Common Sense Media Review
By Carrie R. Wheadon
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Good tracing practice if kids can work around the kinks.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 4+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Download
Videos and Photos
Pre-K Letters and Numbers
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's It About?
A simple menu screen allows kids to select capital or lowercase letters, numbers, or letter combos (sh, er, etc.). A large letter appears with numbered steps to trace it. Kids follow the numbers to make a first line, then follow the numbers again if there are more steps. Stray from a numbered path and you'll need to try again. When kids complete a letter or number they are encouraged by a cheer, and see a related picture. A parent "Report Card" gives stats on kids' performance.
Is It Any Good?
If you're looking for something pretty straightforward for tracing practice, PRE-K LETTERS AND NUMBERS is it, as long as kids do a little troubleshooting in the beginning. It can be frustrating when a rogue pinkie knuckle or stray fingers touch the screen because it immediately registers as an error. And there are no extra hints, directional arrows, or tracing examples given when the errors continue. You're allowed to skip to the next one, but it's sure to show up on the Report Card feature.
It's great that this app lets you register more than one kid for a Report Card, but with all the percentages and stats and those nagging comparisons between your 4-year-old and others it seems like a little much for the age. The stat phobic can skip down to the "Problem Spots," however, make a mental note, and continue to practice whenever the mood strikes, on the back of grocery lists, or in chalk next to the sidewalk hopscotch.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Take note of "trouble spots" from the Report Card feature and practice whenever the mood strikes: on the back of grocery lists, with sidewalk chalk, etc.
Tracing practice is even more fun with an old cookie sheet and a big glob of finger paint.
App Details
- Devices : iPhone , iPod Touch , iPad
- Subjects : Language & Reading : letter or word recognition , writing , writing clearly
- Skills : Health & Fitness : fine motor skills
- Pricing structure : Free
- Release date : July 10, 2012
- Genre : Education
- Topics : Numbers and Letters
- Publisher : BrightStart LLC
- Version : 2.2.1
- Minimum software requirements : iOS 3.1.3 or later
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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