Common Sense Media Review
By Mieke VanderBorght
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Help Cat out of trees with spatial skills; expect smiles.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 3+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Download
Videos and Photos
Peg + Cat: The Tree Problem
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's It About?
Silly Cat keeps getting stuck in tall trees! Kids build bridges, ramps, and stairs to help him climb down. There are six "worlds," each with a different challenge. For example, kids adjust geyser heights in Dino Valley, roll snowballs at the South Pole, and move hanging cloud decorations on Broadway. Each world has five levels of increasing difficulty. If kids need help, they can tap a question-mark icon. When kids start, only level 1 is unlocked; once all levels are unlocked, they can choose which level to play.
Is It Any Good?
PEG + CAT: THE TREE PROBLEM easily engages kids with some basic math-related reasoning. More than teaching specific math concepts, Peg + Cat: The Tree Problem aims to immerse kids in a world where math is a fun, exciting, and a totally integral part of life. Instead of presenting the typical number flash cards or equation drills, it engages kids in such a way that they don't even realize they're using mathematical reasoning. In fact, parents may want to help make the connection between math concepts and play to strengthen the potential for learning and support an association between math and the fun of the games. Many problems have multiple solutions, which encourages kids to be creative and breaks the mold of the right answer/wrong answer formula. Though some new challenges are introduced through the levels, the task remains essentially the same through all 30 games, so some kids may find it repetitive.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how math is more than numbers and equations. Discuss different ways math is fun, exciting, and present in many parts of life.
Make the math connection crystal-clear. For example, discuss spatial concepts such as higher, lower, bigger, smaller, longer, and shorter.
Encourage kids to problem solve. If they're not working a problem out right away, suggest some other ways to approach it.
App Details
- Devices : iPad , Android , Kindle Fire
- Subjects : Math : measurement
- Skills : Thinking & Reasoning : problem solving , solving puzzles
- Pricing structure : Paid
- Release date : January 23, 2015
- Genre : Education
- Publisher : PBS KIDS
- Version : 1.0.1
- Minimum software requirements : iOS 6.0 or later, Android 2.3 or later
- Last updated : November 11, 2020
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