October 21, 2013

Technology and Education: Great Apps for Kids

So, last week I talked about technology and how to approach it when it comes to our kids. The truth is, there is a lot of great stuff out there, especially in terms of apps. Josephine and I have some favorite i-Pad apps that are both educational and a whole lot of fun. And the great thing? Every single one is under $5!





1. Endless Alphabet - $4.99 - This app is by far our favorite - there are tons of words, and each one lets Jo drag the letters into place and then shows a cute video with the definition. Also, as you drag the letter, it makes its sound - now Josie points to letters she says and makes the sound by herself! It's great for pre-readers and I'm kinda in love with it. 


2. Bebop Blox - $2.99 - This app comes from the same people that made Endless Alphabet, which is the reason why we initially bought it. It has kids drag blocks in the correct order to complete the puzzle. It's great for matching, as well as developing motor skills - it took Jo a few tries to get a hang of it, but I was surprised by how persistent she was!


3. Miss Spider's Tea Party - $2.99 - There are tons of storybook apps out there, but this is by far our favorite. Not only do you get to listen to the story, but you can also do coloring pages, play games, and do puzzles. It's really interactive, highlights the words as it reads them, and is an adorable story. 


4. Barefoot World Atlas - $4.99 - This colorful and beautifully illustrated app has won tons of awards and is great for all ages - not just toddlers! Kids can explore different locations, and get introduced to wildlife, buildings, and landmarks all around the globe. 


5. Peekaboo Fridge - $1.99 - The very first app we got for Jo was actually Peekaboo Barn, but this was the second. As much I love Peekaboo Barn, this app cracks me up so bad, I had to add it. When Josie taps the fridge, it opens up to reveal a new food inside (and they're all healthy!) and it says and displays that foods name. And they make weird sounds, which is the funny part. 


6. Peekaboo People starring Richard Scary's Busytown - $1.99 - This app is exactly like Peekaboo Fridge and Peekaboo Barn (we also have Peekaboo Trick-or-Treat and Peekaboo Forest, because we're a little out of control), but it has Richard Scary characters. Since I'm in love with Richard Scary illustrations, I couldn't pass this up. All of the Peekaboo apps are very simple, but great starter apps for toddlers and preschoolers. 


7. WWF Together - free - This app isn't marketed towards kids, but Josephine loves it, and so do Eric and I. Each month it spotlights a new animals and has videos, facts and pictures for that animal. Josie loves the polar bear and I'm partial to the orangutan. Best of all, it's completely free and it opens your eyes to the plights of many endangered species throughout the planet. 


8. Sesame Street Family Play - $0.99 - Although this app is brought to you by Sesame Street, the games aren't all Sesame Street themed. I love it, though, because it provides fun things to do with your kid while you're waiting at the doctor's office, riding in the car, or just hanging out. Each activity encourages kid and parent participation, which is awesome. 

So, those are our eight favorites - I'm sure there are plenty more out there, too! 

What are your (and your kids') favorite educational iPad apps?

1 comment:

  1. Oo! I'm going to have to go check these out. We got an iPad just a few months ago and I tried out a few apps with Evie, but she wasn't very interested. Maybe I'll try again now that she's a bit older and seems pretty interested in learning about colors and shapes, etc. now. Thanks!

    Also, there is a free toy story storybook app to Miss Spider's Tea Party in that it lets you color and plays music, etc.

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