- iPod iPhone App Kid - S.McGrath
Inexpensive, yet sophisticated smartphone apps for children can be addicting. It's so easy to download, for a dollar or two, a fun iPod, iPhone, or Android app to entertain and educate our children when they might otherwise feel bored and restless (i.e., waiting for big sister to get done with ballet class).
Earlier this year, I created a list of my children's favorite apps at the time. Below, you'll find our latest selection of recommendations from among the 45 apps we've tested. I've tried to narrow down the list to the best of the best.
Favorite Apps for Children: Toca Boca
Toca Boca apps have bumped PBS apps out of first place as favorites among all of my children ages 3 to 9. These games are educational and entertaining in varying proportions.
- Toca Doctor - Play doctor and solve fun puzzles.
- Paint My Wings - Paint beautiful wings with mirror pattern effect.
- Toca Hair Salon - Cut, color, blow dry, style cute character lifelike hair.
- Toca Store - Turn your phone into a store play set.
- Toca Robot Lab - Make a cool robot from bits of scrap.
- Helicopter Taxi - Answer calls and pilot the helicopter taxi.
- Parenting's Birthday Party Playtime - Have a birthday party.
You can watch trailers and see screenshots on the Toca Boca website.
Favorite Educational Apps for Children: Math and Science
- MathGirl Addition House - Girly math: Add flowers and bugs to earn hearts.
- Multiplication & Division Flash Cards - What it sounds like. My 9-year-old loves it.
- Sid's Science Fair - A new PBS app engages kids in experiential science learning.
- SimplePhysics - A fun physics construction game.
- Physics apps
Favorite Apps for Children: Puzzles, Music, and Others
- Albert - A series of puzzles utilizing the microphone and tilting functions.
- Calling All KneeBouncers - A pretend phone for your littlest one.
- ComicBook! - Create your own comics from photos with effects.
- First Bird Book - A first field guide with bird calls, animations, and photos.
- MusicalMe! - A fun music learning app for little kids.
- Weird But True - A book of weird facts.
A Kid-Tough iPhone Case
When I discovered how much my young children enjoy the iPod, I was somewhat concerned about possible damage my kids might do to the device. Here's what I recommend and have found effective for warding the iPod against enthusiastic use.
The Griffin FlexGrip Action case covers your iPod/iPhone in grippable rubber with thick rubber edges and a wrist strap for attaching the device to your child. Anti-Glare Film gives your iPod screen an anti-scratch surface.
You might also enjoy: Smartphone, iPod Touch, and iPhone Apps for Children
Sara McGrath - Sara is a veteran homeschool mom of three, Usborne consultant, and the author of Unschooling: A Lifestyle of Learning.
