Parents' Guide to

MarcoPolo Recall

By Keri Wilmot, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 4+

Simple, free game to improve focus and memory.

App iPhone , iPod Touch , iPad Free Education
MarcoPolo Recall Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this app.

  • Marco Polo Recall App: Screenshot 1
  • Marco Polo Recall App: Screenshot 2
  • Marco Polo Recall App: Screenshot 3
  • Marco Polo Recall App: Screenshot 4
  • Marco Polo Recall App: Screenshot 5

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What’s It About?

In MARCOPOLO RECALL, there are four different memory games that are played the same way. Each game has four different bars on the screen. In the first game, there are four bars, each a different color. When starting the game, the bars will flash, one at a time. The player has to tap the same bar, in the exact same order. The app will add another key to the sequence, and the player will tap the next button in sequence, each time, always starting from the beginning again. The sequence starts the same way each time, but will get longer and longer. The second game is the same, but played at a much faster speed. In the 3rd game, the screen is black and the bars aren't visible, but a light will flash in order. In the last game, players use two fingers to tap two buttons at the same time in sequence. When an incorrect answer is provided during any game, there are cute and sometimes silly animations for children to watch. Their high score displays, and users are given a chance to play again.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

Though it's a simple experience kids won't likely beg to play, this memory-builder is a solid, free way to practice recall. As we live in a world full of distractions, it's important to expand your short-term memory skills in order to quickly learn new information. This isn't an easy skill for many, even adults. MarcoPolo Recall gives kids and even adults a fun way to practice this skill through repetition, in a multisensory way that starts simply and gets more complex over time as the player's skill improves. Want a different experience? Try holding the device horizontally instead of vertically when playing and see which orientation is easier or more challenging. While it's not a new way to practice memory skills, it's accessible and free, and it could provide a bit of memory-stretching fun for a few minutes at a time.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how MarcoPolo Recall helps to improve short-term memory. You are just remembering a sequence of lights and sounds here, but how do you use your short-term memory in everyday life?

  • Everyone learns differently. Some learn by seeing, others learn by listening, maybe even both. Turn the sound off on the app and determine whether you or your child has a preference or advantage for remembering the information when they see it, hear it, or engage both senses at the same time. Was it easier when the lights and sounds were shared at a faster speed?

  • Improving your memory for information is a skill that needs to be practiced, and it becomes more of a challenge to pay attention with distractions. What were the distractions that impacted you from beating your best score? Did someone interrupt you by asking a question or to have a conversation? Were you able to tune out the information and keep focused, or did you forget the sequence?

App Details

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