Common Sense Media Review
By Mieke VanderBorght
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Fun storytelling encourages kid, caregiver co-play.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 4+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Download
Videos and Photos
Animal Antics (for Families)
Parent and Kid Reviews
Privacy Rating Warning
Privacy Rating
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Pass
Meets our minimum requirements for privacy and security practices.
Warning
Does not meet our recommendations for privacy and security practices.
Fail
Does not have a privacy policy and should not be used.
Privacy Rating
Our expert evaluators create our privacy ratings. The ratings are designed to help you understand how apps use your data for commercial purposes.
Pass
Meets our minimum requirements for privacy and security practices.
Warning
Does not meet our recommendations for privacy and security practices.
Fail
Does not have a privacy policy and should not be used.
What's It About?
Start ANIMAL ANTICS (FOR FAMILIES) with a step-by-step tutorial on how to use the app. Then, choose one of the story themes -- such as At the Library or Let's Cook! Two animated animal characters appear on either side of the screen with a photographic background a short text description sets up the story. Tap on the one of the animals to choose a facial expression, and tap record to make it say something. Open-ended questions help prompt ideas for what to say. When done, the other player gets a turn to do the same with the other animal character. A turn counter shows how many turns each character has. When all turns are used, the story moves to the next plot point. Then, when the story is complete, press play to hear the whole thing. Finished stories are stored in the Our Performances section on the main screen.
Is It Any Good?
Relatable stories with silly characters offer a nice open canvas for parents and kids to get creative together. Animal Antics (for Families) isn't fancy, but it's easy to use and has great ideas for sparking thought and conversation. The story prompts lead caregivers and kids to focus on a theme, but they also have plenty of space to narrate the story in whatever way feels right. Open-ended questions are a great help, particularly when kids don't know what to say. In fact, parents may want to talk through all the questions before they or their kids pinpoint what they want their character to say. This app is meant to spark play and conversation for kids and caregivers -- or even siblings or other pairs -- and isn't meant for solo play. Even the turn taking feature can be important practice for the back and forth nature of conversation. Animal Antics (for Families) can great fun for loved ones to tell stories while talking about every day experiences -- together.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about kids' own experiences with the story themes in Animal Antics (for Families). Have you and your friend ever wanted to play with the same toy at the same time? What's your favorite thing to do at the library?
Read through all the thought questions on each setting screen and discuss all the ideas before tapping record.
Talk about how the characters feel and why. What facial expressions best represent those feelings?
App Details
- Devices : iPhone , iPod Touch , iPad , Android
- Subjects : Language & Reading : discussion , storytelling , vocabulary
- Skills : Thinking & Reasoning : asking questions , Creativity : imagination , making new creations , Emotional Development : labeling feelings , perspective taking , Communication : listening , multiple forms of expression , Collaboration : cooperation , teamwork , Tech Skills : using and applying technology
- Pricing structure : Free
- Release date : April 8, 2021
- Genre : Education
- Publisher : Harvard University
- Version : 1.0
- Minimum software requirements : iOS 11.4 or later; Android 4.4 and up
- Last updated : November 3, 2021
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