Busy Shapes & Colors
Common Sense says
- iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android
- Free to try
- Educational Games
Parents say
Kids say
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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 Busy Shapes & Colors is a color and shape sorting educational experience in the vein of Busy Shapes by the same publisher. It's a virtual version of a toy shape sorter, allowing for color sorting as well. Because there are no instructions, very young kids may be lost in getting started, but most preschoolers will naturally match the "block" to the similarly shaped and colored hole. As the game progresses, levels require kids to alter the shape or color, and some kids may not be able to figure this out on their own. The app is free to try, but full access is $1.99. There's an ad for the publisher's other games on the main page, but you have to pass a multiplication parent gate to gain access. Read the app's privacy policy to find out about the information collected and shared.
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User Reviews
- Parents say
- Kids say
this app is good if you want your kid to be good for 5 hours
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What's it about?
BUSY SHAPES & COLORS encourages kids to learn their shapes and colors in a simple but meaningful way. In the shape sorter, kids are given one shape and one hole. They drag the shape into the hole and follow it down into a new puzzle. The theory is that physically moving the pieces on the board helps solidify the concept. When the answers are correct, the game also reinforces the learning by saying the name of the shape or color out loud. As they progress, they receive more shapes and more holes, some of which don't fit at all. The color game is similar, only they may have shapes that fit, but are the wrong color. There's also a third game that combines the two concepts so kids have to figure out the match. They eventually need to change the shapes they have into the matching shapes and even alter the colors (in some cases, by blending two other colors). After some completed levels, kids are rewarded with a silly penguin video. The parent area, which is blocked by a multiplication parent gate, has a chart with the colors and shapes so adults can see how kids are progressing in learning each one. If kids are stuck on a color or shape, parents can present just that one object for them to practice. Parents have the ability to add multiple accounts to track different children.
Is it any good?
This game is proof that kids don't need empty bells and whistles to learn; they need quality content presented in a clear way. Busy Shapes & Colors is a puzzle game geared toward really young kids, but it uses commonly known education techniques to help little ones remember. For example, instead of shooting off fireworks after a correct answer, the game says the answer out loud, helping kids gain both a visual and audio understanding. With the exception of some silly animated penguin videos, there are no distractions. It's a refreshing nod to the days where kids could just sort shapes into a wooden or plastic frame and not expect a song and dance to let them know they got it right; the passing of the shape is the reward. The fact that parents can track their kids' progress is just the cherry on top.
Talk to your kids about ...
Families can talk about shapes and colors around the house. Practice naming colors and shapes and ask kids if they can find objects that match what you are describing. Do any of them match the shapes in Busy Shapes & Colors?
Talk to your kids about screen use and limits. How can kids enjoy digital media in balance with other activities?
App details
- Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android
- Subjects: Math: shapes
- Skills: Thinking & Reasoning: solving puzzles, spatial reasoning
- Price: Free to try
- Pricing structure: Free to try (all content $1.99)
- Release date: August 29, 2017
- Category: Educational Games
- Size: 131.00 MB
- Publisher: EDOKI ACADEMY
- Version: 1.3.1
- Minimum software requirements: iOS 7.0 or later; Android 4.4 and up
- Last updated: July 11, 2020
Our editors recommend
For kids who love preschool and educational apps
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.