ABC Kids - Tracing & Phonics - RV AppStudios LLC

App Review

This review of ABC Kids - Tracing & Phonics was completed by the Australian Council on Children and the Media (ACCM) on 25 February 2017.

About the app

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

ACCM review

This review of ABC Kids - Tracing & 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

Ten out of the 26 letters were played

App description

This alphabet game requires children to use their forefinger to trace letters, match capital and lowercase letters and identify a prompted letter from an array. Letter recognition and fine motor skills are required for play. Limited phonics are utilised with letter name rather than sound correspondence the focus of play.

Reviewers comments

This app’s developmental benefits will be maximised by parental co-play. As this is an American app, simple decorative fonts are used rather than Australian foundational fonts, which children need to recognise for school readiness. Players are also prompted to use their forefinger, which can become problematic for older children (5-6years) when a tripod pencil grasp is required for writing.

Australian children may also find some of the phonetic letter sounds challenging as they are spoken with an American accent. Letter names may also differ e.g. “zee” instead of “zed”. The line trace to return to the home menu to select another activity may prove frustrating for young children who cannot accomplish this alone, further encouraging parental co-play.

The child’s play is celebrated with encouraging words and progress to the next letter of the alphabet. Stickers and gift boxes with toys inside are also used to reward progress, which is engaging for young children. Although a moving finger and dots are used to guide the player, very young children may become frustrated if unable to correctly follow the trace. Co-play with a parent is encouraged to assist with tracing, letter recognition, and correct Australian sound enunciation, as well as to assist the child to return to the home menu. Young children will particularly enjoy the friendly lion that hosts the activities and gently guides them to the correct response.

In App purchasing

None

Online information

• No online information is required with connectivity only required to rate the App. Full app play functionality is available offline.

Gambling

At 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

• No advertising, in app purchasing or third party adverts .

Gender stereotypes and sexual references

• None of concern

Coarse language

• No course language detected.

Game playing behaviour which may be of concern to some parents

None

Other

N/A.

Got a suggestion?

You can contact us if you have suggestions of other children's apps to review.