App Review: Counting with the Very Hungry Caterpillar - Learn to Count

Reviewed by Sherri – a mother of 4 boys ages 2, 8, 14 and 20; her 8 and 14 y/o are special needs.

Details

Counting with the Very Hungry Caterpillar for iPad is an interactive math game that will help kids learn the fundamentals of numbers and counting.

The home page has a choice of 5 levels that increase in difficulty. This app is good for toddlers up to about 6 years old but could be used longer if the child needs extra help with basic skills.

LEVEL 1: In this level, the child is given a fruit and when he touches it, it will count and announce the name (numbers 1-12). This is a good level for beginning counters and number introduction as there are no wrong answers.

Level 2: In this level, it will give the child a choice of foods and asks them to pick the correct one/s. For example, it will show 3 muffins and a slice of cheese and ask the child to eat the muffins. As they touch the muffins, a narrator will count them, and if they choose the wrong item it will say “that’s not a muffin” or the item they are to be counting.

Level 3: In this level, it gives a set of foods and ask the child to “eat” a certain number, if they choose too many, it will state that that is too many and then reset them for another try. Example: In a set of 6 lemons – it asks the child to Eat 1 lemon. If the child chooses 2, a red “x” will show and it will be reset when they push the done arrow.

Level 4: In this level, the children are asked to eat a certain number of each food which there are 12 foods that they have to choose from. Example: eat 1 slice of cheese, 2 apples, and 3 pears, 4 lemons and it continues up to number 10, the children have to avoid picking the wrong food when counting and they cannot undo their choice. For example, they are counting 10 apples and they accidentally touched a muffin, it cannot be undone and they will have to start again.

Level 5: The game involves all the skills the child has learned throughout the game. They have 1 minute to correctly find the items that are announced. There is a set of 12 foods and it will say find 2 strawberries, then find 1 pickle and continue for 1 minute. After the minute is over they can choose to play again.

What Sherri Liked

I really loved the graphics and all the original drawings from the book, it was comforting seeing the familiar scenes and the colors. When you first open up the app you will see the familiar drawing for the Very Hungry Caterpillar that we all know. The menu shows the 5 levels with different numbers of foods that equal the level that are interactive when touched and an options button which you can change the way the game play to sequential or random, no voiceover vs voiceover and music vs no music. There is also a more apps button that show’s the other apps that they offer. The layout is nice and easy to navigate. The interface was smooth and easy for the child to navigate, it did confuse my 2 year old that he had to keep pushing the done button after he had made his choices, and that seemed to frustrate him a little bit.

Suggested Enhancement

There was not to many things that I didn’t love about this app, I would prefer that when he chose the wrong item that it could be either undone by touching it again or just having an X show up, he got upset that he had to start over again. I think this is just a matter of maturity though since he is only 2.5. A reward system for getting answers right would make it more enticing for the youngest readers, like my own son. I would love to see them earn a piece for a mini story or a game where the caterpillar eats through the food.

Overall

Counting with the Very Hungry Caterpillar is a great interactive app that is very colorful and fun for young children to help them learn about numbers and counting.