This Woolly and Tig App is available to download now at £2.99 for iPhone and iPad only with no hidden in app purchases. It is suitable for ages 3 to 6. . For those who are not unfamiliar with Woolly and Tig:
‘Woolly and Tig’ is an aid to understanding the ‘self’, providing a keystone in learning for the pre-school child. The show takes the form of short, five-minute live action dramas about a three year old girl and her toy spider. The dramas explore the feelings that children have when faced with new experiences. From a first day at nursery school to meeting a man with a beard, uncertainty and anxiety are replaced by fun and laughter when Woolly is animated to life. Anger, jealousy, fear, sadness are just some of the feelings explored in a simple, fun and positive way.
There are two ways of playing the app: free or structured play.
When you tap on the app, it will go to free play.
1. Free PlayWoolly will prompt you to interact with him by using simple touch screen gestures like tickle, hugging, stroking or making him jump! It is quite a simple interaction which Ms C (aged 4) loves to do. But it didn't keep her attention for long. I do feel that this is like having a Furby but with limited actions.
2. Structured playThere are 6 tasks for the child to learn how to complete various everyday tasks whilst having fun too:- Getting dressedTap the four different coloured socks (blue, green, yellow and red) and dress woolly up to how you like.
- Brush my teethHelp to squeeze out the toothpaste and brush Woolly’s teeth. Clean his teeth with your fingers to make it sparkly clean.
- Wash my faceUse the soap to lather on the sponge and use it to clean Woolly's dirty muddy face! Then pop all the bubbles! Ms C loves this as she loves to pop bubbles!
- Fun in the RainWhat do you need when there is a rain? Open an umbrella for Woolly and keep him dry! And tap the puddles for Woolly to step in as it is fun to jump in puddles! Make a rainbow for him too!
- Fun in the SunRub sun cream for woolly to keep him safe from the sunlight and choose a hat and sunglasses for him!
- Fun in the SnowRoll the snow ball left and right to make a snowman! Next, dress him up! Ms C love this and keeps playing this one over and over again! She really wishes for snow right now!
Completing each task will give your child a Bronze, then Silver and Gold reward. Ms C had no problem with any of the tasks and managed to do it well without my guidance.
On this app, there is a parent control feature. Press and hold to unlock the scheduler. It allowing parents to schedule a message from Woolly to your child to undertake an activity. This is intended to familiarise children with every day tasks like washing your face in the morning. Woolly will send a notification to your device, then show your child what to do and then they can copy him! Personally, I don't find this useful as I have limited both of my children certain times to play with the iPad and we won't be consistently having the app on.
I do find this app useful for younger children in preschool or children who are having trouble getting through their daily routine.
Disclosure: We have received compensation to download the app and goodies bag.
