The New Blaze & the Monster Machines Dinosaur Rescue App is Full of Adventure and STEM Concepts

With monster trucks and action-packed episodes, Nickelodeon’s Blaze and the Monster Machines has been a big hit in our household ever since it came out.  The show explores the physics of how things move as Blaze and his driver AJ tackle problems through scientific inquiry and mathematics.  Nickelodeon released a coordinating app that reached #1 in the App Store’s Kids & Education categories, and now they’re back with a brand new adventure:  Blaze and the Monster Machines Dinosaur Rescue.  In this installment, Blaze and AJ travel through Dino Valley to rescue their friend Zeg’s lost dinosaur eggs.

Dinosaur Rescue is an excellent way to encourage children ages 5 and under to take a hands-on approach to learning while using their iOS devices.  STEM concepts (science, technology, engineering, and math) are introduced as they travel through the levels and the different terrains, including jungle, rocky mountains, and volcano.  There are a total of 45 levels, and each consists of up to three dinosaur eggs to rescue and a hidden prehistoric gem.  Your child will learn to master tools, such as wheels, pulleys, cranks, and pendulums, in an effort to rescue the dinosaur eggs from dangerous situations.  This offers opportunities to experiment with scientific concepts such as height, weight, and trajectory.  For example, your preschooler will be asked to use water to fill up a bucket connected to a pulley in order to gain access to an area where a dinosaur egg is hidden.  They will also understand the concept of height, because on each level they will have to move AJ up or down to access the eggs.  The app will also prompt your preschooler to move a piece of wood at a certain angle to encourage water flow to a specific area to help rescue the eggs.  I know that this can sound very scientific, but with the help of Blaze and AJ cheering on your child and giving some hints, they begin to pick up these concepts rather quickly!

My four-year-old son absolutely loves watching Blaze and the Monster Machines, so naturally he was very excited that I downloaded this app for him.  To be honest, this is the first time he has ever taken an interest in learning games on the iPad.  He has been completely enamored with each level and how Blaze was able to perform in different ways as he traveled through Dino Valley.  It was fun for him to discover each different transformation; he never knew if Blaze would shoot water, laser beams, or colorful bouncy balls!  Once my two daughters saw how much fun my son was having with Dinosaur Rescue, they couldn’t wait to get their hands on the game too.  The app allows for multiple players, so sharing is easy.  You can add up to 4 names, and each player can continue on the level where he/she was last active.

The Dinosaur Rescue app has been tons of fun and a fantastic learning experience for my kids.  My preschooler was so proud of himself every time he moved on to another level or heard Blaze tell him he did an “EGGcellent job”.  He’s engaged in an entertaining game, and I know he’s learning at the same time.  That’s the kind of play I like best!

Blaze and the Monster Machines Dinosaur Rescue is available now in the App Store for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.