Parents' Guide to

Busy Shapes & Colors

By Christy Matte, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 3+

Smart sorting series adds colorful layer.

App iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android Free to try Educational Games
Busy Shapes & Colors Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this app.

  • Busy Shapes & Colors App: Screenshot #1
  • Busy Shapes & Colors App: Screenshot #2
  • Busy Shapes & Colors App: Screenshot #3
  • Busy Shapes & Colors App: Screenshot #4
  • Busy Shapes & Colors App: Screenshot #5

Community Reviews

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age 4+

Based on 1 parent review

mr S.
mr S. Adult
December 8, 2017
age 4+

this app is good if you want your kid to be good for 5 hours

My classroom said AY TO THE SHAPES

This title has:

Easy to play/use
See all 1 parent review

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?

Our review:
Parents say: (1):
Kids say: Not yet rated

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

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