 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Dora Hops into Phonics! (a preschool learning game by Nickelodeon)
- iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
- Price: $1.99
- Category: Kids Games
Common Sense Media says
TV fave teaches early reading skills; pace feels a bit slow.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that Dora Hops into Phonics! (a preschool learning game by Nickelodeon) is an app designed to help kids learn early reading skills. Dora needs to cross a river to get to the frog fiesta on the other side. Each round has a set of lily pads that spells out a word. Kids need to read the word and choose the picture that matches. They can touch each letter to sound out the word, and the game will say the name of each picture, as well. Next, they have to choose which letter will change the old word into a new one that matches the provided picture. For example, they might change dog into log. Once again, they can get help by touching the letters and pictures. In between each round is a different frog mini-game. Parents can see a report of how their child is progressing through the different difficulty levels, which include first letter sounds, ending letter sounds, and middle letter sounds with three-letter words. Kids eventually move on to four- and five-letter words.
Is it any good?
DORA HOPS INTO PHONICS! is a solid way of getting kids to understand basic letter sounds, how words come together, and other early reading skills. It leaves room for kids to explore the sounds, make guesses, and receive coaching if necessary. Dora cheers the kids on when they find the right answer and gently redirects them with the wrong answer. The game could use a bit more variety in the actual learning activity. It's easy to become bored with the same formula, and the difficulty ramps up too slowly for early readers who are ready for more advanced skills. The mini-games are OK, but not enough to spice up the repetition of the learning levels.
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| Category: | Kids Games |
| Platforms: | iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad |
| Price: | $1.99 |
| Size: | 65.60 MB |
| Publisher: | Nickelodeon |
| Version: | 1.0 |
| Release date: | October 22, 2011 |
| Minimum software requirements: | iOS 4.0 or later |
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