Common Sense Media Review
By Mieke VanderBorght
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Simple tools make 3-D block creations a snap to construct.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Download
Videos and Photos
Tayasui Blocks
Parent and Kid Reviews
What’s It About?
With TAYASUI BLOCKS, kids put cubed blocks in various combinations to create 3-D pictures. Start with a blank canvas, or take inspiration from and build upon any of the featured creations included in the app or posted to the community board. Turn, zoom in and out, change the block and floor color, add some stickers, and adjust the perspective to approach the drawing from different angles. The erase section features a typical undo button and a handful of destructive devices -- a revolver, an exploding banana, a grenade -- to blow things up. Save your creations, share them through your device's sharing options, or post to the community board.
Is It Any Good?
Kids have lots of room to create and express themselves with this easy-to-use platform. It's a nice touch that other users' creations are not just to look at: Kids can also use them as starting points from which to adjust, edit, and customize according to their own liking. The tools themselves are generally user-friendly and easy to manipulate. It would be nice to see even just a few additional features, such as the ability to move a block that's already been placed, to draw on blocks, or to use a variety of block types. The destroy function may seem pointless to some but will be immensely satisfying for those kids who love to see things get blown up -- even if some of the tools are quite realistically violent-looking. The sharing options are nice for creating community and allowing kids to show off what they've done. However, kids who are old enough to be using the app are also old enough to easily pass through the parent gate, so parents may want to talk about whether or not kids can share creations and view other apps. Overall, it's a simple, easily accessible platform for creating some pretty cool things.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what kids create. Have them tell stories about their drawings, create imaginary worlds, create together. For instance, make it a family project for which each person contributes a character or setting for a common story.
Build structures offscreen with real 3-D blocks and objects.
It can be hard to put down a game when you're completely engrossed in it. Talk to your kids about reasonable time limits, and make sure they establish a good balance of on- and offscreen activities.
App Details
- Devices: iPhone , iPod Touch , iPad
- Subjects: Hobbies : building
- Skills: Thinking & Reasoning : part-whole relationships, Creativity : imagination, innovation, making new creations, producing new content, Tech Skills : digital creation, using and applying technology
- Pricing structure: Paid
- Release date: February 10, 2016
- Category: Education
- Publisher: Tayasui.com
- Version: 2.2
- Minimum software requirements: iOS 8.0 or later
- Last updated: July 26, 2016
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