Before I talk about ABCmouse.com, Let me clarify that this is my honest and authentic review from a mom’s perspective. ABCmouse did not request me to write a review of their service, and I paid for their services just as everyone else! This blog post has become quite popular so I will update it regularly with up-to-date information and suggestions.
What is ABCmouse?
You’ve likely seen advertisements for the website ABCmouse.com. If not, it’s essentially an educational site for kids that you pay monthly. I’m sure you’re likely thinking, “Why on earth would I pay for something like that? There is so much on the internet for free!” That’s the truth. I’m able to tell you my son’s most-loved websites right away, and they’re all completely free:
- com
- -DisneyJr.com (although it was recently updated on their website and took all his most loved games, which I don’t know how to understand.)
- -pbskids.org
- -sesamestreet.org (their game are great and let him navigate around with ease, without much assistance)
However, my main complaint about these websites is that they display pop-up ads, and they do not always work (games may crash or even freeze), And sometimes, my child needs help to find the appropriate games or decipher the directions. ABCmouse is fully COPPA compliant (Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act). It does not display pop-ups and links that lead to different sites, which prevents access to potentially harmful web pages. ABCmouse is also not a source of advertisements of any type. We’ve yet to have problems loading, freezing or crashing (it should not be if you’re spending money for it! ).
So, What Does it Have?
It’s all of it. Your child will be given an avatar that allows them to navigate through the “classroom.” The subjects range from math to reading, art and science. They’ve everything.
Educational Advisors. According to their website, they have a board of curriculum experts in education. They help design their games and integrate the state standards into their teaching.
What’s Good About It?
A One-Month Trial Free Subscription: What’s more? Test it without cost for one month. If you are still looking for more, ensure that you unsubscribe from it, or they’ll keep contacting you. There are no commitments. ABCmouse recently provided me with an affiliate link that I could give you (but this does not alter my views on ABCmousethe information you find here is the truth, I promise!). To get access to their 30-day trial at no cost,
Protection: ABCmouse is 100% safe and a kid-friendly environment that completely conforms to COPPA (Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act). It does not contain pop-ups or links to other sites, preventing access to potentially risky information. They make sure that it’s an educational and engaging experience for children! Furthermore, ABCmouse does not include advertisements in any form.
Differentiation: I find a lot to see on this site very interesting. What I particularly like is that they cater to a variety of learners. There are audio pages with games, puzzles, and even art. They try their best to engage all kinds of learners.
Learners with Leveled Levels: pick your child’s age (starting in pre-school and going until Grade 2). You can alter the levels up or down at any point. When you change classes, you will be able to play a completely new set of activities and games.
Simple navigation: At first, when I looked at it, I thought, “geez, there’s too much on here!” However, it’s okay. There are plenty of things to do. However, the tabs are simple to find and navigate. My five-year-old daughter can play with no supervision and doesn’t require assistance with following directions or comprehending what is required for every activity.
Engaging Games: They are vibrantly coloured, fun and entertaining. They keep my son’s attention, and he isn’t aware that he’s learning. He enjoys playing his favourite games, and I can change the difficulty level, so it’s not all with the same abilities.
Rewards: Children get “tickets” for every activity they engage in on ABCmouse. They can use the tickets they earn for use to “buy” items (they’re not spending money, No worries!) to create their own virtual space, such as a virtual fish tank or an online Hamster cage. My son is fascinated by Hamsters. He creates elaborate tunnels for them, which can be instructive in a technical way.
Assessment Center
I haven’t had any experiences with the ABCmouse assessment centre option (this was unavailable when we tried the service). However, some of my users provided some suggestions on the subject and provided me with information on whether it was worth the effort. This is her experience with an assessment centre option. Thanks to Diannika for sharing her knowledge with us (you can find more details about your suggestions by commenting at the end of this article):
“The assessment centre offers various tests your child may take to assess their progress regarding specific abilities. I had my 5-year-old do both the kindergarten and pre-k tests because the things listed as learning goals on the website for kindergarten comprise a variety of things she can already do, and why should she not?
Certain tests are intended to be taken by children without the assistance of a parent. The tests are indicated if you opt to test each section independently. If you select the full assessment option, it runs all the tests for the level at hand in a row, and you’ll have that you are watching carefully to be aware of when it’s the right time to assist… that’s what you’ll probably do regardless of whether they’re testing.
The tasks that need parental assistance are counting loudly (and the parent must declare how many times they counted without causing any confusion), reading something out loud, or naming shapes (and the parent must make sure that the child has done it correctly). The instructions for parents will clearly state what assistance you should provide your child for the test if they need it (for example, for the”how high” count test, you’re allowed to ask “what comes after (the number they last said)” when they stop, to help them to continue however, you are not allowed to instruct them). When your child is having difficulty with a specific stage, it might be difficult not to intervene to help them. I recommend not suggesting this test if your child doesn’t accept that you aren’t able to help them with this.
What’s Not So Good About It?
It’s not for free. It’s not, but it’s also relatively inexpensive. With $12.99 per month, unless you cancel (their normal price), It’s much less than tutoring! Get a 30-day trial for free here.
The current price is One full year of ABCmouse at $45 (until it is cancelled). The offer also includes a year of ReadingIQ for free. The offer begins on December 25 and continues until midnight on January 9. You will need an affiliate link to access this price or search for the sale on ads in the sidebar.
Distracting Incentives. I’ve mentioned that my son is a fan of the hamster cage incentive. Sometimes, he wants to play on ABCmouse however that’s not the main reason for him to learn! So I tell the kid, “You have to play 6 games first before hitting the hamster store.”
You forget About It. You’ll purchase ABCmouse but never use it. If this is the case, take action and end your subscription! ABCmouse will automatically renew every month unless you tell them it’s not (you can cancel at any time). Please make sure you are aware of the amount you are using it.
Can My Child Play on a SmartPhone or Tablet?
ABCmouse has an app that’s compatible with the majority of Apple as well as Android devices. It’s an entry point to gaming and requires an extremely fast WiFi connection and the latest updates for your tablet or phone. If you’re looking specifically for games that teach your children, consider my recommendations for the best educational apps!
What if I Have More Than One Child?
You can create as many as three children per account on ABCmouse.
How Do I Cancel ABCmouse?
It’s simple to end ABCmouse at any time if you don’t want it. Go through the MyAccount section of the Parents page. There will be a choice to end service. You are also able to reactivate your account at any time. It is important to note that in the future after my son was old enough and we decided to end ABCmouse, I didn’t experience any issues cancelling the account.
The Bottom Line – Is it Worth It?
What if your child could increase their reading level and become the expert learner you see in commercials on T.V.? I’m not sure, but it’s worth giving it a shot. If you can avail of the trial at no cost (or the best price on your subscription – they do have sales throughout the year), Why not give it a try? It’s worth a shot in the case of children who are not motivated to learn (or unwilling to learn! ). It’s also great to use it for summertime practice. If there’s a subject that your child requires assistance in (such as recognizing letters or counting up to 100), This website may be able to assist.