Product: Ooka Island Adventure
Format: Downloadable Computer Game
Ages: 3 to 7
Focus: Literacy, Phonics
Use: Supplement to any reading program, extra practice, fun and learning game
Rating: 5 out of 5 golden pencils
What is Ooka Island?
Ooka Island is a mission your child embarks on guided by a friendly robot named Zobot. The early literacy game teaches phonics and letter/sound recognition to move right into blending and making words. The game brings the child on adventures to amazing spots on Ooka Island such as Cave of Sounds, Alphabet Mountain, and Bubbly Troubly. Your child will read from books when she reaches Popcorn Mountain. Reading from the books is very exciting for both the parent and the child.
What did I think?
I love the colorful and fun atmosphere of the game. What I enjoy just as much if not more is the approach to teaching literacy. The approach breaks the code of reading and development to instill skills and lessons that will last beyond the boarders of Ooka Island. Each game centers on a skill that builds upon another to bring your child to point of reading. A child is having so much that the lessons come easily and confidence is built early on.
What did my 6 year old think?
My 6 year old is a math girl not a literacy girl. I was unsure how she would react to the game. My guess was she would get bored or not want to play. My guess was wrong. She loved it from the intro and played it for an hour the first day. She only got off because I told her enough was enough. After dinner that evening she asked to play again which is highly unusual for her. The novelty did not wear off and she continues to bug me…ahem…asks me to play daily. My three year-old sits with her sometimes and gleams from the lessons. So much so that my older child said to her, “You can’t play. I don’t want you reading before you are 6.” Yes, we have pride issues to break. At any rate, it is a testament not only to how much children love the game but how effective it is to teaching literacy. I am proud to say my daughter’s level of reading has improved dramatically. Thank you Ooka Island for making literacy fun!
Side note: I have to say I am impressed with Ooka Island’s tech staff. I had an issue and the response time was like lightening. She was as sweet as she was helpful. The people who work there love and believe in their product. That is just nice to see and worthy of mentioning.