Explore Daniel's Neighborhood
© 2015 PBS Kids
Currently on Apple's Top 200 paid apps, this 2015 release hasn't changed much, with the exception of a new school with a clumsy drawing activity. Note that the full title is "Explore Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood." See the updated video, here: https://youtu.be/tbksXqlWXnU Freely explore four well illustrated, interesting places - a bakery, a grocery store, a music shop and a doctor's office - each full of nicely illustrated, high interest items that can be moved around and rearranged. The play pattern is tried-and-true, much like the many doll house types of apps out there. In each scene, you can place the four members of Daniel Tiger's family anywhere on the screen. Our testers especially liked the bathroom (found in the music shop) and there are four mini-games that deepen the play. You can decorate a cake in the bakery, play a piano, pretend to be the patient or the Doctor in the doctor's office or put on a show on the stage in the music store. The app has one important limitation, compared to a similar app: Toca City. While it is possible to move people outside of each area onto Main Street, you can't take stuff (or handbags with stuff) with them. If you do return, everything is back in place, and any effort that is put into making the space your own, is lost with no warning. We also would've liked more "smart" items that behave in a contextually appropriate way. This shortcoming is in no way a deal breaker... children will quickly figure this out. The best part is that we liked how well the hundreds of items in this app map onto a child's typical day, creating a valuable language experience. This app supports multi-touch, and would be good for two children to play together. Note that it is easy to confuse the various Daniel Tiger apps. This is not the same app as Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood (look for the word "explore" in the title). This app was created by Cloud Kid in partnership with PBS KIDS and The Fred Rogers Company. This is an ethical app.
$2.99, iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch
Teaches: language, spatial relations, roll play
CTR Rating: 84%