By Tech Powered Dad | September 20, 2011
Devices: iPad, iPhone
Grades: Elementary
Cost: $.99
After recently reviewing NxtApp for the iPad, I wanted to give another app by Icon a try, NxtApp 4 Kids. NxtApp 4 Kids was actually their first app, which has turned out to be very popular. It’s easy to see why it’s a hit.
The same game play I enjoyed on NxtApp is featured on NxtApp 4 Kids, but with a few differences that make it more age appropriate for younger kids. The music is more kid friendly, and I found myself chuckling at the animals that let you know when you get a right answer.
But the math skills are what really matter, and that’s NxtApp 4 Kids does well. The objective is simple: find the missing number in a sequence of numbers. The first two stages are Add One and Subtract One, simple enough that any child who knows the number from 1 to 100 should be able to find success. After that, it get’s a little tougher, as stage 3 is add any one digit number and stage 4 subtract any one digit number, while stage 5 will give you addition or subtraction.
The game play is simple, but the skills taught are incredibly valuable. The mental arithmetic taught goes well beyond what you’d learn from a set of flash cards. NxtApp 4 Kids is a great way to practice mental math for kids first grade and up.