Apple recently announced its top App Store picks for 2021. The iPhone App of the Year award went to Toca Life World. For many, this was a surprise, as most people aren’t aware of Toca Life World. However, parents and educators might say that this award is well deserved.
But for those who don’t know what exactly is Toca Life World? And did it deserve this year’s top award? We’re here to answer those questions.
What Is the Toca Life World App?
Toca Life World is an app designed for kids. It’s ranked as one of the top apps in the education category. In Toca Life World, players create their own unique world and bring their imagination to life. With a completely customizable world, kids can create and do just about anything they imagine.
Users can create cities, decorate houses, and design custom avatars. They can also create other characters like friends and family members. Characters can travel to cities that the user builds and even go on vacation or go to the hairdresser.
Toca Life World also has a great storytelling element. Users can record movements on the screen alongside their voices to create stories. Then they can share these stories with friends or family. By creating, exploring, and playing their customized worlds, the possibilities are endless.
Is Toca Life World Educational?
Despite Toca Life World being one of the top apps in the education category, it isn’t a traditional educational app. Most people see “educational” and think of math problems or phonics. Yet, Toca Life World doesn’t contain any of these elements.
Instead, Toca Life World teaches kids the power of creativity. By making it possible to create things from their imagination, kids learn how their ideas can become tangible. The app also teaches kids how to create and tell stories, something which helps them develop great communication skills.
While math and phonics are important, teaching creativity inspires the next generation.
Is Toca Life World Safe for Kids?
Toca Life World is safe for kids. There are safety measures in place to ensure that the kids playing the app aren’t exposed to the dangers of the internet. The app has no browser, so all kids playing the app stay on the app. The app also doesn’t contain ads, so there is no risk of inappropriate ads being shown to kids.
As for the in-app purchases, there are parental control settings to ensure that kids can’t place an order within the app. At least, not without talking to their parents first. The parental controls also allow parents to block some elements of the app, such as background music.
It’s also a single-player app, so children won’t be able to communicate with other app users. Toca Life World is also the top-grossing app in the education category on the Google Play Store. So, its popularity isn't just limited to iOS.
Does Toca Life World Deserve to Be the Top App of 2021?
Toca Life World launched 10 years ago in the App Store and has continued to update frequently. Over the years, the app has vastly improved, and it still continues to improve regularly. With so much effort going into the app, it’s no surprise that it has a passionate user base.
Kids also love the app, and with over 150,000 five-star reviews in the App Store, it seems that parents and educators agree. Because of this, Toca Life World is definitely deserving of the top iPhone app of 2021.