Common Sense Media Review
By Amanda Bindel
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Workbook-style activities give kids a hint of culture.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 4+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Download
Videos and Photos
Pacca Alpaca - Travel Playtime: fun activities for kids
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's It About?
On the home screen of PACCA ALPACA - TRAVEL PLAYTIME: FUN ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS, users choose an activity from a carousel of selections. An icon on the card shows the type of activity -- dot-to-dot, sticker scenes, puzzles, spot-the-difference, hide-and-seek, building blocks, drawing, and I spy -- and kids see a preview of the cultural scene. After completing the activity, which shows a scene from another country, kids will see that country's flag and hear the name of the country. Some games are open-ended, such as drawing and sticker scenes, so kids determine when they're finished and click the check mark. Others, such as I spy, advance when kids have completed the activity.
Is It Any Good?
Like a big preschool activity book in an app, there's a lot of variety without much depth. The activities are mostly intuitive, but there are no instructions, so kids may need help from parents to know that when they see four pictures, for instance, they're supposed to choose the one that's different. The fun extra is the cultural aspect, though it's barely there: Each game introduces kids to a bit of culture, such as a picture of Mount Rushmore or a sticker page of Egypt. Once kids complete the activity, they'll hear the name of the country and see its flag. This app would be much more interesting if the cultural aspects were more of a focus and at least some of the activities had more depth.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the places featured in the games and research them more. Read books featuring kids or places from other cultures.
To reap the benefits of these activities for developing fine motor skills in kids, try them off the screen, too.
App Details
- Devices : iPhone , iPod Touch , iPad , Android
- Subjects : Social Studies : global awareness , Arts : drawing
- Skills : Thinking & Reasoning : solving puzzles
- Pricing structure : Paid
- Release date : August 28, 2015
- Genre : Education
- Publisher : Anamil Tech Limited
- Version : 1.0
- Minimum software requirements : iOS 5.1.1 or later; Android 4.0 and up
- Last updated : November 11, 2020
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