HexaParty - Hexel Art for Kids
By Mieke VanderBorght,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Coloring simple images is fun, takes little effort, has ads.
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HexaParty - Hexel Art for Kids
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What’s It About?
HEXAPARTY - HEXEL ART FOR KIDS is like a digital coloring book with pixelated images made from large hexagons. Pick an image from categories such as animals, food, or fantasy. Tap one of the colors on the bottom of the screen, and the parts of the image that take that color get highlighted. Tap each highlighted hexagon to add color. Turn on the color bomb to tap the image and have color added automatically. The AR mode projects the pixelated image on a wall, and the device becomes a paint gun. Kids aim the camera at the pixels to shoot color at them. A free-draw option lets kids use multiple color palettes and fill in a blank pixelated canvas however they wish.
Is It Any Good?
Large pixelated images and simple controls make it easy even for young kids to color in images -- even if there's little room for creativity. A big collection of pixelated images includes lots of fun drawings for kids to complete. And the method is simple: Tap a color and then tap the highlighted pixels. Color outside the lines and tap the wrong pixels? No problem! For better or for worse, each pixel takes only the color it's supposed to be. The upside is that kids will always get fun colorful images when they're done, which may be appealing to kids who don't feel super confident about their artistic abilities. The downside is that there's no room for personalization or creative expression. Kids are essentially following directions to make a set, standard image. To some, the process may be soothing, but to others, it may feel meaningless. There's also a free-draw option, though it's buried lower down in the main menu. The AR option is neat, but it can be finicky and it takes good coordination to make it work. Overall it's hard to see why HexaParty - Hexel Art for Kids works on a subscription rather than a set download fee. The free trial should help parents decide whether they think it's worth it to pay a subscription every month.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the art kids create with HexaParty - Hexel Art for Kids. Which images do they like best? Why? Ask kids to make up a story about what's in the image.
Encourage kids to get creative. Use the blank canvas to make their own images or get out paper and something to color with.
Talk about creating art on a screen vs. using paper with markers, finger paint, or crayons. How does it feel different?
App Details
- Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
- Subjects: Arts: drawing
- Skills: Creativity: making new creations, Tech Skills: digital creation
- Pricing structure: Free to try (seven-day trial then $4.99/month)
- Release date: February 27, 2020
- Category: Entertainment
- Publisher: Marshmallow Games
- Version: 2.1
- Minimum software requirements: iOS 11.0 or later
- Last updated: June 29, 2021
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