ABC Kids - Tracing & Phonics ٤+

We have these on my phone and our kids tablet. Abc, 123, shapes, math, and puzzles. These games are awesome! The kids are engaged by these apps and will actually sit and play them for more than just a few minutes. I’ve recommended these apps to my friends and family with little kids and can’t praise them enough. I only wish that there were a Dolch and Frys sight words app. Something where the kids could hear and spell the sight words.

I am still amazed that these are free. They are quality apps, with features that allow for customization, and the kids learn while playing with them without even realizing it. Mine don’t feel like it’s “work” when it comes time for our learning activities during our school day.

First, I’m willing to change my review here, however, I’d like the app developer to delete the “our story” from the homepage and embed it someplace else on this app. my son used to love letter tracing on this app. But since the app developer has embedded the “our story” video on this app and all their apps homepages/s, all my son does is click on this video over and over again. I have intentionally deleted you tube from our electronic devices. He thinks he is watching a you tube video. I was actually so happy that my son was, before recently, learning his alphabet and connecting the words to everyday objects. This is a deal breaker for me, i’d rather just pay for the app then have to keep being subjected to watching this video repeatedly. It’s ruining the app experience for me. I’m very close to just deleting all the apps from our electronic devices. Which is just such a send because up until recently, I really liked and was very loyal to these apps. This is been a significant game changer, and that our son will just not stop watching this video to the point that I’ve memorized probably all of the script. Very annoying.

I’m pretty picky when it comes to screen time for my toddler. Here’s why this app makes the cut:
- educational - my 2 year old is quickly learning to trace letters
- no ads!!!
- full version is free, not just one or two letters
- to close out of a particular activity, the x is faded and you have to click and drag it. This helps my son stick with the activity rather than always being tempted to click the red button and get mad when the game disappears.
- requires just the right amount of accuracy - needs to be close but doesn’t have to be exactly in the lines
- fun rewards - verbal encouragement (my son quickly started saying “well done”), stickers (very exciting for a 2 year old), and presents (he doesn’t care as much about these but gets excited when it’s a ball or drum or something else he recognizes and likes)
- Parents can adjust settings to meet the needs of their child
- Activities for different ability levels - some activities are perfect for him right now, others will be perfect for him down the road

So far we’ve only tried the ABC app. Looking forward to trying the others.