Common Sense Media Review
By Liz Panarelli
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Math and money app works best when a grown-up plays, too.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 4+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Download
Videos and Photos
Toca Store
What's It About?
Players act as shopkeepers and customers. The shopkeeper selects five items from a catalog of 28 choices. The customer then drags an item to the checkout table, and the shopkeeper chooses a price (1 to 5) for that item. The customer drags that number of coins onto the cash register, then drags the item into a bag. There are 10 coins in the customer's wallet; once all 10 coins are spent, the cash register prints a receipt displaying the items purchased and their prices.
Is It Any Good?
This app is simple but fun, with engaging graphics and great intuitive reinforcement of numbers, counting, and basic money concepts. In particular, counting out the coins, ending the game when the coins are used up, and displaying the receipt helps reinforce counting and introduce the concepts of subtraction and addition. Kids will enjoy picking items to sell, but the value of this repetitive game lies in the interaction between the players. Parent involvement is really required if kids are to understand and get the most out of this app -- and to explain the parts that are just for fun, like the magical wallet that produces the money needed for that last item!
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Talk about the choices you make and always review the receipt to reinforce the math and money concepts.
Provide feedback from a customer's point of view about your child's inventory and prices by negotiating, refusing to purchase, or exclaiming over the (un)healthy selection.
Review more tips in the For Parents section.
App Details
- Devices : iPhone , iPod Touch , iPad
- Subjects : Math : arithmetic , counting , money
- Pricing structure :
- Release date : October 12, 2011
- Genre : Kids' Games
- Publisher : Toca Boca
- Version : 1.0.1
- Minimum software requirements : iOS 4.2 or later
- Last updated : November 11, 2020
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate