We’ve been teaching 3YO Mojo his ABCs since he was nine months old using karuata. Karuata is done by having whatever you’re trying to learn on cardboard flashcards, repeating them and then having your student slap the card when you say the object. Cypher Kids Club takes karuta and blends it into a 3D app for your Apple devices to make learning fun for kids.
The Cypher Kids Club apps are in the Apple Store, free and can be about animals, numbers or the alphabet. The cards that you purchase are what make the app come to life. And in the case of the animals on the cards we literally mean life. Note: the dog in the background is real, the own in the tree is part of the app.
We used the cards with an iPhone 4S. After a couple uses the cards were quite easy to scan and ‘activate’. Once you open the app just find the card that you want to activate and take a photo of the QR code picture.
Immediately after you take the photo turn the card horizontal and the app will play out on your iPhone screen. Hint: take the photo with the QR code part facing you about one foot away from the camera. You can also twist it up a bit and take it closer or from the side different angles of the 3D interaction.
Given how bonkers our 3YO is about animals those cards would’ve been great for him. However, now that we’re in the sight words stage of learning and his little brother is just staring to learn the ABC cards were the right choice for us. Maybe if he’s good he’ll get them for Christmas…..I hope he’s not reading this.
A young 3YO is a little too young to be able to use the cards without adult assistance. That’s partially because they might treat the cards too rough or won’t have the dexterity to be able to use them correctly. With adult supervision ours loved the app. It breaks the letters down into by phonetic pronunciation, as well as, alphabet name.
The instructions on the front of the card box were in French also. I wish that the cards were in another language. That would be a nice addition if they update the app in the future.
Bottom line: The Cypher Kids Club i3D Interactive Cards are a great way to teach kids in a way that they want to learn. They’re available for iPod touch 4th generation or newer, iPhone 4 and higher and iPad2 and higher.
You can learn more about Cypher Kids Club by checking out their >website, twitter account or Facebook page.
I am a member of the Collective Bias™ Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias™ and Cypher Kids Club #CBias #SocialFabric. All thoughts are my own.
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I’m always about the new tech gear and apps. I gots a 3YO as well and need to look into this one. I’m sure you’ll agree, at 3 these kids are SUPER savvy on how to use the iShiz. My mother-in-law’s jaw dropped the first time she saw him swiping and playing at 2.5YO. I’m sure they’ll all be using interfaces like Minority Report in no time, making me feel like I’m still playing Pong on my 13inch t.v.
Later Mojo,
Jason
The Cheeky Daddy
3’s are an awesome age. They’re so eager, enthusiastic and ready to learn. Ditto out guy on the iDevice, they love it, he calls it his ‘Mickey Puter’, due to the Mickey Mouse app.