See what Sky TV customers think about the Sky Kids app NOW CLOSED

[PoppyMumsnet]

This is the feedback thread for the MN testers who have been trying the Sky Kids app.

What is the Sky Kids app?
Sky say the Sky Kids app is - "a tablet app just for the kids and full of their favourite TV shows like Paw Patrol, Scooby Doo, Octonauts, Ben & Holly’s Little Kingdom, SpongeBob SquarePants and more – all available to watch on demand. The app lets you set up a personalised profile for each of your DCs with shows tailored to their age and their very own homepage with their name on it. And you and your DPs can set time limits and put the app to sleep whenever you want – YWBU not to!"
Find out more here

Testers, please download the Sky Kids app on your Apple or Android tablets and share your views on the following:

• How easy did you find it to use Sky Kids app?
• What was your DC’s favourite show and what did they like about the app?
• What did you think about the range of content available in the app?
• Which shows did your DCs enjoy watching?
• How did you find the personalisation options and which Sky Buddies did you and the DCs choose?
• What did you like most about the app?
• Would you recommend it to other parents and why?

Also, please add a review of the app in the Mumsnet reviews section. Please follow the review guidelines here.

Everyone who takes part and adds feedback as required will be entered into a prize draw where one tester will win a £300 voucher for the store of their choice (from a list - including Amazon, John Lewis, M&S, Mothercare, Argos, Debenhams, Tesco and loads more!).

Standard Insight T&Cs apply

•How easy did you find it to use Sky Kids app?
4 year old mastered it in seconds!
•What was your DC’s favourite show and what did they like about the app?
Favourite shows are icarly, pjmasks, scoobydoo and spongebob. They like that it is on the iPad and not as fiddly for them as the SkyGo app! I'm happier because it's all in one place for them :)
•What did you think about the range of content available in the app?
They each found something to watch when it was their turn, no complaints.
•Which shows did your DCs enjoy watching?
PJ masks is always a winner.
•How did you find the personalisation options and which Sky Buddies did you and the DCs choose?
Easier to find 'their' show with personalisation. Each choose a sky buddy that I noticed matched their personality.
•What did you like most about the app?
Kids shows all in one place
•Would you recommend it to other parents and why?
I would for handiness! Plus it saves fighting about who watches what on the tv.

How easy did you find it to use Sky Kids app?

Very easy and straight forward.

•What was your DC’s favourite show and what did they like about the app?

Dd1 - icarly
Ds - loud house

They both liked the fact that you can download things to watch in the car as their tablets are WiFi only

•What did you think about the range of content available in the app?

There is a wide range of content to watch across the channels

•Which shows did your DCs enjoy watching?

Pretty much everything!

•How did you find the personalisation options and which Sky Buddies did you and the DCs choose?

The ability to add a name is very good.

•What did you like most about the app?

Being able to download things to watch offline.

•Would you recommend it to other parents and why

Yes it is a really good app, full of content and easy to use

How easy did you find it to use Sky Kids app?

The app was easy to find and download, and incredibly easy to set up. My 3 year old can click onto it and start searching within minutes!

•What was your DC’s favourite show and what did they like about the app?

My daughter loves paw patrol so was very happy to see it on the app. They loved finding new shows and content they haven't previously seen before though!

•What did you think about the range of content available in the app?

The range is great and I love that you can stop access to certain channels if you believe your little one is too young. There is a great variety of shows, although more episodes of each show would be great.

•Which shows did your DCs enjoy watching?

Little baby bum, paw patrol, peppa pig, pj masks

•How did you find the personalisation options and which Sky Buddies did you and the DCs choose?

The personalisation options were tricky to find, but great - she went with the pink buddy of course!

•What did you like most about the app?

I loved that the shows were quick to load, there was a great variety and it was easy to navigate. There was no having to search for shows or wait for adverts - it felt safe for my toddler to use!

•Would you recommend it to other parents and why?

I'd definitely recommend the app if your little one loves to watch kids shows - there is a great variety of shows and it's safe to use without your little one clicking through to something dodgy.

•How easy did you find it to use Sky Kids app?
Pretty easy to set up and show him how to use it.

•What was your DC’s favourite show and what did they like about the app?
Team Umizoomi. He liked being able to choose what to watch and when to watch it.

•What did you think about the range of content available in the app?
Ok but I would have liked more options to select individual channels for access.

•Which shows did your DCs enjoy watching?
Paw Patrol, Blaze and the Monster Machines

•How did you find the personalisation options and which Sky Buddies did you and the DCs choose?
Not brilliant, I would have liked be able to pick out individual channels for him rather than doing it just by age. The blue skateboarding one!

•What did you like most about the app?
No inappropriate content to be stumped upon!

•Would you recommend it to other parents and why?
Yes, it's safe to use and although not as good as it could be it's still usable.

Apparently I'm not entitled to be in this now.
My favourite TV show as a child was Heidi. Why? It was very good and escapist I guess.

Non-tester here: playdays was my absolute favourite!

•How easy did you find it to use Sky Kids app?
Very easily
•What was your DC’s favourite show and what did they like about the app?
Paw patrol 🐾
Very easy for the kids to navigate
•What did you think about the range of content available in the app?
Great, only addition should be sky store purchases to link in
•Which shows did your DCs enjoy watching?
They watch a good mixture of all the shows
•How did you find the personalisation options and which Sky Buddies did you and the DCs choose?
Blue one for DS and pink for dd
•What did you like most about the app?
Bright colours nice design and simple to use
•Would you recommend it to other parents and why?
Yes, contents safe and easy for the child to choose themselves

Non-tester. My favourite programme from when I was a kid was Button Moon. It was a great show and you wanted to get the washing up bottles empty and grab the wooden spoons to join in.

Dangermouse
Loved that he was a super detective!

How easy did you find it to use Sky Kids app?
Very, very easy
•What was your DC’s favourite show and what did they like about the app?
Paw Patrol and they loved the variety of programmes available
•What did you think about the range of content available in the app?
Very good and varied
•Which shows did your DCs enjoy watching?
Paw Patrol, Ben & Holly, Octonaughts, Miles from Tomorrow, PJ Masks
•How did you find the personalisation options and which Sky Buddies did you and the DCs choose?
The personalisation was excellent as I have three children of different ages and they could go to their own profile to watch their favourite programmes
•What did you like most about the app?
Easy to use and kept kids entertained
•Would you recommend it to other parents and why?
Yes, it's TV on the go and sometimes that's what we need!!

How easy did you find it to use Sky Kids app?
Really easy when you have internet, even the 3 year old could use it straight away.
Impossible when it's off line. The app won't open without an internet connection, rendering the download facility utterly redundant.
What was your DC’s favourite show and what did they like about the app?
Blaze. Lots of choice and no adverts.
What did you think about the range of content available in the app
Good, lots of choice without being overwhelming.
Which shows did your DCs enjoy watching?
Blaze, Charlie & Lola, and for DD lots of things from Disney rather than the Disney Jr she normally watches
How did you find the personalisation options and which Sky Buddies did you and the DCs choose?
Very basic. One chose a red one, the other purple.
What did you like most about the app?
No home made videos of drivel, no was of accessing inapropriate things.
Would you recommend it to other parents and why?
If you want your DC to be able to watch different things without paying for multiroom, absolutely.
If you want to watch it out of home, avoid like the plague.
It also only saves your downloaded prigrammes to your app memory. No option of using an SD card, so don't bother if you want to use your tablet for anything else.

•How easy did you find it to use Sky Kids app?
Very easy indeed
•What was your DC’s favourite show and what did they like about the app?
Favourite shows are blaze and paw patrol. Occasionally spongebob
•What did you think about the range of content available in the app?
no complaints.
•Which shows did your DCs enjoy watching?
Blaze
•How did you find the personalisation options and which Sky Buddies did you and the DCs choose?
Easier to find shows he loves
•What did you like most about the app?
Kids shows all in one place
•Would you recommend it to other parents and why?
I would for handiness but nothing amazing

How easy did you find it to use Sky Kids app?

Super easy as did my 5 year old.

What was your DC’s favourite show and what did they like about the app?

She's watched quite a lot of CBeebies - left her with Charlie and Lola this morning and PJ Masks. She loves the app.

What did you think about the range of content available in the app?

Good range and I like the way it's laid out so really easy to find the shows she likes.

Which shows did your DCs enjoy watching?

Depending on her mood - Ben & Holly, Masha and the Bear, Sofia, Jake and the Neverland Pirates

How did you find the personalisation options and which Sky Buddies did you and the DCs choose?

She picked one blowing bubble gum - very easy to play about with them and swap features.

What did you like most about the app?

All in one place, her favourite shows on there and safer than YouTube which she likes to watch.

Would you recommend it to other parents and why?

Yes - for the reasons stated above

The app was easy to find on the tablet but it would have been even more brilliant on the phone.
My DS really enjoyed watching the Gruffalo and Paw Patrol. He is only 2 but he could choose what he wanted to watch and play it with no issues.
The content range was good and varied.
DS enjoyed watching paw patrol, the gruffalo and Mickey Mouse.
DS chose the red buddy wearing black glasses - he didn't really understand about giving it a name!
The app is easy to use and is intuitive for young people with lots of primary colours to make it engaging. The buttons are good and large which is perfect for little fingers.
Would definitely recommend- a good distraction if required!

How easy did you find it to use Sky Kids app?
Very straight. Forward
•What was your DC’s favourite show and what did they like about the app?
They loved Eleanor of Avalon, peppa and morph. The app is very straight forward and easy for kids
•What did you think about the range of content available in the app?
Good selection
•Which shows did your DCs enjoy watching?
Most of them!
•How did you find the personalisation options and which Sky Buddies did you and the DCs choose?
Not sure how of names but they enjoyed choosing. I would like to be able to pick specific programs as the categories for narrowing seemed too broad. 3 and 6 year old ended up with same selection.
•What did you like most about the app?
Choice and ease of use
•Would you recommend it to other parents and why?
Yes if you are a sky customer with kids it would be silly not to download the app.

I watched button moon and Care Bears loads when I was very small. I watched zap and biker grove as I got older. I think I loved biker grove as it was a bit like a mini soap.

How easy did you find it to use Sky Kids app?
Very easy for both DC (and myself) to use.

• What was your DC’s favourite show and what did they like about the app?
Shimmer and shine, paw patrol. They loved the way they could "change" channels like daddy does, and that they could chose from so many shows they enjoy.

• What did you think about the range of content available in the app?
Brilliant. Just perfect for mine with a lot of choice they won't get bored quickly.

• Which shows did your DCs enjoy watching?
Shimmer and shine, paw patrol, Blaze and pj masks.
• How did you find the personalisation options and which Sky Buddies did you and the DCs choose?
The options were cute. I thought there could've been a little more choice for the buddies but DD loved having her name come up and getting to choose her own buddy. She chose the pink buddy with heart glasses. I like that she can also dress up and change her buddy.

• What did you like most about the app?
That I don't have to worry about them finding different shows to watch and possibly stumbling upon something inappropriate, and that it's so easy for them to navigate by themselves with a lot of variety.

• Would you recommend it to other parents and why?
Absolutely (well to anyone with the right Sky package) I think it's a great app, and very appropriate for younger children with the content. It's also very easy to use and my DC feel like they have a bit of control over their viewing time, which they love.

•How easy did you find it to use Sky Kids app? Really easy which is good for kids
•What was your DC’s favourite show and what did they like about the app? Loved the fact could get all different channels on it. They both love anything on Disney Junior channel or nickelodeon like pj mask and blaze
•What did you think about the range of content available in the app? Great variety for everyone which is great
•Which shows did your DCs enjoy watching? Pj mask, blaze and the monster machine
•How did you find the personalisation options and which Sky Buddies did you and the DCs choose? Personalisation great with more than one kid. My daughters love they have own on it. My daughters picked one with head phones and one with heart glasses
•What did you like most about the app? Liked that kids have one log in and like variety of channels available to watch
•Would you recommend it to other parents and why? Yes it's great app for kids favorite shows if ain't on TV and they get to feel grow up with own log in and can't moan she's on mine ect

•How easy did you find it to use Sky Kids app?
Easy enough, as did both of my dc.

•What was your DC’s favourite show and what did they like about the app?

Paw Patrol and Shimmer and Shine! They liked that they could easily find what they wanted.

•What did you think about the range of content available in the app?
Good

•Which shows did your DCs enjoy watching?
Paw Patrol and Shimmer and Shine!

•How did you find the personalisation options and which Sky Buddies did you and the DCs choose?
Having their names there I liked a lot!

•What did you like most about the app?
Ease of use and knowing it was a safe environment for them to navigate around.

•Would you recommend it to other parents and why?
Yes- easy for the dc to use independently.

We have a sky subscription, but I am not even able to download the app. Apparantly my Samsung Note 3 is not compatible with the app :(

•How easy did you find it to use Sky Kids app?
It was extremely easy to navigate - really well designed.
•What was your DC’s favourite show and what did they like about the app?
My DS loves Charlie and Lola and he also liked the fun noises it makes when you are moving about in the app. We both liked how easy it is to use - big and clear!
•What did you think about the range of content available in the app?
There is a big range, although we are fairly devoted CBeebies watchers.
•Which shows did your DCs enjoy watching?
We also enjoyed a bit of Ben and Holly, Thomas and Friends and Peppa Pig (naturally)
•How did you find the personalisation options and which Sky Buddies did you and the DCs choose?
The personalisation is nice, and probably perfect if you have more than one child. We chose the blue chap with the skateboard.
•What did you like most about the app?
It's clear and really easy to use. I wouldn't have even looked for it, were it not for this test, so I'm really glad we have it.
•Would you recommend it to other parents and why?
I would - if you have the right Sky package, you've got nothing to lose. My DS liked the ease of watching his shows on the iPad and the funky little characters.

How easy did you find it to use Sky Kids app? Very easy - in fact my daughter was using it and had installed it without my help
•What was your DC’s favourite show and what did they like about the app? Paw patrol, and the ease of use
•What did you think about the range of content available in the app? Good

•How did you find the personalisation options and which Sky Buddies did you and the DCs choose? Didn't know about this, will take a look
•What did you like most about the app? Child-friendly, filters unsuitable content
•Would you recommend it to other parents and why?yes due to the peace of mind it gives me and the freedom it gives my dd
One disappointment: not being able to download

•How easy did you find it to use Sky Kids app?

It was VERY easy to use, set up and navigate. My children aged 6 and 9 had no problems doing this themselves!

•What was your DC’s favourite show and what did they like about the app?

My youngest loves Shimmer and Shine and my eldest enjoyed watching SpongeBob ! They really liked that they had their own profiles on there. It made them feel quite grown up and that they had control over their own programs.

•What did you think about the range of content available in the app?

A huge range available to watch! I liked that it was catered for individual profiles too.

•Which shows did your DCs enjoy watching?

At the moment they're watching Shimmer and Shine, Fairly Odd Parents and SpongeBob.

•How did you find the personalisation options and which Sky Buddies did you and the DCs choose?

They really enjoyed personalising their profiles. It makes it that more special to them. I'm not sure if the names of their characters. But one has headphones and the other is a little purple creature!

•What did you like most about the app?

The huge amount of shows available is amazing. They also play really well and is very child friendly when it comes to navigating.

•Would you recommend it to other parents and why?

Yes I definitely would! If it's to just get your TV back for ten minutes peace lol! The app has every popular show I can think of. Navigation is easy. Fun and colourful. A great kids app!

Non tester- my favourite TV programme from when I was a kid was Sabrina the Teenage Witch, I loved it so much!

How easy did you find it to use Sky Kids app?

Very and DS had it mastered in a few minutes.

What was your DC’s favourite show and what did they like about the app?

DS loves anything CN but is also still very much a fan of Disney jr and things like paw patrol.
At the moment he is big into something called 'walk the prank' and Pokemon.

What did you think about the range of content available in the app?

There was certainly a lot to keep DS busy.

Which shows did your DCs enjoy watching?

We watched the gruffalo for the 1000th time earlier, we are big fans are really enjoyed it.

How did you find the personalisation options and which Sky Buddies did you and the DCs choose?

DS loved it and spend ages personalising it. He's changed it several times already.

What did you like most about the app?

How simple it is to navigate.

Would you recommend it to other parents and why?

Yes, I really like when sky bring out new features, especially ones that are actually useful.