McDonald's has unveiled a series of new educational games for its Happy Studio website and app. The games have been specifically designed with guidance from educational experts to help children develop through play. The aim is to make Happy Studio an even better resource for parents who want to combine their children's love of digital gaming with learning.
The new games will launch with the much loved Peanuts characters in Malta on the 19th December. They include an inventor game to help develop creative and logic skills; an artist game to encourage creativity, memory, attention and physical activity; and a musical game in which children can improve creativity, memory and physical skills.
The Happy Studio makeover has been designed by a panel of child development and play experts. They have been working with McDonald's to create an exciting educational environment for purposeful play - play that grows children's imaginations and encourages innovative thinking.
Lee Warren - Marketing Director for Malta and Greece said:
"Parents are always on the look-out for great ways to help their children learn through play and Happy Studio was created to do just that. Apps are increasingly part of children's lives - in some cases children use apps more regularly than their parents. Children can now have fun and learn alongside characters they know and love."
Happy Studio supports McDonald's commitment to bring families together by providing ideas and activity kits for parents and children so they can continue to play and learn together offline, such as making a guitar from household items, or creating some "crazy science gloop".
Happy Studio will be available for download from the iTunes App Store or Google Play Store, and will be fully optimised for use on smartphones and tablets. A desktop website version will also be available. It is completely free and safe: the app download requires a credit card be attached to the relevant account (although it won't be charged), and the website version of the site includes a prompt to seek parental permission before use and a simple maths calculation must be completed before use. In addition, the app will not feature or advertise any food items, including branded McDonald's menu items.