ABC Alphabet Phonics - Innovative Investments

This review of ABC Alphabet Phonics was completed by the Australian Council on Children and the Media (ACCM) on 23 July 2017.

About the app

This section contains details about the app provided by an ACCM Reviewer.

ACCM review

This review of ABC Alphabet Phonics contains the following information:

• The level to which the game was reviewed
• App description
• Reviewers comments
• In App purchasing
• Online information
• Gambling
• Advertising and product placement
• Gender stereotypes and sexual references
• Coarse language
• Game playing behaviour which may be of concern to some parents
• Other

The level to which the game was reviewed

There are no levels as such but reviewer checked all options.

App description

ABC Alphabet phonics is a simple educational app, which displays 3 letters on the screen and sounds out one of the letters. The user has to tap the correct letter, which is then circled in red and the player is congratulated with aural phrases such as ‘awesome’, ‘fantastic’ ‘great job’ etc. The letters are a mixture of upper and lower case. The screen can be customized in various ways by an adult in the parents’ zone. Some of the options include: the number of items to display can be changed from 3 to 10; the letters can be illustrated in various ways such as with animals, monkeys, illustrations, etc; it can be changed to display just lower or upper case. There is also an option to display a hint on the screen.

Reviewers comments

ABC Alphabet Phonics is a bright and colourful app designed to appeal to young children. The repetitive nature of the app will help children learn the alphabet and associate letters with objects. The ability to customize the app according to a child’s developmental stage is also very useful. The voice-over used is American and there is supposed to be an option to customize the ‘congratulations sounds’ in the parental zone. When the reviewer attempted to record different words however, the app closed unexpectedly.

The parental lock is simply to touch the screen with 3 fingers. This would prevent young children from accessing the parents’ zone but not children who can read. The parents’ zone provides access to the app store and to the Internet. Other apps by the developer are available for purchase. Parental Guidance is therefore recommended for children aged 4+.

In App purchasing

Other apps by the same developer are available for purchase.

Online information

No login details are required but access to the App Store and the Internet are available in the parents’ zone.

Gambling

At the time of review, the reviewer found no simulated gambling content. If you discover simulated gambling content in this app, please contact us with the details so we can update our review.

Advertising and product placement

Other apps by the developer are advertised on the home screen but only accessible by unlocking the screen as mentioned before.

Gender stereotypes and sexual references

None.

Coarse language

None.

Game playing behaviour which may be of concern to some parents

Nothing of concern. 

Other

None. 

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