Common Sense Media Review
By Dana Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Whimsical ABC app enraptures with hidden letters, animation.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 4+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Download
Videos and Photos
Wee Alphas
What's It About?
Kids tap “Let's Go” to hear a poem about the alphabet, then they tap the arrow to move to Alex the Angelfish's page. A narrator says: "Alex the angelfish always sings a cappella." Next, touch Alex to see the hidden "A" and tap the bubbles to see them change. Move onto the other letters to hear more unique stories ("Finnegan the Fox writes flippant film critiques"), find more letters, and discover fun animations. Kids can pick a "special letter" and trace it. The app has lots to see and do, as well as parent tips to extend learning.
Is It Any Good?
The coolest thing about WEE ALPHAS is that it takes the approach that just because kids need to learn the basics like ABCs doesn't mean they have to be bored. In fact, this app is quirky enough to entertain the parents playing the app with the kids. From the beautiful illustrations and the interesting selections of animals and their activities ("Ingrid the Impala is deep sea diving") to the quirky animations (tap Violet the Vulture's hair and she changes from ponytail to braids to beehive and more), kids and parents are surprised and engaged. Wee Alphas is a standout example of a fun, quality preschool education app.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
After playing on this app, encourage your kids to draw their favorite animals and help them write the matching letters and one-sentence stories about them, too.
Each time your kid plays this app, choose a different extension question or activity to approach learning in a new way.
App Details
- Device : iPad
- Subjects : Science : animals , Language & Reading : letter or word recognition , naming , storytelling , vocabulary
- Skills : Thinking & Reasoning : part-whole relationships
- Pricing structure :
- Release date : September 5, 2012
- Genre : Books
- Publisher : Wee Society LLC
- Version : 1.1
- Minimum software requirements : iOS 5.0 or later
- Last updated : November 11, 2020
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