I am always looking for different kinds of learning resources to use with my daughter. We read lots of books, take field trips, do crafts and activities, and also use technology to make learning fun. When I was in grad school, we did a lot of research on the benefits of using technology when teaching kids to read, and the topic has interested me ever since. I have previously talked about how allowing my daughter to have some screen time has actually helped her on her path to reading. So I was thrilled when we were given the opportunity to check out ABCmouse, and see how this platform can make learning fun!
Standard Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. I may receive a commission from purchases you make through the links in this post. I was provided with a complimentary subscription to the platform in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Like all children, my daughter has an interest in all the technology around her. Because of this, I like to find educational ways for her to use it. Our local elementary school uses iPads
What is ABCmouse?
ABCmouse is an online platform that can be used through their website, or through apps which are available on all kinds of devices. You will create a login when you set up your account, and that login will work across various platforms. This way, lessons will pick up where you left off if you switch devices. When you first log in, you are greeted with an intro video which will help you understand the platform and it’s uses. I found this to be extremely helpful because all of the wonderful resources available can be a little overwhelming. There is also a parent section which breaks things down for you.
There are over 9,000 educational activities on the platform, ranging in subjects from math, science and social studies to art, language and music. The home page is the central place for users to start from. It provides pathways to the main areas of the site, as well as the newest activities and stories. Kids have the ability to follow a Learning Path which uses several different activities to teach a certain subject, and follows a logical route through the activities. They can also go to the Classroom which allows them to try out activities in whatever subjects they are interested in. For kids who are interested in animals, the platform also has a Zoo and a Farm, each of which has a variety of animals for kids to check out. Each animal offers information about the species, as well as additional themed activities including puzzles, games and coloring pages.
How to Use it as a Parent
Setting up a parent profile gives you the opportunity to try the program out for yourself. To start your profile, you first set up an avatar for yourself and for your kids. You can set each profile up for a different age and skill level. Avatars can be customized with different hairstyles, facial features and clothing. Once your profiles are set up, you can use the parent section to track your child’s progress and perform assessments on his or her skills.
The Assessment Center offers a variety of skills assessments that you can do with your child to measure their knowledge and skill level on the subjects they are learning in the program. Each assessment tells you what is being measured and approximately how long it will take you to complete it. They provide clear instructions for the parent and they are easy for children to understand. The Progress Tracker is another way to monitor your child’s progress in the program. You can see how many lessons have been completed in each Learning Path, as well as the progress that has been made in each specific subject or activity.
How Your Kids Can Use it
Kids have the ability to personalize their own avatars, as well as their own rooms. Each profile also has it’s own Hamster, Aquarium and Pet Park, where they can take care of their own animals. For each activity and lesson that is completed in the program, kids can earn tickets and uncover items that can be used in their rooms or with their virtual pets.
The platform is easy for kids to navigate, and there are always new activities to find. Following the Learning Path is a great plan for kids who like structure and order. The other areas allow for more free play options for kids who prefer making their own path. Kids also have the ability to customize their experience by tracking their favorite songs, making their artwork into puzzles and saving the artwork that they create.
Why We Think It’s Great
We have both been impressed with ABCmouse so far. I really appreciate the wide variety of skills that are covered. I have always been interested in different learning styles, and I think the various subjects allow for different styles to flourish. The varied activities centered around a certain subject also provides repetition without feeling like they’re completing the same activity over and over again. Repetition is definitely a great learning tool, but repeating the sentence “A is for Apple” over and over again isn’t interesting or fun for kids. ABCmouse provides this repetition in a more interesting way. Kids have the opportunity to read a book about the letter A, sing a song about it, color a coloring page, and complete a puzzle, all based on that one concept.
My daughter’s favorite part was easily the hamster, aquarium and Pet Park that she was able to interact with. In addition to motivating her to complete the learning activities, it also encouraged her to take care of her virtual pets, making sure that they had food, water and baths. She enjoyed the fact that there were so many activities for her to do, so no matter what mood she was in, there was something she would enjoy.
Overall, I definitely think that ABCmouse is a worthwhile program for families to invest in. The sheer volume of activities, combined with the various learning styles that it reaches, makes it a win for a wide variety of ages and skill sets. Click here to check out the site for yourself and get your first month for free!
