GoNoodle Games
Jump, wave, and wiggle with fun immersive movement games.
GoNoodle Games
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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 GoNoodle Games uses their device's camera to immerse kids in a game environment and gets them up and moving around. Kids watch themselves on camera surrounded by water, for example, and must move their arms to pop bubbles they see on the screen. To play, kids need to put their device on a sturdy surface so that they can move around and the camera can see them clearly. GoNoodle Games is compatible on all formats of newer devices, but the game plays much better on larger screens. Kids need to move to play the games; make sure they have plenty of space to be able to do so safely. The settings menu includes options to turn the background music or sounds off. Parents must grant access to their device's camera, though the developer states that the images the camera captures are only for the purposes of playing the game. That is, GoNoodle Games does not record any images. Read the developer's privacy policy for details on how your (or your kids') information is collected, used, and shared and any choices you may have in the matter, and note that privacy policies and terms of service frequently change.
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What’s It About?
Tap on one of four games in GONOODLE GAMES: Bubble Pop, Space Race, Flower Power, or Rock and Roll. The first time kids open a new game, they watch a brief tutorial that instructs them to put their device down, and shows what kinds of movements they'll need to do to play. Kids then tap play to find themselves featured on the screen in a game setting. Depending on the game, kids have a certain amount of time to flail their arms, move side to side, duck down, and so on to pop bubbles, catch stars, clear gardens, tap rocks, and avoid things like flying debris or bees. Keep playing through multiple levels until kids lose three energy lightning bolts.
Is It Any Good?
When they're set up well, these get-up-and-move games are a wonderful, innovative way to spice up a screen time rut. GoNoodle already has a wonderful collection of videos that inspire kids to dance, move, and generally be active. GoNoodle Games adds a fun new element that lets kids feel -- and move -- like the protagonist in a video game. These games are especially interesting, as many screen-based movement apps center on showing kids dance (or yoga, Zumba, and so on) moves to copy, which doesn't appeal to all kids. GoNoodle Games, on the other hand, has a totally different approach, and each game even requires that kids move in a different way. That said, play does need certain conditions to make it all truly work well. The smaller the screen, the harder it is to follow, for example. In some of the games, kids need to resist the temptation to just get really close to the camera and wave their hand in front of it to pass the levels. And the movements on the screen aren't always precise and perfectly responsive to how kids are moving in real life. Despite these slight imperfections, GoNoodle Games is definitely worth a try!
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how GoNoodle Games is different from most other apps. Does playing it inspire your kids to move around more? Why is it so important to incorporate whole body movement into your day, every day?
Provide lots of opportunities for kids to move. Go to a park or playground, take a walk, throw a ball around, or play a sport. Or if you can't get outside, make an obstacle course in your hallway, do jumping jacks, or turn up the music and have a dance party.
Play with your kids and turn it into a friendly competition. Who can score the most points?
App Details
- Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android
- Skills: Health & Fitness: gross motor skills, movement
- Pricing structure: Free
- Release date: March 13, 2020
- Category: Entertainment
- Publisher: GoNoodle, Inc.
- Version: 1.0
- Minimum software requirements: iOS 10.0 or later; Android 6.0 and up
- Last updated: April 27, 2020
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