Homer - Kids Learn to Read - Homer

This review of Homer - Kids Learn to Read was completed by the Australian Council on Children and the Media (ACCM) on 5 April 2018.

About the app

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

ACCM review

This review of Homer - Kids Learn to Read 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

Reviewer accessed all areas available in the trial version (without having a subscription).

App description

Homer – Kids Learn to Read provides a comprehensive, personalised learn-to-read program for children. Each child’s ‘personalised pathway’ is designed within the app based on information provided about a child’s interests and answers to questions related to their current reading ability. Children can then access and interact with 8 different learning areas including: Art, Songs & Rhymes, Learn to Read, Discover the World, My Pathway, Story time, First Readers and Brain games.

Reviewers comments

This is a bright and colourful app designed to appeal to young children. As the content is tailored to each child based on the questions answered during the registration process, it is designed to further engage them with the process of learning to read. The ‘Learn to Read’ section gives children the opportunity to practice phonics (the sounds in words), sight words and decoding of words – all fundamental skills needed to learn to read. Other sections provide opportunities to be creative and engage with language and vocabulary through stories, songs, art and activities in a fun and interesting way. The app provides users with ‘pickles’ as rewards as they progress through the app. The ‘pickles’ can then be used to purchase props and accessories for a ‘Wickle’ – a character within the app.

The app is American therefore some content is specific to the country (such as designing a Presidential House) and the voice-over used is American, which can cause some confusion when trying to learn sounds. The home screen has a parental zone controlled by entering an adult birth year and all settings, purchases and subscriptions can be managed from here.

The free version only allows for 1 child profile to be set up and is a 30-day trial. After this time a subscription is needed to continue. The majority of features are also only available on a subscription, with a small selection available in the trial version. Pricing for subscription is $8.99 monthly, $32.99 for 3 months or $79.99 yearly. Up to 4 children can be registered on a subscription.

In App purchasing

None noted.

Online information

Once downloaded the internet is not needed to play the game - in the parent section there are links to the iTunes store and Facebook but this section is protected by an adult birth date password.

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

There is a small advertisement on the home screen for purchasing a subscription to the app.

Gender stereotypes and sexual references

No gender stereotypes or sexual references were observed during the review.

Coarse language

No coarse language was observed during the review.

Game playing behaviour which may be of concern to some parents

N/A.

Other

N/A.

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