My PlayHome School
My PlayHome School gallery
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that My PlayHome School is part of a collection of similar dollhouse-style apps that includes My PlayHome and My PlayHome Stores. Kids who own all three can move seamlessly between them without exiting, and if a character is holding an object in one app, it will stay with them in the transition to the others. A character can bring home a backpack with books, or wear a silly costume to school. Like the other apps, kids can mix and match from a variety of characters (man, woman, girl, boy, baby) in five different hair/skin colors and ethnicities. My PlayHome School adds an extra male character and two additional women to help populate the different rooms in the school.What kids can learn
With so much to do and explore, and so many interactive elements, kids will come back for more not get bored. The free-play aspect makes it fun to visit again and again, and the design quality is high.
Kids aren't going to be "challenged" in terms of learning facts, but this experience opens the door for a lot of creative free play and naturally encourages storytelling. The scenes are realistic enough that kids can replay moments from their day, or imagine experiences to come as they get older.
Traditional supports aren't available here because this is more of an open-ended learning experience. Since there is no right and wrong way to play, elements like score tracking aren't relevant.
What's it about?
MY PLAYHOME SCHOOL is like a virtual dollhouse set in a school. Kids will find a front desk, two classrooms, a music room/stage, a science lab, two bathrooms, a janitor closet, and a cafeteria. Add children, adults, and babies to any of the scenes to create stories in a highly interactive environment. Grab a tray and plate in the cafeteria, choose different foods, and pour drinks. Feed the characters by holding food in front of their mouths. Head into the lab and mix chemicals to create different reactions. Don't forget to give everyone their safety goggles! In the classroom, hand out books and pencils, put away backpacks, and write notes on the blackboard. Before heading "home," put everything away into backpacks for the students. If a character is holding an object when you switch rooms, or even apps, the objects go with them into the new environment. A "Clean Up" button easily returns everything to where it belongs. When paired with the other two apps in the series, kids can enjoy a seamless virtual world.
Is it any good?
My PlayHome School is a fantastic addition to the My PlayHome series. It pairs wonderful interactivity with an environment that always engages the imagination of young kids. Even digital natives should be impressed by how much they can do and explore. Kids have the freedom to choose the characters they want and to shape the play without a lot of restrictions. When paired with the other apps in the series, it becomes even more magical, allowing kids to move characters and objects between the various environments. While this is a wonderful introductory app for younger players, even older kids can enjoy the pretend play experience.
Families can talk about...
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Families can talk about real or anticipated school experiences: What is real school like? Is it similar to or different from the game?
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Have kids tell stories about their characters. What's happening in the scene? What are the characters doing and feeling?
App details
| Devices: | iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android, Fire phone, Kindle Fire |
| Price: | $2.99 |
| Pricing structure: | Paid |
| Release date: | December 4, 2014 |
| Category: | Kids Games |
| Topics: | Brothers and sisters |
| Size: | 139.00 MB |
| Publisher: | Shimon Young |
| Version: | 1.1.0 |
| Minimum software requirements: | iOS 5.1.1 |
