Gracie & Friends Jungle Gym
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Gracie & Friends Jungle Gym
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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 Gracie and Friends Jungle Gym is part of a suite of apps and offscreen activities that aim to teach one very specific math skill: subitizing, or recognizing quantity without having to count. This game covers numbers 2 through 5. The game is very simple for young kids to learn and is supported by outside research. At a certain point during play, kids have to gently shake the device, so make sure they're set up so they can do that safely. On the developer's website, parents can find printable materials and activities that extend learning.
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What’s It About?
In GRACIE AND FRIENDS JUNGLE GYM kids practice recognizing quantity without having to count for numbers 2 through 5. Choose a robot, then drag the requested number of stickers to its belly. Then, group robots by number of dots to create hanging robot chains. To make robots fall from their jungle gym chain onto a trampoline, shake the device and start the next level. Levels increase in difficulty as they introduce higher numbers (up to 5). On a second level, kids match numerals to dot quantity. Helpful hints along the way gently guide kids who are having trouble.
Is It Any Good?
Gracie and Friends Jungle Gym does only one small thing, but it does it well. The combination of content (stickers, robots, a jungle gym, a trampoline) and interactivity (dragging and shaking) is whimsical and entertaining. Along the way, kids count and deal with quantity. Subitizing is a great skill that's a basis for having a comfortable and fluid relationship with numbers, and apps that bolster this skill well aren't easy to find. Without time pressure, kids can count the dots and thus not actually subitize, per se. But even if they do count, they still get nice practice with number fluency, and there's great support for kids who need it. Because the game only covers numbers up to 5, kids will play only so many times before getting bored. But the whole app suite, plus printable materials that extend learning off the screen, is all free and supported by third-party research. So, even if the shelf life is on the short side, it's worth the download.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about all the places where numbers and quantity appear. How many colors are on a traffic light? How many magnets on the fridge?
Count everyday items -- such as eggs -- and point out written numerals, such as the 6 written on a half-dozen egg carton.
Practice judging quantity quickly and without regard to how items are arranged. Group items and ask kids to quickly say how many are there. Rearrange and ask again.
App Details
- Device: iPad
- Subjects: Math: counting, estimation, numbers
- Pricing structure: Free
- Release date: December 4, 2014
- Category: Education
- Topics: Numbers and Letters, Robots
- Publisher: First 8 Studios at WGBH
- Version: 1.0
- Minimum software requirements: iOS 6.0 or later
- Last updated: April 25, 2017
Our Editors Recommend
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Gracie & Friends Treasure Bubbles
Learn early math skills with a buddy; fun but repetitive.
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Montessori Numbers for Kids
Great math tool for motivated kids to explore.
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Intro to Math, by Montessorium
Early math presented in varied and interesting ways.
For kids who love math and preschool games
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