How to choose a learning game for your child: 7 questions to ask

In short: To choose a learning game for your child, check seven things: whether learning is the game itself, whether the difficulty adapts, ads and upselling, chat with strangers, what it collects about your child, whether you can see what they learned, and whether you can try it free. Each comes with how to check, and what Mochi Isle does.

1. Is the learning the game, or a ticket to the game?

   “Answer questions, then earn play time” teaches children that questions are an obstacle: click faster, right or wrong.

   How to check: Watch ten minutes of play: is your child thinking, or rushing?

   Mochi Isle: Correct answers teach the moves that turn the island green; there is no “ten questions buys five minutes of play”.

2. Does the difficulty follow your child?

   Too easy teaches nothing; too hard and children give up.

   How to check: Is there a placement at the start? Do questions change after right and wrong answers?

   Mochi Isle: A quick placement on the first visit; each subject has its own ladder.

3. Are there ads or upselling?

   Children can’t easily tell ads from the game, and countdowns and “limited offers” are aimed at them.

   How to check: Are there prices, buy buttons or countdowns on the child’s screen?

   Mochi Isle: No ads, and no prices or upselling on the child’s screen; anything to do with paying stays in the Parent zone.

4. Can children chat with strangers?

   Open text chat is one of the biggest online risks for children.

   How to check: Can players type anything when playing together? Can parents switch it off?

   Mochi Isle: Playing together uses game-made nicknames and preset emotes and phrases only — no typing — and parents can switch multiplayer off.

5. What does it collect about your child?

   A real name, photo, location or contact details can’t be taken back once shared.

   How to check: Does the child need their own account? Do they enter a real name?

   Mochi Isle: A parent signs up with an email; children never need an account, and we never collect a child’s real name, photo, location or contact details.

6. Can you see what your child learned?

   Without that, you can’t tell whether the time was well spent.

   How to check: Is there a learning report — and does it say how long they played, or what they learned?

   Mochi Isle: A report every Sunday: days learned, questions answered, the rung in each subject and how close the next step is.

7. Can you try it for free first?

   A few days of play tells you whether it suits your child.

   How to check: Is the free part genuinely playable, or does it ask for money after ten minutes?

   Mochi Isle: The main island, the question bank, placement, the daily lesson and the weekly report are free, right in the browser.

Put Mochi Isle through the same seven questions.

The main island and the daily lesson are free, right in the browser; the first visit starts with a five-minute placement.

Start playing ↗ Mochi Isle at a glance