Common Sense Media Review
By Amanda Bindel
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Early measurement concepts in a fun theme.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 5+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Download
Videos and Photos
Shiny Circus
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's It About?
Charlie, Alice, and Ralph (the monkey, zebra, and giraffe featured in all the Shiny Things apps) go to the circus in the interactive story that teaches kids measurement concepts like different, biggest, longest, etc. Charlie gets pulled in to the rings, and kids get to play along as Charlie completes circus feats. They'll dress the clowns, choosing the clothing based on the directions given. They'll help Charlie jump along steps as they size and order steps from shortest to tallest or from tallest to shortest. They'll work on the concepts of near and far as well as trajectory when they shoot Charlie from a slingshot, and they'll work on estimation and balance by helping Charlie balance on the unicycle. Each page of the book has some interactive elements. Kids can choose story mode to hear the whole story read and work through the activities in order, or they can choose game mode to go directly to the games they want to play.
Is It Any Good?
Combining the story with the activities is a great concept. Kids are engaged by the story in SHINY CIRCUS, and then get to participate themselves. The interactive details on the story pages are impressive -- like the popcorn machine that pops more popcorn as it empties (and kids can empty it by flinging popcorn all over the screen). The learning fits in seamlessly, gently exposing kids to the vocabulary of measurement. It's all designed with young learners in mind, from the privacy policy and lack of ads to the sticker rewards page and the silly animals who are full of personality.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Check out the "ideas" tab in the parent section for suggestions on ways to talk to your kid about measurement and their play.
Use informal measurements and talk about what you're doing with your kid. For example, "I need a piece of tape that is three finger-widths long."
App Details
- Devices : iPhone , iPod Touch , iPad
- Subjects : Language & Reading : reading , vocabulary , Math : measurement
- Skills : Thinking & Reasoning : applying information , logic , Health & Fitness : fine motor skills
- Pricing structure : Paid
- Release date : February 7, 2014
- Genre : Education
- Topics : Animals ( Wild Animals )
- Publisher : Shiny Things
- Version : 1.0.2
- Minimum software requirements : iOS 7.0 or later
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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