Scoops
© 2008 Nimblebit
Addicting and easy to play, Scoops is an iPhone/iPod Touch app that challenges you to sort falling scoops of ice scream by leaning your iPhone or iPod Touch screen left or right. The objective is to score points by matching the scoops, while avoiding vegetables. The longer you can keep your stack growing, the faster things fall, and the higher your score. The task is a good exercise both in classification, as well as general motor skills. High scores are saved and shared online. Drawbacks include a scoring system that uses hundreds and thousands, which has little meaning for preschoolers. In addition, children are encouraged to send an email message about their progress -- a viral marketing technique. That aside, for $2, Scoops is definitely worth the download. See also "Up Fish," also by Nimblebit, published by Oceanhouse Media for a similar type of game.
$1.99, iPhone
Teaches: classification, logic, gross motor coordination (tilting the iPhone)
CTR Rating: 88%