Common Sense Media Review
By Mieke VanderBorght
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Simple, short-lived fun; more options off screen.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 3+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Download
Videos and Photos
Toca Birthday Party
What's It About?
It's TOCA BIRTHDAY PARTY and you're hosting! Choose from three cakes, set out plates, then arrange your guests around the on-screen table. Serve and eat cake, pour and drink juice, pop confetti streamers, and open a present. When the cake is all eaten, put everything in a tub of soapy water to be washed -- and start again. A letter from the developer offers some hints for how to use TOCA BIRTHDAY PARTY as a launching pad for creative play.
Is It Any Good?
Like many Toca Boca apps, Toca Birthday Party gets high marks for being well made with appealing graphics and a no-rules approach. This is a fun app, even if it doesn't have that many interactive features. In fact, as with many Toca Boca apps, there's very little that this app actually does. So, while Toca Birthday Party as a way to facilitate pretend play with friends is cute, there's no good reason to need a screen for pretend play -- and several reasons why you shouldn't use one. For instance, interactions are limited to what someone else programmed the app to do. Kids are better off breaking out the toy cups, some toy food (or draw some on paper), a few of their best stuffed animal friends, and being in complete control of their own make-believe birthday party.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what it means to host a party. What qualities or manners make a great host? What qualities or manners make a great guest?
Encourage non-digital pretend play. Toy props like wooden or plastic food, little plates, etc., help, but are certainly not necessary. Kids can even do amazing things with just a cardboard box, some paper, or a few sticks!
Enter your kid's world and let them try out different roles. Sometimes they're the parent and you're the kid, other times they're a kid, and you're a dog, or you're both astronauts having tea in outer space…let them lead the way!
App Details
- Devices : iPhone , iPod Touch , iPad
- Subjects : Arts : playing
- Skills : Creativity : imagination
- Pricing structure : Paid
- Release date : December 3, 2013
- Genre : Education
- Publisher : Toca Boca
- Version : 1.0.4
- Minimum software requirements : iOS 5.0 or later
- Last updated : September 9, 2021
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