The Very Hungry Caterpillar

LQ: 8.9

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Brain grade: 8.3
Fun score: 9.5

Platform/Console: , , , LWK Recommended Age: 3+ Thinking Skills Used: ,

 

My Very Hungry Caterpillar is an educational app featuring the beloved Eric Carle character, The Very Hungry Caterpillar. The user controls the caterpillar and the world around him by moving objects around with their fingers. They can pull fruit from the tree, put the caterpillar on a log, and cover him with a leaf when it’s time for him to sleep. 

The user can also play shape sorting games, find buried treasure, paint pictures, grow plants, and do other play-based activities with your caterpillar. 

There are two bars up at the top of the screen that indicate how well-fed the caterpillar is and how much fun he has had. If the user feeds and cares for the caterpillar, it will create a cocoon and transform into a butterfly. You then receive a new caterpillar and can continue playing again. 

My Very Hungry Caterpillar is a free-to-download app but to access all of its services, the user needs to purchase the complete version of the app. The Very Hungry Caterpillar is available on Windows, Android and iOS. 


The Very Hungry Caterpillar helps kids practice and improve the following skills:

Flexibility:  Trying something new.

For very young audiences, The Very Hungry Caterpillar can be a way of practicing their flexibility skills. Because there are so many options for play within the game, the user can pick and choose what they want to do with their caterpillar companion, and change the activities the next time they open the game. Flexibility is an important skill for young children to learn, and this game gently encourages them to try new activities, whether it be exploring, blowing bubbles, watering plants, painting, or sorting shapes. For children who struggle with flexibility, this game might be a good way to introduce trying new things in a low stakes, colorful, no-stress environment. 

Planning: Developing a systematic approach for setting and achieving goals.

The ultimate goal of the app is to turn your caterpillar into a beautiful butterfly. You do this by feeding them and playing with them. There are two bars at the top left of the screen that show you how well-fed and happy your caterpillar is. When the bars are filled, the caterpillar will go to sleep and the next day he will be a cocoon that transforms into a beautiful butterfly. This goal introduces planning to very young children because they need to think of things to do with the caterpillar that will move the play bar along and how they can make sure that the caterpillar is well-fed. Talking through the process with your child can gently promote the idea that planning is important in this game and in other areas of life. 

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