Monster Heart Medic
Monster Heart Medic gallery
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that Monster Heart Medic is a story-themed adventure game that teaches kids about cardiovascular health. A monster named Ragnar has a problem with his heart function and needs help. Through a series of activities and simulations, kids learn about diagnostic testing and recommendations for leading a healthier lifestyle. The game is available in both English and Spanish.What kids can learn
Real-world scenarios and arcade games will keep kids involved as they run diagnostic tests and learn about the cardiovascular system.
Kids learn about different facets of heart health through simulations, and are empowered to make a diagnosis to help the main character with his heart problem. Learning progresses as kids complete portions of a health exam, receive the results, and move on to new tests.
On-screen prompts help kids make their way through the adventure. Audio narration could help break up the on-screen text and assist kids who learn better by listening rather than reading.
What's it about?
Kids are introduced to a friendly monster, Ragnar, who is suffering from a cardiovascular problem. Kids help Ragnar by completing a series of diagnostic tests to figure out what is causing the problem. Most items in the game are interactive when tapped, even if they aren't important to the story. Using a map to move from various places like a fitness center and a hospital, they complete arcade games, during which they collect coins and healthy foods while avoiding obstacles and unhealthy foods. Simulations teach kids about the effects of high blood pressure and high cholesterol. As they move from place to place, kids learn about other characters who had various cardiovascular conditions and how they got healthier.
Is it any good?
MONSTER HEART MEDIC is a fantastic free resource that teaches about the cardiovascular system and promotes heart-healthy living. Kids will be engaged by the real-world story line, and the arcade games are a fun variation within the overall story. Sometimes the next step isn't entirely clear, though there are on-screen prompts, but kids will eventually tap around enough to get to the next step. Also, though the controls for the arcade games only consist of tapping once or twice, it can be hard to avoid obstacles. Audio narration would be nice to see to make the app more accessible. Other than these few, minor drawbacks, Monster Heart Medic is an engaging way to introduce kids to cardiovascular health.
Families can talk about...
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Families can talk about the importance of a healthy diet and exercise. Develop a plan to make healthy meals and exercise together regularly.
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Talk about other body systems that work with the cardiovascular system to maintain overall health. For example, the respiratory system works closely with the cardiovascular system to circulate oxygenated blood through the body and get rid of wastes like carbon dioxide.
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Discuss family history of the conditions talked about in the app: Do any family members have high blood pressure or heart conditions?
App details
| Devices: | iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad |
| Price: | Free |
| Pricing structure: | Free |
| Release date: | April 29, 2015 |
| Category: | Education |
| Topics: | Monsters, ghosts, and vampires |
| Size: | 80.80 MB |
| Publisher: | The Lawrence Hall of Science |
| Version: | 1..2 |
| Minimum software requirements: | iOS 6.0 or later |
