If you have children who watch any type of children’s programming, you have undoubtedly seen the advertising for ABCmouse. They seem to have a healthy advertising budget as I see the commercials on every channel and in various children’s magazines. But is ABCmouse all that the commercials claim? I was determined to find out with my own ABCmouse review.
My youngest daughter is in kindergarten this year. (Where does the time go?!) And while I know our school is quite aggressive in their educational pacing, I was growing frustrated by the number of “insufficient” and “C-” grades I was seeing on my daughter’s report.
For a long time, I thought all the children must be struggling. Then… the teacher accidentally sent home another student’s work. The papers were plastered with stars and stickers and “great!” It was enough to turn my stomach and make the competitor inside rise to the challenge.
As I shoved the unhealthy thoughts of pushing my child unnecessarily to see her rise above this stellar student’s performance, I did wonder if maybe she was not getting all the individualized attention she needed to excel academically. After all, I was very hands-on in teaching the older three children since we were homeschooling.
I envisioned my kindergartener sitting on my lap or beside me on the couch as we worked through the ABCmouse lessons together. Perhaps we could use ABCmouse to bring her up to the school’s high standards? So we gave ABCmouse a try.
About ABCmouse
The current program will benefit children ages 3 through 2nd grade with curriculum created by a board of teachers and educational experts from a variety of fields including science and history.
The scope of the online curriculum includes:
- Language development (vocabulary, listening skills, grammar)
- Reading (the alphabet, phonics, sight words, comprehension, genres, reading strategies)
- Math (numbers and operations, shapes, measurement, patterns,)
- Science and Technology (weather, plants and animals, matter and energy, space science, inventions)
- Social Studies (families and communities, geography and maps, U.S. history, states, famous Americans)
- Health (the human body, habits for health and safety, health care)
Each level and subject incorporates books, songs, games, puzzles, art activities, and printables to help children have a well-rounded experience with the information.
Since ABCmouse is a progressive curriculum, you can adjust what your child is learning based on their current knowledge.
For instance, the starting place ABCmouse cued for my kindergartener was way behind where she currently is placed in school. But, I was able to adjust her learning level to match her school curriculum.
How Can I Use ABCmouse Best?
ABCmouse.com has a very flexible structure so parents can adapt the curriculum to meet their individual child’s needs.
Step-by-Step Learning Path
If you are looking for a pre-designed curriculum that will provide a comprehensive education, the Step-by-Step Learning Path by ABCmouse will guide your child through sequential lessons in reading, math, science, social studies, and health.
Independent Learning
For the child who needs less structure or if you are using ABCmouse as a supplement for fun, Independent Learning (also called “Free Play”) allows the freedom to explore all portion of the website including the Classroom, Library, and Zoo.
Please note: Although the Guided Learning mode is mentioned on the website and “getting started” video, it is not available. I am not sure if it was available at one time and removed or what. Honestly, not having the Guided Learning mode makes me sad. I wanted to use the Lesson Builder mentioned in promotional materials to create our own plans by selecting activities with specific educational objectives. Boo!
How Much Does ABCmouse Cost?
Although they frequently host special offers, ABCmouse.com subscriptions start at $7.95 a month. You can save on your subscription when you purchase a 6-month or 12-month plan.
Some people might wonder why you would pay for ABCmouse.com when there are so many free alternatives available. I see a frequent question about whether or not ABCmouse is worth the cost.
Consider this… ABCmouse is void of advertising and external links so a child can learn in a secure environment.
Many people do not realize that the alternatives pose a safety risk through invasive advertising, links to other websites, and in-ad purchases. That places your device one click away from being contaminated with a virus or directing your child to see something that could be traumatic. (It’s happen to me before! I clicked on a website link and was redirected to a porn website.)
Also, other online curriculums cover a single subject and cost $29 or more per year. Within ABCmouse, you get a comprehensive curriculum covering more than five different subjects. That is a tremendous value for the price.
Try ABCmouse Today.