Photo © Lexie Flickinger/ Flickr user: flickingerbrad / CC-BY-SA-2.0

ST. GEORGE – Is it okay for kids to binge on mobile games? Clark Hatfield, executive director of the Sylvan Learning Center in St. George, thinks so – as long as they are the right ones. But how can parents find games that guarantee their kids’ screen time is actually beneficial? To help take the guesswork out of choosing from the thousands of apps available, Sylvan Learning introduces SylvanPlay, a comprehensive, educational mobile games network for kids in first through fourth grade.

SylvanPlay provides the best collection of educational games that reinforce grade-appropriate lessons in fun and engaging ways, and enhance what kids are already learning in the classroom while on the go. Rather than just one individual app, SylvanPlay is a library of nine fun, Sylvan-approved “edutainment” apps, all packaged together in one network. The games, which have been developed to help students build critical skills in reading, math, science, geography and strategic thinking, include:

• Critter Cruise (ages 6-9): Inspires math and language learning as kids take a landmark-filled road trip across North America, filling up their gas tank by correctly answering questions. This game was developed exclusively for SylvanPlay and aligns to specific grade level content and the Common Core curriculum.
• Battle Station (ages 6-9): Helps kids improve number sense as they defend their ship from enemy submarines by estimating their location using marker buoys.
• Equator (ages 6-9, tablet only): Challenges kids to collaborate to bring balance to the equator by testing their math skills, including addition, subtraction, multiplication, division and order of operations as they play through the seasons.
• Angle Asteroids (ages 6-9): Helps kids develop an intuition for angles as they position their laser to blast away the incoming asteroids.
• Pizza Party (ages 6-9): Helps kids master fractions by splitting up the treats at a pizza party with fun tools like the Slice-o-Matic.
• Sushi Scramble (ages 6-9, tablet only): Develops language skills through a multiplayer word-building game where two to four players collaborate or compete to “serve” up the most words or longest word.
• Get Rocky (ages 6-9): Inspires an interest in science through a geology-based racing game that takes kids to the core of the earth.
• Not Lost in the Universe (ages 6-9, tablet only): Kids learn about how wind, the sun, water and heat create lasting sources of energy while helping the brave explorers on the Planet Blarp refuel their power cells.
• Wonder Bunny Math Race (ages 3-8): Helps younger kids learn numbers, counting, addition and subtraction as they help Wonder Bunny win the race and collect carrots along the way.

“Sylvan Learning is focused on providing a personal learning experience using the latest technology to engage and connect with kids,” Hatfield said. “Sylvan developed SylvanPlay as a way to extend the learning that happens in our center, and provide parents and kids with Sylvan-approved games they know will be fun, educational and grade-appropriate. With SylvanPlay, parents can be confident that their kids are turning game time into brain-building time.”

The SylvanPlay network will continue to expand, and the content range will soon be available for kids up to sixth grade. Additional edutainment apps and subjects will inspire more kids to play anywhere and learn everywhere in new and engaging ways. These debut apps are all available exlusively on SylvanPlay.

SylvanPlay is available for both iOS and Android devices, and offers an assortment of free and paid content ranging from 99 cents to $4.99. To download to any mobile device, find SylvanPlay on the App Store or Google Play. All apps within the SylvanPlay network are free for current SylvanSync customers.

To build the new educational game network, Sylvan Learning partnered with Fingerprint, a global technology company, to leverage its well-established mobile technology platform and proven network model. Now, SylvanPlay can provide a fun and safe edutainment hub for kids and parents alike.

“As kids become more comfortable working with technology, Sylvan has moved its curriculum to the iPad® with the SylvanSync platform,” Hatfield said. “Sylvan continues to follow what families are doing and adapting the curriculum to the devices they prefer. Why make parents say ‘no’ to apps and games if we can turn them into educational tools that help their child succeed?”

For additional information, please contact Clark Hatfield of the Sylvan Learning Center in St. George at 435-656-1700 or [email protected].

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