Doc McStuffins: Mobile Clinic Rescue
Doc McStuffins: Mobile Clinic Rescue gallery
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that Doc McStuffins: Mobile Clinic Rescue is a game modeled after the Disney television series, Doc McStuffins. Kids work with some of the show's characters including Doc, Stuffy, Hally the Hippo, and Lambie the Lamb to help diagnose and fix injured toys. The toys are found scattered along a bicycle trail, and kids help guide Doc along the path to find the toys. There are a number of in-app purchases available in the parents' section, as well as in the main play section. Since each mission is essentially the same, some kids may lose interest quickly.What kids can learn
Kids, especially those who are familiar with Doc McStuffins, will have fun collecting coins along the bicycle path and helping Doc and her friends fix toys. Each mission is just like the last, however, so some kids may lost interest.
Kids will feel empowered as they help fix the injured toys, but there is no information about first aid or healthy habits.
A Help menu provides information about playing the game and using tools to fix the toys. Some extension activities or a parent's guide would help support learning at home.
What's it about?
Kids can help Doc and her friends with three missions: Doc to the Rescue, Birthday Rescue, and Snow Place for Toys. In each mission, kids guide Doc's bicycle, with its attached mobile clinic, along a trail. They use swiping motions to avoid obstacles and collect coins. Kids must collect enough coins to fill Doc's fix-it meter so she can stop at a toy's location along the trail. Once they find an injured toy, Doc makes a diagnosis and kids help fix the toy. For example, if Doc diagnoses a toy that has splinters, kids use the tweezers to pull out the splinters. Some of the injuries are for toys only, like having a missing leg popped back in. There are a total 27 toys to fix, and kids earn a toy sticker for fixing each one.
Is it any good?
DOC MCSTUFFINS: MOBILE CLINIC RESCUE empowers kids to help others and promotes the concept of teamwork. If they enjoy the characters from the television series, kids will be particularly excited to work with Doc and her friends. Since each mission is essentially the same, however -- Toys need help, Doc rides to toys, user fixes toys -- and the actual toy-fixing experience takes only a few seconds, some kids may get tired of the repetition (while others may love it!). Also, the app tends to be glitchy, and some of the transitions from one screen to the next are digitally awkward. There are in-app purchases available to buy a fourth mission and all of the stickers, so consider talking to your kid before using the app to prevent begging and/or disable in-app purchases in your settings.
Families can talk about...
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Families can talk about the importance of medical care and staying healthy. What are three things kids can do to be healthy?
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Talk about which toy injuries are similar to injuries that kids have experienced personally. Were the treatments similar?
