Parents' Guide to

Play and Learn Science

Play and Learn Science Poster Image

Common Sense Media Review

Dana Anderson By Dana Anderson , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 3+

Preschoolers and parents explore science on- and offscreen.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 3+?

Any Positive Content?

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Privacy Rating Pass

  • Personal information is not sold or rented to third parties.
  • Personal information is not shared for third-party marketing.
  • Personalised advertising is not displayed.
  • Data are not collected by third-parties for their own purposes.
  • User's information is not used to track and target advertisements on other third-party websites or services.
  • Data profiles are not created and used for personalised advertisements.

What's It About?

To use PLAY AND LEARN SCIENCE, first tap Parents to read tips about how to explore the activities with your kid and "ways to learn more in the real world." Swipe right or left to view all activity categories -- ramp and roll, gear up, shadow play, or weather control -- and then tap on an activity. For example, tap "Read the Temperature" and listen to the verbal instructions to tap on one of three different thermometers to see how it works. The narrator of the game explains the basic concept of how to read a thermometer. There's also a sticker page where kids can make a scene by placing stickers and drawing objects.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

Preschoolers have so much to learn about the world around them, and this app helps start that exploration. For kids, Play and Learn Science's games offer information about everyday science phenomena such as balls rolling, temperatures rising and falling, and shadows growing. Then the learning continues with parents' help through the parent tips and hands-on activity suggestions. Many kids will likely be quick to recognize the app's PBS-typical cute characters and not-too-hectic animation style, while parents will appreciate the quality content PBS Kids provides. Play and Learn Science is a terrific first science app for preschoolers.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about which Play and Learn Science games could be replicated at home. Stack some books, grab a board, and make a ramp. Take a flashlight into a room and create some shadows on a wall.

  • Be sure to read the tips for hands-on activities to continue the learning with your kid.

  • Encouraging your kids to notice and comment on a variety of everyday moments helps build their inquiry skills. This app provides excellent directed yet somewhat open-ended questions parents can model (e.g., "Compare the shadows of different objects. What do you notice?").

App Details

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