Parents' Guide to The Bugs I: Insects?

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Common Sense Media Review

Christy Matte By Christy Matte , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 4+

Mixed-bag bug facts missing vocabulary help.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 4+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

What's It About?

THE BUGS I: INSECTS? introduces kids to the insect world through a series of games and activities. There are six main sections: bees, butterflies, beetles, ants, more insects, and then a section that talks about insects in general. Each one has areas kids can tap on to learn more about the insect, its habitat, its life cycle, etc. Each area also has several activities that may reinforce the information, introduce new facts, or just entertain. Kids are asked to place images of the life cycle of butterflies and ants in order. They can mix and match insect parts to create their own insects. Also, they'll help insects overcome obstacles, sort insects into categories, and search for hidden insects in an image.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say : Not yet rated
Kids say : Not yet rated

With plenty of activities, kids will likely be entertained for a while, but the app lacks a cohesive educational experience. The Bugs I: Insects? certainly makes the insects relatable to kids, giving them little personalities that kids can understand. Unfortunately, younger kids have no way of knowing that a dancer bee doesn't actually wear a tutu, or that ant larvae don't go to sleep with pacifiers. For older kids, there's some interesting information, but sometimes activities rely on facts and definitions that kids haven't yet received. The activities are hit or miss, both in terms of education and fun, so it might be best for kids who are insect enthusiasts or who need help overcoming a fear of bugs.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about insects. What types of insects do you see around your home? How do the insects help us? What things might they do that hurt us or our homes and gardens? What did you learn from The Bugs I: Insects?

  • Talk about what is real vs. imaginary in the app. How can kids tell the difference?

  • Families can talk about learning with apps. Do you think this is a good app for learning? Why or why not? What can you learn?

App Details

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