Shiny Party - Shapes & Colours - Shiny Things

This review of Shiny Party - Shapes & Colours was completed by the Australian Council on Children and the Media (ACCM) on 2 July 2017.

About the app

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

ACCM review

This review of Shiny Party - Shapes & Colours 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

The game can be played via story mode or directly into game mode. Both modes access the same set of games. Both routes to the games were played twice and individual games 3-4 times.

App description

This party themed educational game focuses on recognition and naming of basic shapes and colours, identifying shapes within pictures and matching shapes of differing colours, dimensions and orientations. The skills involved include mental rotation to complete puzzles and recognition of component parts to form a whole. Literacy skills are encouraged through audible and visual word repetition of shape names in games and in step by step highlighting of words as they are read in the story. Fine motor skills and hand eye co-ordination are also required for tapping and dragging shapes and aligning them correctly in puzzles. Encouraging children to describe their rational for matching or sorting will also encourage children to think about other characteristics they may use to sort items. 

Reviewers comments

The games can either be played through the interactive story mode or the four games can be played individually. Players are introduced to basic shapes and are encouraged to identify them within a picture. Matching shapes and cupcake designs and puzzle completion are also offered, which are important early maths development skills. The games are repetitive, with only basic shapes introduced; consequently older children may become bored quickly. Parents can extend the learning by discussing the way in which basic shapes make up many of the common household objects they see, like a rectangle for the TV and fridge or a circle for a clock. At the successful completion of each game, children are rewarded with a sticker.

In App purchasing

None. 

Online information

• Camera
• Microphone

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 Shiny Things are advertised on the home page but require reading an instruction to touch a shape for two minutes to gain access.

Gender stereotypes and sexual references

Nothing of concern.

Coarse language

None.

Game playing behaviour which may be of concern to some parents

None. 

Other

None. 

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