Bandimal
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Bandimal
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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 Bandimal is an open-ended music creation app for little kids. While it's not entirely clear what each of the icons does, young kids will feel free to explore without having expectations for certain outcomes. Bandimal automatically saves each musical creation, so kids who close the app accidentally or without thinking to save won't lose their work. An icon with links to the publisher's other games and a parent area are both blocked with a parent gate that asks users in writing to tap certain numbers on the screen in order. Read the app's privacy policy to find out about the information collected and shared.
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What’s It About?
BANDIMAL enables even your littlest of littles to create their own lively music. Choose three animals from among favorites like snakes, pandas, turtles, chickens, and sheep. Each one makes a different sound (paired with a funky dance move), and kids can easily choose which notes to play on the loop. There's a tempo adjustment for each animal slot and a special sound effect button. Add in up to three different percussion instruments and dance along. The song automatically saves, and kids can go in later to replay or edit it.
Is It Any Good?
Kids will love this music app, with which you can't really create anything that doesn't sound fantastic. Bandimal allows kids to take a trio of quirky animals and turn them into a musical masterpiece. One of the best parts of Bandimal is that kids can just start tapping on things to see what changes. If they don't like the result, another tap will change it up again. There's no right or wrong, and although each adjustment clearly changes the music, it's hard to come up with something that doesn't have a great sound. A little guide to what each button is would be a great addition to the parents' guide, but kids likely won't miss it. One of the best parts? Each song is auto-saved for later editing or enjoyment, so there will be no tears about lost music.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Talk to your kids about screen use and limits. How can kids enjoy digital media in balance with other activities? How does Bandimal fit into that balance?
Create your own family band with toy instruments, or make instruments of your own with recycled items you already have on hand.
App Details
- Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
- Subjects: Arts: music
- Skills: Creativity: imagination, making new creations
- Pricing structure: Paid
- Release date: December 14, 2017
- Category: Music
- Topics: Music and Sing-Along, Wild Animals
- Publisher: Yatatoy
- Version: 1.0.1
- Minimum software requirements: iOS 10.0 or later
- Last updated: March 12, 2021
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