intentioned app looks good, but it is (at times) painfully didactic. It combines matching games with a playful Winnie the Pooh story; proof that some things don’t mix particularly well. Subscribers, please log into our database using your password to read the full review along with our rating.
Nearly identical in spirit to The Incredible Machine (1995, Sierra Online), this is a virtual invention lab with 100 levels, and 100 gadgets. The title is part of the thinkSMART series from Mentor Interactive. There are four modes of play: Action Mode – play alone and break the riddles; Co-op Mode – break the riddles with a friend; Party Mode – play against another; and Sandbox Mode – edit your own level to set up chain reactions and share with friends. Subscribers, please log into our database using your password to read the full review along with our rating.
Disney’s virtual world for kids, Club Penguin, is reaching into your mobile device with this game built around a series of cannons that float in the air. The cannons shoot a ball-shaped Puffle (the furry pets from the Club Penguin virtual worlds) through a course full of moving hazards. To make it through, you steer your puffles from cannon to cannon by touching the screen. As the Puffles float, they bounce off balloons. The better you do, the more levels you unlock. The challenges are arranged in 24 levels that can be unlocked. Subscribers, please log into our database using your password to read the full review along with our rating, and see why this received our Editor’s Choice Award.
This animated stickerbook app features four scenes: Drag Race, Classic Roadster, Monster Car, and Junkyard Car builder. You tap and hold a sticker of a car-related item, such as a tire, then drag it into the scene. You can then resize it. To remove a sticker, just drag it off the screen. At any point, you can select a “play” button to animate the stickers, e.g., to make the cars start moving across the screen. Subscribers, please log into our database using your password to read the full review along with our rating.
This 15 page/screen ebook lets you customize one of the cars (from the movie) with pre-made patterns and a spoiler. You then can enter a race which is held on one of three tracks, at the end of the story. Features include the ability to toggle between English, French, German, Spanish, Italian and Swedish. All text is highlighted as it is read. Subscribers, please log into our database using your password to read the full review along with our rating.
Fifth in the series of the ABC apps from Peapod Labs (see also Music, Wildlife, Play and Go), ABC Food turns your iPad or iPhone screen into an alphabet-themed visual encyclopedia. You start by pressing one of the 150 thumbnail images, organized alphabetically. Each leads to a letter themed food item. For C, for example, you won’t want to miss the closeup view of a child eating an ear of Corn, one of the 38 photos used to illustrate the letter C. Others include coconut, chocolate and croissant. Hungry yet? Subscribers, please log into our database using your password to read the full review along with our rating, and see why this received our Editor’s Choice Award.
If you liked Nosy Crow’s iPad treatment of “The Three Little Pigs,” you’ll love their rendition of Cinderella. The interactive design is springy, responsive and multi-dimentional. For example, you can touch any character to read and hear a pop-up sentence of dialog, but if you touch a second or third time, you get another line. You can also help Cinderella with jobs, such as dragging and dropping scattered logs in the fireplace. Options are available for either UK English or US English. You can also choose the length of time the text appears (short, medium or long) to give early readers more time to read. Subscribers, please log into our database using your password to read the full review along with our rating, and see why this received our Editor’s Choice Award.
- Here's a history lesson with meaning — the history of a the cell phone. See LittleClickers cell phones at http://t.co/NuloMCTh #
- Just posted LittleClickers:Batteries to help kids learn how #batteries work; and don't miss the YouTube playlist http://t.co/5YjQrAUu #
- IPad parents: "present range of quality apps, and keep your hands in your pockets." in #chinadaily http://t.co/xHyB2jIz #