Common Sense Media Review
By Amanda Bindel
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Adorable physics platformer creates little problem-solvers.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 5+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Download
Videos and Photos
Thinkrolls
Privacy Rating Warning
Privacy Rating
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Pass
Meets our minimum requirements for privacy and security practices.
Warning
Does not meet our recommendations for privacy and security practices.
Fail
Does not have a privacy policy and should not be used.
Privacy Rating
Our expert evaluators create our privacy ratings. The ratings are designed to help you understand how apps use your data for commercial purposes.
Pass
Meets our minimum requirements for privacy and security practices.
Warning
Does not meet our recommendations for privacy and security practices.
Fail
Does not have a privacy policy and should not be used.
What's It About?
Kids start by choosing a ball, or Thinkroll, from several spunky choices. They then work their way through the game, which has a dozen or so levels for each chapter, rolling the ball along the path and getting through various obstacles. For example, Chapter One introduces a cookie that's in the way; how do you get rid of it? Eat it, of course! Higher levels are harder, combining skills learned earlier in the game and having kids look several moves ahead. Kids have to figure out how to get past the obstacles on their own without getting stuck, but each level can be replayed once they figure out how.
Is It Any Good?
With seven chapters, each introducing a different physics concept through familiar objects and including about a dozen levels, there's quite a bit in THINKROLLS to keep kids challenged. And since up to six players can have a customized profile on the device, the whole family can take on these fun and charming challenges. As they play, kids get to unlock new characters and choose which one they'd like to roll through each level, which is just another incentive to keep on working through the levels. There's no failure -- kids get as many chances as they need with no penalty or lost points (because there are no points!). Each level builds on the one before it, allowing kids time to master one concept before introducing a new challenge. The full-of-personality Thinkroll characters will appeal to kids of all ages and interests, challenging them with thought-provoking fun.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what's happening in each chapter to help kids make connections if they're stuck. What would happen if that balloon hit those spikes? What would happen if that rock hit that weak spot on the block?
Kids will need to rely on real-world experiences to have the background knowledge to solve the puzzles, so be sure they have time to climb, play with (and pop) balloons, throw rocks, bounce on soft things, and ride in elevators.
App Details
- Devices : iPhone , iPad , Android , Kindle Fire
- Subjects : Science : physics
- Skills : Thinking & Reasoning : strategy , thinking critically , Emotional Development : developing resilience , moving beyond obstacles
- Pricing structure : Paid
- Release date : October 16, 2014
- Genre : Education
- Publisher : AVOKIDDO
- Version : 1.0.3
- Minimum software requirements : iOS 6.0 or later; Android 2.3.3 and up
- Last updated : January 21, 2025
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