Bottom Line: Just released today!! Dr. Panda has ventured into the business of making unique and over-the-top ice cream treats in his latest app, Dr. Panda's Ice Cream Truck. Full of the easy-to-use and imaginative elements that set Dr. Panda apps apart from others, Dr. Panda's Ice Cream Truck is a new top pick for preschoolers (though my 9 year old is in love with it as well).
If you would like to download Dr. Panda's Ice Cream Truck ($0.99, iPad/iPhone/Android) please show your support by using our handy links below:
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It is always a big day when the announcement is made to the Smart Apps for Kids staff about a new app from Dr. Panda. There was much begging to be the one chosen to review Dr. Panda's Ice Cream Truck. Lucky for me it was my turn in the rotation and my kids went wild.
Like all Dr. Panda apps, this latest installment is a completely free play app. There are no instructions, no rules and plenty of opportunity to express creativity. Kids get to build crazy huge ice cream sundaes with all the fixings. They can even mix their own ice cream.
Customers come up one at a time to the ice cream truck. To begin, there are a total of eight empty ice cream bins on two screens in the work area and an empty waffle cone. Tapping on one of the bins brings kids to the kitchen area.
The kitchen is one of my favorite parts. Here there are eight different ice cream bases to choose from, as well as what my local ice cream store refers to as mix-ins. Young chefs can mix and match colors and ingredients into the blender to create their own flavors. Their designer ice cream is then added into one of the bins to serve customers.
After at least one of the tubs is full, kids can start creating the sundae for the customer. Sliding between screens gives options for up to eight different ice cream flavors, four different sauces, a choice of sprinkles, plus various additions such as cookies, candies, fruit and even flags.
Once the sundae is prepared, kids simply ring the bell in the top right of the screen to sell it to the customer. The ice cream makers get to feed each customer the sundae and then collect payment and put it in the cash register. After the happy customer walks off, a new and different friend walks up to the truck ready to try out the next creation.
I absolutely love this app and hate to be so nit-picky, but it bothers me a little bit that on the home screen, the sign on the ice cream truck says, “Dr. Panda’s Icecream Truck” with no discernible space between "ice" and "cream." I'd even be happy if the C in cream were capitalized to show that it's two words.
The only other thing that I would like to see in the app, though totally not necessary, is the ability to move or remove items off the sundae after it is placed. Once anything is placed on the sundae, it is there for good until the customer eats it. My overly perfectionist son wanted to move the cherry on the side of the sundae up closer to the top, but once an item is placed it cannot be moved or taken away.
Other than those two very minor details, this is truly a great app. At a price tag of only $0.99 it is really a great deal. There are no in-app purchases or content that has to be unlocked before it can be used. Kids are able to play with every item from day one. If you have a preschool-age child or even an older child that is a fan of Dr. Panda, this is a great app to add to your collection.
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Rachel H. has been watching a Mythbusters marathon most of the day. SmartAppsForKids.com was paid a priority review fee to complete this review in an expedited manner.
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