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What is it about the Toca Boca apps that kids love so much? Why do parents like them as much as their children? What makes them so popular?
In hopes of finding answers to those questions, I reviewed three of the Toca Boca apps. Two things parents will immediately find appealing, no advertising and no in-app purchases in any of the Toca Boca apps.
Each reviewed app had a “for parents” section. Suggestions on how to use each app as a teaching tool; not just creative play, can be found in this section. The design of each app is very nicely done; the graphics, colors, music and sounds are well balanced. The apps are recommended for ages 3+.
Toca Hair Salon
In Toca Hair Salon, which is a universal app, kids can operate their own hair salon. The child starts out by choosing a character, then they are able to use tools such as scissors, clippers, hair dryer or comb to style their hair. Plus, a rainbow of colors are available for making some very unique hair styles. Most important, is the magic potion G.R.O; it makes hair grow back again! As your child is styling the character’s hair, the character is making various sounds and noises in reaction to what is being done. Beware, there is a camera icon on the screen that the kids can use to save pictures of their characters into your camera roll. Ours filled up rather quickly. You may want to suggest that they keep only their best creations.
Toca Doctor HD
Multiple app choices are available for Toca Doctor. The full iPad version was used for my review.
In this app, the parent section pointed out that as the children are playing it’s a good opportunity for parents to talk or teach the children about the different body functions.
Once the app is open, a doctor appears. The child touches the doctor who then places four targets on the body; each one is a different game. After those four have been completed, the process is repeated until the bonus game appears (the doctor’s bag). There are 21 different games, I think. I was having so much fun, I lost track! My favorite game was the lice in the hair, because I had just had this discussion with the kids about sharing hats at school.
Toca Tea Party
The main objective in this app, according to the parents section, is to teach kids how to play together. Role-playing is also an important part of children’s every day life. They learn so much by watching us.
Children can practice good social skills when taking turns in playing with this app. The table starts out empty, then decisions need to be made in order to progress in the app. Decisions such as which table cloth and dishes should be used or which food and beverages should be served. Spills are allowed and the kids are able to clean them up quickly. The best part is doing the dishes. The dishes can be slid into the dishpan one by one, or even better, tilt the device and they all slide in at once. Too bad we can’t do that in real life!
Toca Tea Party is iPad only.
What is it about the Toca Boca apps that kids love so much!? Kids like these apps, because they are FUN. Fun meaning that they can play in a pleasurable environment; one with no rules; they can just play however they want. If you looked up fun in the dictionary, you’d probably find Toca Boca listed in the definition!
Why do parents like them as much as their children!? We would have to agree with the kids that they are fun. Not only are they fun, they are a safe source of amusement for our children where they can learn very important skills along the way. Things such as sharing, decision making, and manners.
What makes them so popular!? That’s simple; because kids AND parents like them!
Bottom-line:
The three apps I reviewed were very different from one another; however, each had the same outcome, kids and parents love them!
ABOUT TOCA HAIR:
Let your kids be a hair stylist for a day! Choose between six cute characters and cut and style them in whatever way you want. They make funny faces and sounds while you style them, and feels like you’re cutting real hair! But without the cleaning up afterwards of course. And with the magic potion G.R.O. you can grow all the hair back again whenever you want.
FEATURES
– Cut and trim hair with the scissors and electric hair trimmer
– Use the hair dryer to style the final hair cut
– 12 hair colors to choose from!
– Use the magic potion G.R.O. to make the hair grow back again!
– Six cute characters that make fun faces and sounds while you cut their hair!
– No rules or stress – play any way your kids want to!
– Kid-friendly interface!
– No banner advertising
– No in-app purchases
Featuring the following characters:
* Harry (the red-head)
* Berry (the bear)
* Mary (pink hair)
* Rita (from Helicopter Taxi!)
* Larry (the lion)
* Fuzz (the dog)
ABOUT TOCA DOCTOR:
Let your kids be a doctor for a day! Examine a patient and solve fun puzzles and mini-games that take place in the human body. Beautiful artwork and fun sounds guides your kids through 21 different puzzles!
FEATURES
√ 21 puzzles and mini-games to solve!
√ Cool physics games!
√ Fantastic original artwork that shows the human body!
√ Fun sounds and animations!
√ No rules or stress – play any way your kids want to!
√ Kid-friendly interface!
√ No third-party advertising
√ No in-app purchases
Toca Doctor is a fun and puzzling digital toy for kids. Examine the patients and play puzzles and mini-games that take place in the human body. There are no timers or stress elements so that kids can play in their own time. If they can’t finish any certain game it still continues so that they never get stuck. It always works and it’s always fun!
ABOUT TOCA TEA PARTY:
Invite your friends to a tea party around your iPad! Set the table, choose your favorite cookies and cakes, serve the tea and you’re good to go! Simply eat and drink with your finger! With Toca Tea Party, you can play together with your kids in a way that stimulates their imagination.
* * * A CREATIVE GAME FOR KIDS AGE 3 AND ABOVE!* * *
FEATURES
√ Nine types of cakes and cookies to choose from!
√ New colors for the tableware every time!
√ Fun sounds when your guests eat!
√ Clean up after cheeky guests that spill!
√ Finish by putting everything in the dishes!
√ Beautiful hand-drawn graphics!
√ Kid-friendly interface!
√ No third-party advertising
√ No in-app purchases