Pango Storytime

Stephanie Puig Product Review Product: Pango Storytime Age Range: 3+ Skills: Kids help stories progress, using and applying technology The product that I have chosen is an app called “Pango Storytime”. This app can be found on Commonsensemedia. It can be downloaded on the app store. It is a (mostly) free app so I actually downloaded it to try it out for myself! What I mean by the app is “mostly” free is that the first story is free to use but after that you have to upgrade and pay to do more. So, I tried it out for myself with the first story. The free story given to me was called “Pango Goodnight” and it starts out with a screen with a moon, house, and bush on it. To tell you what to do next, one object on the screen starts to shake. You then click on that object and there is a task given. For example, the first task was to click on the shaking bush and a mini game popped up where I was supposed to shoot at a slingshot at the moon and “shatter it”. The next task was to then “put the moon back together”. As I went along with the story, the tasks got harder and more interesting. To move the story along, you must click through prompts. Throughout the story the main character was faced with some difficult tasks that you then have to fix for him to be able to fall asleep (Such as a scary monster showing up). This gives kids the opportunity to choose how they will help the main character. He goes through the process of trying to get to sleep and once he is finally asleep, you return to the main menu. The interesting thing I found about this app was that there are locked stories and if your child tries to click on them, a math problem will show up instead of it stating that you must buy the story to play. This ensures that your child can be blocked from buying the product. Personally, I do not think that this app is as entertaining as it looked like it would be. This app will distract your kid for about 10 minutes before bedtime and hopefully help them fall asleep. But, then again in my opinion, I do not think being on a cellphone or ipad before bed would help your child fall asleep. This product has three stars on it and I can see why. The premise is there but the execution was not met to my needs and standards. This app states that it is educational but I do not see much education coming within the app. Majority of the app was pressing on a shaking object and moving it to another place on the screen. After reading the privacy policy, I have noticed that they do not take any information from you and if they do, that information is only going for their research. To get the app there was no sign-up needed. It also states that if you believe they are not being used for this purpose than you may contact them to talk about it with them. It also states that if any changes happe tye will notify the parent/adult. Overall, this app seems like a safe way for your child to play and learn. But, your child will be learning how to use technology not any educational value for school (Such as math or reading).