Doc McStuffins Pet Vet
By Lisa Caplan,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Fix animal ouchies, play mini-games, meet great role models.
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Doc McStuffins Pet Vet
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What’s It About?
Join DOC MCSTUFFINS PET VET in her new venture as a vet for sick toy pets and farm animals. To navigate, kids can explore the different parts of the clinic and jump to specific activities with simple taps from the main screen. When kids start playing, Doc and her pals narrate the basic instructions aloud so nonreaders can jump right in. Kids have to select a sick animal from Doc's clipboard, and then Doc takes it to the examination room. After announcing a silly diagnosis -- a sheep with thorns in its side has "Thick-as-Thorn Syndrome" -- kids either pick the specific tool Doc requests or pick the best tool for the job on their own. Once the pet's ailment is cured, Doc sends the critter to nap with Lambie or run an obstacle course with Stuffy. There's no way to lose or get a wrong answer, and kids earn badges for successfully completed tasks; once they win all the badges, they get a stethoscope.
Is It Any Good?
Although this popular title may not give your preschooler a head start toward medical or veterinary school, it's likely to foster an interest in animal care and teach some simple skills. Unlike other similar apps, this one doesn't offer in-app purchases or other nickel-and-dime elements, which is refreshing and makes the play experience more fun, though the sticker price might initially put off some parents. However, because the badge book and added incentive of winning a prize adds replay value to an app that could feel repetitive, it's possible to get your money's worth. As on the show, there are positive role models, messages of empathy and friendship, and light learning value. Though some users have reported issues with the sound quality, we encountered no technical issues during testing.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how taking care of real pets differs from caring for the toy pets in the app. What care do real pets need? How is taking care of a bird different from taking care of a dog?
Talk about going to the doctor. How does your kid feel about it? What do they like and not like?
Discuss why popular characters from kids' TV shows so often appear in games, apps, books, and toys. Why do kids like this? How does it help the product manufacturer?
App Details
- Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android, Kindle Fire
- Subjects: Language & Reading: following directions, Math: counting, patterns, Science: animals, Hobbies: pets
- Skills: Thinking & Reasoning: problem solving, Emotional Development: empathy, Communication: friendship building, listening
- Pricing structure: Paid
- Release date: August 19, 2015
- Category: Education
- Topics: Cats, Dogs, and Mice, Great Girl Role Models, Horses and Farm Animals, Science and Nature
- Character Strengths: Empathy
- Publisher: Disney
- Version: 1.0
- Minimum software requirements: iOS 7 or later
- Last updated: July 12, 2020
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