Moose Math vs PBS KIDS Games

Moose Math is a free mobile app for children practicing early math on iOS and Android. Its five activities are Moose Juice, Paint Pet, Pet Bingo, Lost & Found, and Dot to Dot, with rewards children can use to build a city and decorate buildings. Listed skills include counting to 100, addition and subtraction up to 20, number patterns, shapes, geometry, and comparing lengths. The math skills are based on Common Core State Standards, with Kindergarten and first-grade standards listed. A Report Card section lets parents and teachers monitor progress and learn about skill-building activities. The Google Play listing describes the app as intended for ages 3–7 and says Duck Duck Moose apps are free, without ads or subscriptions. The maker is Moose Math, founded in 2008 and headquartered in San Mateo, California. Its privacy policy says its children’s mobile apps collect non-personal app-use information and parent newsletter email addresses, and states that the apps comply with COPPA. Google Play reports no data shared with third parties, possible collection of app activity and device or other IDs, encryption in transit, and an option to request data deletion.

PBS KIDS Games is a free collection of educational games for children ages 2 to 8. Its app listing describes more than 280 curriculum-based games covering subjects such as math, reading, science, and art, with play available in English and Spanish. The web catalog includes titles such as Stu's Delivery Service, City Island Adventure Game, and Carl's Collections. A Building Games topic includes Marble Run, Toy Maker, and Alma Train Game. PBS KIDS also describes its apps as a way to watch and play its content while away from home. The service is listed for web, Android, iOS, and Windows, and the PBS KIDS Games plan costs nothing. An account is not required to use PBS services, though an account can save progress, settings, or created content. PBS says it does not collect information that directly identifies a child on its own, but may collect information about game activity, videos watched, pages viewed, and links clicked. For accounts, usernames are moderated to discourage personal information and passwords are encrypted. PBS identifies itself as a private nonprofit corporation founded in 1969.