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Dora and Friends
Common Sense says
- iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
- $3.99
- Education
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 Dora and Friends is a story-making tool featuring the newer, more grown-up-looking Dora and her friends as well as up to four characters that kids can customize. There's a nice range of skin colors, hair styles and colors, and eye colors as well as clothing options for kids to customize boy and girl friends. Kids then move their characters and props around a scene while they narrate a story, which the app records. You can save finished story videos in the app or to your device's camera roll.
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What's it about?
With background scenes with lots of potential for adventure (and a little magic!), kids can create and narrate stories starring Dora and her friends or their own custom-designed cast of characters. To begin, kids can customize up to four characters, choosing hair, skin, and eye color, hairstyle, and clothing. They then choose a setting, populate it with characters and props, and move the characters around while they narrate and record a story. Stories are saved in-app but can be exported to the camera roll and shared from there.
Is it any good?
Kids can be as creative as they want with their stories, incorporating different characters and props, or they can tap the lightbulb for a story idea. The verbal instructions delivered each step of the way make it possible for preschool-age Dora fans to easily create and tell their stories. Each scene includes a bit of magic that leads to another scene, giving kids another layer to add to their stories if they want. The most unique part -- and probably what will be most thrilling for kids -- is the ability to create their own characters from the diverse range of skin, hair, and eye colors. Kids can put themselves or their friends into their stories, and they'll get to make lots of choices, making this app a great opportunity for open-ended play.
Talk to your kids about ...
Families can talk about the stories they'd like to create, planning them out before they start recording. What are the elements of a story that make it fun to tell and share?
Create a two-character story with your kid, each of you controlling and speaking for one character. You can plan your story ahead of time so you both know what to say and when, or improvise, which can help build listening skills.
App details
- Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
- Subjects: Language & Reading: speaking, storytelling
- Skills: Thinking & Reasoning: thinking critically
Creativity: imagination, producing new content
Communication: conveying messages effectively, multiple forms of expression, presenting, speaking
Tech Skills: digital creation - Price: $3.99
- Pricing structure: Paid (A HD version is available for $8.99.)
- Release date: September 4, 2014
- Category: Education
- Topics: Adventures, Book Characters, Great Girl Role Models
- Size: 117.00 MB
- Publisher: Nickelodeon
- Version: 1.0
- Minimum software requirements: iOS 6.0 or later
Themes & Topics
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For kids who love telling stories
Our editors recommend
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.