App review: Motion Math: Hungry Guppy - Teaches Children Numbers and Basic Addition

Reviewed by Elena – I’m a SAHM who is trying to homeschool my 18 month old. I have a BA in Computer Science and Information Systems. My professional background is in quantitative analytics.

Details

Motion Math’s Hungry Guppy teaches children numbers and basic addition. This app helps very young children understand how numbers relate to quantities. For example, the numeral 2 is the same as a quantity of 2 dots.

In the game, children feed a hungry guppy bubbles that contain either the correct numeral or the correct quantity of dots that is indicated by the guppy’s markings. Bubbles are dragged together to add their contents. To help the player, the bubble will disappear if the numeral or quantity it contains is greater than what the guppy can be fed. Also, there is audio feedback of what the guppy will only eat.

There are 3 main levels, Dots, Mixed and Numbers, each with subsequent levels of increasing difficulty. In Dots children who don’t know numbers can still play by visually adding and matching the correct quantity of dots. With the Mixed level, bubbles will contain either dots or numerals. Children learn that a numeral and the quantity it represents are the same. The Numbers level teaches basic addition of numbers up to five. The first two levels also teaches kids that the quantity is the same regardless of the dot pattern or its color.

There is a link to the app store which can only be accessed after entering three digits shown by their numerical names.

What Elena Liked

There is an intro on how to play, but the game is fairly easy to navigate. Tapping on the bubbles and the guppy, kids can get an audio number hint which can be turned off for more advanced kids. I liked that the app follows the common core standards for math. The kids liked to win the Color Pearl to change the guppy’s colors.

Suggested Enhancement

I think it might be better to have the option to stop the guppy from eating a bubble on its own. This would prevent any lucky guesses or unintentional correct answers.