My 4 year old (Happy Birthday baby!) loves to use my iPad so when I was asked if I would be interested in reviewing an app I said yes. The app in question is Barchowsky Fuent Handwriting: Letters Make Words. It can be found in the education corner of the app store for $2.99.
The app begins with instructions on how it can best be used and then letters are given. Any letter can be chosen and then the child is given instructions for making the letter, a warm-up, the letter, and then a word using the letter that can be traced and sounded out. Finally, there are three words for the child to sound and a cute sentence for the child to practice on paper.
You are wondering if you need a stylus, right? You don’t. The child is supposed to use their index finger to make the letters/words. There are audio instructions so the child can work on this independently.
So what do I think? Well…. It is rated for 4 year olds+ and it would probably work for the lower end of the age group but I think it would be better for children who are a bit older. I’m also not terribly happy that it doesn’t use a stylus although I know others will disagree with me on that. My child specifically needs help using a pencil and all of the finger tracing in the world isn’t going to do that so….for us not so much. That is my issue though and wouldn’t be a factor for most parents/children. I should also mention finger tracing is a key point in the BFH method so if you are a big fan of the method I think you will really like the app because it decreases the mess and gives the same benefits!
