One of the most important things we did for our son during his preschool years, was to spend time working with him to learn his numbers and letters. We practiced with flashcards, and I enrolled him in phonics during pre-kindergarten to prepare him for the transition to school. Kindergarten is a huge adjustment for children in so many ways, and just having the advantage of knowing the basics (counting, upper and lower case letters, basic phonetic sounds), can do much to make the transition just a bit easier.
Both of my children are more tech savvy than I would have imagined, particularly given their ages. They enjoy supervised time on the iPad while at home on the weekends, most often playing with some of the educational, kid-friendly apps we’ve downloaded. While we have a few apps that are simply for fun and entertainment, I prefer that they engage with apps that provide some type of educational value.
For preschoolers ready to learn their numbers and letters, Cypher Kids Club offers an innovative app that utilizes a very cool technology called augmented reality to make them come to life. Children can “play, learn, and discover” in 3D, without the use of glasses. Here is how the app works:
1. Download the free apps available on iTunes. There are 3 apps including Numbers, Letters, and Wild Animal Adventures. Note: You’ll need an iPad, iPhone, or iPod to download the app and play the games with the 3D Interactive Cards
2. Purchase the 3D Interactive Cards on Apple.com. Each package retails for $29.95 and shipping is free. (Note: I ordered and had the cards in just a few days). You can view my entire online shopping experience here.
3. Scan the 3D marker on the card once you’ve opened up the app on your device.
The cards/app are very easy to use and it didn’t take long for my son to get the hang of it. There are a few tips Cypher Kids Club recommends to enhance the experience:
1. Make sure the lens on your camera is clean so that it can read the cards
2. Try not to bend the cards. They come in a cardboard box that makes storage convenient
3. Use the cards/app in a well-lit room and keep them at least 12 inches away from the camera
We picked up both the Letter and Number cards and while my son has primarily been using them, my goal is to really begin teaching and engaging with my daughter who will soon turn 3. She is already knowledgeable about the basic use of our iPad so I know that she’ll pick it up easily.
Despite the fact that my son knows his numbers and letters, I could not peel him away from these cards.
The Letters app is awesome for teaching children the beginnings of phonics as it helps children identify lower and upper case letters (something that is required for kindergartners), learn the sounds each letter makes, and recognize letters at the beginning of words.
The Numbers app engages children to count objects, learn number words, and recognize numerical order. And, if you want use these cards as flash cards when you aren’t near your device, you can (think road trips, grocery trips, etc.).
For more information about Cypher Kids Club, you can keep up with them on Twitter and Facebook.
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 #CypherKidsClub
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Love your screen shots! I’m glad that you and your kiddies got to experience these, thanks for sharing!