Bug Builders
Bug Builder is a application that allows small children, pre school to Kindergarten, to create their own personalized bugs and share amongst friends.
The game starts out with a bug laying an egg and allows the player to color in the monster. It is then hatched and then able to choose a hat and be fed. The game offers a chance for a snapshot of the bug to be taken. This picture can be saved and shared with others as they choose. The game fosters creativity in coloring and designing, as well as pushing optional sharing of the pictures, much like a child would do with a real drawn picture. The promotion of connectivity fosters social skills, imperative for the young child, especially with the emphasis on sharing (Hatch, 2011). This
skill becomes essential as the child matures and is faced with options of sharing information and teamwork in educational and play settings (Milton, 2013). In addition to socialization skills, it affords the development of emotional skills by providing the child with opportunities for self-efficacy (Bandura, 1977).
The game is simplistic, since it is aimed at younger players. It is a free download with no in app purchases. The variety of each bug is different enough for a child to play multiple times and with no investment. It makes the game appealing for a quick fix for small children to hold their attention and challenge their inner creativity.
Some questions to ask your child:
Most children are fascinated by bugs, so the opportunity to make their own bug encourages potential scientists. Something to watch is whether they do have a genuine interest or whether they are afraid of bugs. If it is the latter, it may help them to overcome their fear by building their own.
Does the child feel they are expressing their artistic side enough?
Does the child want to share the image to others?
Are they proud of their bug design? Can they express what they have made and why?
References
Bandura, A. (1077). Self-efficacy: Toward a unifying theory of behavioral change.
Psychological Review, 84(2), 191-215.
Hatch, K. E. (2011). Determining the effects of technology on children. Digital Commons. Retrieved on April 1, 2016 fromhttp://digitalcommons.Uri.edu/srhonorsprog/260.
Milton, J. (2013). A comparison and analysis of techniques used in computer games and interactive fictions aimed at engaging users over a period of time. Interactive
Multimedia Conference 2013, Southampton University.
