My Talking Tom - A Review

By Rasudula Dissanayake

There is growing evidence of children’s use of phones and tablets in today’s world. Especially with the pandemic and the lockdowns, children are having to learn, play and socialize at home, and you may be experiencing trouble with keeping your child entertained and learning. But fortunately, now there is an app for everything! My Talking Tom is part of a wider series of game apps called Talking Tom and Friends. Tom the cat, who grows taller and older with each level of the game, is a pet cat who responds to sound and touch. You can take care of Tom by putting him to sleep, feeding him, taking him to the toilet, and keeping him happy. The user can also customize Tom and his surroundings to their liking.

How will your child learn through play?

While the more advanced features of the game (like puzzle-solving challenges) may be reserved for older users of the app, Tom’s ability to listen and repeat everything it hears in a funny voice can be useful for your child’s language development (see how play and creativity can be fostered through digital play). This feature will encourage your child to talk and vocalize more as they would be tempted to say words and sing songs just to hear it being repeated. This will give them the opportunity to explore different sounds. Don’t be surprised to hear your child giggling with amusement!

This feature may be particularly important and useful for young children who are not readily imitating sounds (here’s how imitation helps facilitate early speech development). The app has been identified as one that is used by parents and practitioners for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). I am in no way stating that this feature is a substitution for any traditional methods of speech therapy. But it has been shared that when used the right way, it is possible for this feature to be a good motivational and reinforcement tool for children. So try out the app and its features for yourself, and if necessary, do speak to an expert to get a professional opinion. (Read more about perspectives on technology use in speech-language pathology)

Apart from vocal imitation, the app also helps develop the child’s cognitive skills. The game has characters and instructions popping up on the screen at different times which helps improve joint attention, and challenges that test skills such as reflexes and problem solving. In this way it can facilitate cognitive development and learning.

Additionally, the app can teach your child to identify and respond to emotions, contributing to your child’s emotional socialization. Tom is expressive and lets you know what he needs through facial expressions and gestures. The app also indicates Tom's needs through pictures. This could be an opportunity for you to talk to your child about how to behave and respond when certain needs are felt and expressed.

A cause for concern

Among the many motions that are available on the app, there is the ability to touch Tom and get responses from him. You can gently pet him and he will purr. But you can also punch and poke him at any time (even when eating, sleeping, using the toilet). The cat reacts in pain, signals not to hit, or falls down. This might be something that small children find to be amusing. This feature promotes animal abuse, and encourages aggression towards animals, making your child think that it is okay to harm even when visible signs of pain are displayed.

The price of being free

The app is designed to keep you addicted to using it. Even after you close the app on the phone, the game will notify you in a few hours that Tom is either hungry, sleepy or that he needs to be played with. Another tactic that the game uses is its ads. In order for the user to collect points and advance to the next levels, it demands that you watch ads. Often it is after watching the ad that the opportunity to collect points is offered. Here, inappropriate ads for your child may play. While this app may come in handy to distract and entertain your child, caution should be taken to make sure the child does not get addicted. If you decide to download this for your child, it is advisable to monitor their activity.

Photo credits for header: The Cryd's Daily