Nature Cat's Great Outdoors
© 2016 PBS Kids
Well-intentioned but poorly designed, this app turns your tablet or phone into a noisy, high energy nature journal, with a microphone, camera and compass. The idea is that children will be encouraged to go outside to take photos and record sounds. But the different tools load slowly and there's too much narrative chatter and background noise. The sketching and art tools make sense, but key features are missing, such as the ability to undo. The Nature Cat’s Great Outdoors app is based on solid content, namely the PBS KIDS series Nature Cat. Stick with the show and avoid this app. More info, at http://www.pbskids.org/naturecat. The app might be free, but your child's play time is valuable.
iPad, iPhone
Teaches: science, biology, nature
CTR Rating: 48%