Bottom line: My kids and I love this humorous and sassy take on the alphabet. Endless Alphabet is so engaging and fun that kids barely notice they are learning to spell large words while also learning definitions.
If you'd like to download Endless Alphabet (iPad/iPhone, $5.99), please use this handy link so they'll know who sent you:
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This app contains no ads, no in-app purchases and has parent-protected external links to the developer website and social media.
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Endless Alphabet, from developer Originator Inc., opens to a big monster’s mouth full of word cards that can be chosen by swiping or by browsing words under a particular letter. The selected word is narrated, then the letters are jumbled out of place by a raucous herd of adorable monsters who run across the page. When letters are touched to move back into place, the letter chosen comes alive wiggling and makes the phonetic sound for that letter. When it is placed correctly, the narrator says the letter name. If a letter is placed incorrectly, the letters make a subtle “nuh, uh” or “whan, wan” sound. Maybe the sound is more “eh, eh.” I have spent too much time trying to transcribe that sound for you, so I’ll just say it’s not annoying and a great nudge to let little users know they need a different letter. Once all of the letters are correctly placed, little monsters demonstrate the word meaning, then the narrator repeats the word and gives the definition. Users can continue through the words alphabetically or return to the home page and choose on their own.
There is a lot to look at in this app. There are more than 50 words to choose from, and although they have a few of the typically used words in alphabet teaching like “xylophone” and “umbrella,” the bulk of the words are really more involved than simple pictures. Endless Alphabet includes words like “timid,” “forgive,” and, my kids’ personal favorite, “belch.” “Belch” is demonstrated by two little giggling creatures drinking cans of soda, which results in a burping contest that is won by a third tiny monster who arrives during the contest. It’s adorable and funny. Parents shouldn’t be dissuaded from letting their kids play with this app because of the silliness. Words like “experiment,” “famished” and “courage” are all thoughtfully demonstrated and clearly defined on a child’s level, as in “An experiment
is a test to discover or prove something.” “Famished is when you’re really, really, really hungry.” “When you have courage, you are being brave, even if you are a little scared.” This app knows how to get and keep the kids interested, and it knows how to talk about big, important concepts on their level. My youngest son uses this app all the time on his own and I love apps that teach without requiring me to hover.
Parents looking for an app that takes the alphabet to a new level of learning and includes definitions, spelling and humor should put Endless Alphabet at the top of their lists.
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Cynthia's kids are belching contest professionals. SmartAppsForKids.com was provided with a free copy of this app for review purposes. No other compensation was provided.
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