Preteen girl looking at a cell phone with her parents

Family movie night? There's an app for that

Download our new mobile app on iOS and Android.

Get the app
Parents' Guide to

Dave and Ava Learn and Play

By Mieke VanderBorght, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 3+

Quality early learning from YouTube; try before you buy.

App iPhone , iPod Touch , iPad , Android , Kindle Fire Free Education
Dave and Ava Learn and Play Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

  • Dave and Ava Learn and Play App: Screenshot #1
  • Dave and Ava Learn and Play App: Screenshot #2
  • Dave and Ava Learn and Play App: Screenshot #3
  • Dave and Ava Learn and Play App: Screenshot #4

Community Reviews

See all
age 2+

Based on 1 parent review

gomoe
gomoe Adult
August 13, 2021
age 2+

Diversity

My granddaughter enjoys Dave and Ava. I have this question. Why does the brown skin characters have to be monkeys? Why aren't they just represented as people? I beleive first impressions are important. I am not a monkey and neither are her parents. If you want to use monkeys, please don't dress them up like people. Thank you!
See all 1 parent review

Privacy Rating Warning

  • Personal information is not sold or rented to third parties.
  • Personal information is not shared for third-party marketing.
  • Unclear whether this product displays personalised advertising.
  • Unclear whether data are collected by third-parties for their own purposes.
  • Unclear whether this product uses a user's information to track and target advertisements on other third-party websites or services.
  • Unclear whether this product creates and uses data profiles for personalised advertisements.
Learn more about our privacy ratings

What’s It About?

Spin the wheel on DAVE AND AVA'S LEARN AND PLAY's home screen to cycle through the four available activities. Tap on the play button to go to a menu of nursery rhyme videos. Download videos to watch offline or create a play list. Tap on the animals to complete puzzles and watch mini-animations featuring a variety of farm animals. Tap the 123 icon to choose from numbers 1 through 20 or the ABC icon for a menu of the alphabet. Each number or letter has a outlined figure to color in, and a mini-animation that shows e.g., Dave playing with seven bubbles for the number seven or Eva dancing for the letter D. Then count the items or trace the letter.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1 ):
Kids say (2 ):

This collection of early learning content features bright, dynamic graphics and quality song recordings. The videos offer a good start to the classic songs and nursery rhymes that characterize many kids' early years. Letter mini-games nicely emphasize the beginning sound of each target word and number games clearly demonstrate the concept of quantity. That said, most, if not all, of this content is available for free from the developer's YouTube channel. And it isn't a slam-dunk that the interactive features of the app format warrant paying the subscription price. Also, there are few user experience features that were not well thought out for young kids, including the main menu's spinning wheel, the automatic replay on the videos, and the use of different device orientations for the activities. Another thing to note is the developer's marketing strategy that some parents may find off-putting. For example, Dave and Ava Learn and Play is marketed in various instances as appropriate for babies, as a babysitting tool, and as a way to prevent tantrums. Parents may want to check out screen time recommendations and advice on using digital media in early childhood before deciding if Dave and Ava Learn and Play is right for their family.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the early learning content in Dave and Ava Learn and Play. Sing the songs with your kids throughout the day. Point out words that begin with different letters of the alphabet and emphasize the different sounds in the words. Count steps as you walk up the stairs, or dogs that you see as you're out for a walk.

  • Encourage your kids' language development by reading books, singing songs, and reciting rhymes with your kids as frequently as you can.

  • Set clear guidelines around when and for how long your family can use screen media -- and enforce them!

App Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended app lists

Related Topics

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

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.

See how we rate