I always liked Avokiddo apps. Recently they just launched a new app Thinkrolls, which is a fun physics puzzle game designed for young children, from preschool age and up. I loved the app for its fun game setting and all the science elements built into the play. I also see it being a great app for critical thinking and problem solving skills.
Thinkrolls are 18 cute characters in this educational app. Kids are going to help them roll through mazes with different features and settings. Through out the maze kids will encounter many obstacles, like blocked pathway, burned stone, deep holes. They will find objects that can help them overcome the obstacles, and these are the moments that some science concepts are introduced.
There are 7 segments of games, each segment has a focused concept:
Cookie – Kids get accustomed to the fine motor skills needed to navigate the mazes as they munch cookies to clear a path. But they have to be strategic as which one to eat first, otherwise, they may stuck at a dead end.
Crate – Any child who has pushed a chair up to the kitchen counter in order to reach the cookie jar will know what to do with the crates. They can be used as stepping stones, or to fill a deep hole. While moving the crates around, kids will intuitively learn about gravity and friction.
Balloon – Buoyancy gets added to the mix as kids burst balloons on spikes. Who doesn’t like to hear the pop sound? Do they know why balloon always go up?
Rock – Kids get a crash course in Newtonian physics as they discover that dropping a heavy, dense boulder will generate enough force to break through cracked ground. Will they notice the different speed when they drop the heavy boulders verses crates? What a good way to introduce density, altitude and falling speed.
Jelly – Bouncing on beds isn’t necessary when there’s a springy jelly available to launch the Thinkroll out of valleys and up onto peaks. Although younger kids may not be able to say the words Elasticity or impetus, but they will be able to watch these concepts’ effect when they bounce the Thinkrolls out of the valleys
Fire – The crackling sound of flames will alert kids to a burning hazard ahead, and that is why they will also see ice blocks around. This would be a good time to talk about temperature and the 3 states of water.
Elevator – The culmination of everything kids have discovered and processed so far has them coordinating all the elements as they synchronize movements of two different elevators.
The maze is designed with bright colors and just right complex level for kids to be challenged yet still be able to figure out solutions and have fun.
There are 2 general levels. A 3 year old can start at the Easy level, with easier maze, simpler solution. Kids 5 and up can start from the Hard level, which requires more strategic thinking and more complex maneuver.
With a total of 180 levels, 90 for Easy and 90 for Hard, kids will have a long time fun with this intriguing game app.
Thinkrolls is available on iPhone, iPod and iPad. It is also available for Android on Amazon App Store and Google Play.
