Gabbys Dollhouse
Simple games have kid appeal; parents might want more depth.
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Gabbys Dollhouse
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this app.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Gabbys Dollhouse is a companion app to a TV series of the same name. The app gives young kids the opportunity to play and interact with the characters from the show, though kids don't need to be familiar with the show to use the app. While the only human character is a girl with brown skin, kids only see her on the home screen when starting up the app. Kids can explore seven themed rooms in dollhouse, each with a variety of mini-games or activities such as coloring or matching. It's not always clear what kids need to do to complete an activity, which may feel frustrating. Parents can turn off the music and sound effects in the settings menu. Gabbys Dollhouse takes a lot of room on your device; make sure you have enough memory for it. Read the developer's privacy policy for details on how your (or your kids') information is collected, used, and shared and any choices you may have in the matter, and note that privacy policies and terms of service frequently change.
What’s It About?
Choose one of the seven locations in GABBYS DOLLHOUSE to start playing. Once in a room, swipe left or right to explore. Tap on any of the glowing objects to move them around, or tap on an activity icon to find a game. Games include tasks such as coloring, memory, origami, or an endless runner path. Complete the game correctly and earn a certificate; there are 35 to collect in all. Kids can also watch some short videos of songs from the TV series.
Is It Any Good?
This virtual funhouse has a clear preschool friendly theme with cute cats and easy games, but it comes up short in providing meaningful stimulation. Gabbys Dollhouse is colorful, peppy, and almost too cute for its own good - though preschoolers won't be bothered by that. They also won't be bothered by the games and activities that are overly simplified - though parents might want their kids to do something more substance to it. Many games simply require kids to tap and the activity happens automatically. For example, to make origami kids tap on the paper and it folds by itself. Or to color, kids tap on an area of a drawing and it automatically fills with color. Other activities are actually confusing. For instance, the memory game seems as though kids need to match a target, but that goal isn't all clear. Though it's great that Gabby offers representation for kids with brown skin, the dollhouse and games feature the cat characters, so Gabby's presence turns out to not be all that significant. Gabbys Dollhouse has certain appeal for young kids, but doesn't really offer them anything meaningful.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the games kids play with Gabbys Dollhouse. Which kinds of games do they like the best? Why?
Try offscreen versions of some of the activities. Break out origami paper to fold, markers to draw with, or have fun in the kitchen making simple snacks or meals to eat together.
Talk to your kids about representation in the media. Why is it important to see characters that represent all kids?
App Details
- Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android
- Skills: Creativity: imagination
- Pricing structure: Free
- Release date: October 29, 2020
- Category: Family Games
- Topics: Cats, Dogs, and Mice
- Publisher: Spin Master
- Version: 1.0.7
- Minimum software requirements: iOS 10.0 or later; Android 6.0 and up
- Last updated: November 9, 2020
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