Educational iPad Apps for Young Learners

I’ve had some great responses to my iPad Apps for kids, so I wanted to put up a post with some of our newest favorites!

The ABC’s of God by readtheWord. This is such a fun game, and one of my favorites! Even the older kids like this one, it covers all 26 letters of the alphabet through 290+ activities!

 

Quizzing Toddler Preschool by Toddler Teasers. This is the Teeny Tot’s latest favorite. It is $1.99 and has several different sections to pick from. She can choose shapes, colors, letters, or numbers. It quizzes her on the items, then once she finishes each level, she gets to choose  sticker to add to her virtual sticker book! Very cute!

 

Memory+: by cafesummer: This is a great memory game. It has great graphics, and challenging memory levels. It plays just like a regular memory card game, you tap the card to flip it over, looking for matches. Another top pick by the Teeny Tot.

 

Six Towers by AlphaWeb Plus LLP: This is a fun tower building game that is similar to solitaire. Each game consists of different colored brick towers that have been shuffled around. You can only move bricks between columns according to two rules. Rule 1: Move any upper brick to an empty column. Rule 2: Put any upper brick over the larger brick with the same color. The goal of the game is to get all eight towers built with it’s largest brick on bottom, and smallest bricks on top in size order. Each brick is numbered, for example you can place a 3 red brick on top of a 4 red brick.  It’s a great game of logic and one of Turbo’s favorite picks!

 

Times Table Lab by Simulant. This game is one of Strawberry Shortcake’s picks this month.  The game is a timed game where kids can practice their times tables. They are presented with a times table and numbered balls drop down. The player then drags the numbered ball to the correct spot on the times table grid. Each correct answer gives the player a point. The game is over if 5 balls are stacked on the screen, or the player runs out of “wrong” answers. Levels go from a 5×5 table all the way up to a 12×12 table.

 

Books We Enjoy:

In honor of national reading month of March and the release of Dr. Seuss’ Lorax, I wanted to share some of our favorite Dr. Seuss iPad books with you and a new free way to read on your iPad or iPhone!

Online Library:

If you haven’t had a chance yet, check your local library website. Most libraries are now offering free eBooks to check out on your iPad or iPhone! You sign in with your library card like usual, check out your e-book, then when it’s due you simply e-return it! And the best part is that it’s free! What a great resource for young readers to have at your finger-tips!

Here are some links to help you get started:

• How to check out a Public Library book to read on your iPad.
• OverDrive Media Console
• Kindle iPad App

 

The Lorax by Oceanhouse Media

 

There’s a Wocket in My Pocket

 

There’s No Place Like Space

 

Preschool iPad Favorites

Tozzle: This is a fun puzzle app by nodeflexion.com. They have a lite and full version featuring over 39 puzzles. It’s a Teeny Tot approved and top listed app!

 

Shape Builder by Darren Murtha Design. This is another one of the Teeny Tot’s favorites, it features several puzzles with easy to move shapes that snap into place. The full version features 146 puzzles for just $0.99!

 

First Words by Learning Touch. This is one of our favorites as well, and I’ve featured it before. It costs $1.99 and features 174 word games including animals, vehicles, colors, shapes, and common words from around the house. You can also choose skill levels, the one below is a beginner level to help your preschooler practice matching the letters.

 

Online Safety:

Now, with the onset of all of this technology, I wanted to make sure we were being safe as well. I recently received an email from PBS KIDS, and with their permission I requested to share it with you all as well!

According to a recent PBS KIDS survey, nearly a quarter of parents of 2 – 10 year olds will find a second life for their personal tech devices by handing down to their kids.  Multi-iPad families are becoming the norm, but how do we keep kids safe when using the tablets? 

Before putting these interactive devices into kids’ hands for the bells and whistles of the newer version, parents should prep the devices for kids’ use with the following tips from PBS KIDS:

1. Sweep it: All devices should be cleaned of any content including personal files, credit card information, etc. before handing down to kids. Parents should swipe all their browser “cookies” and perform an application sweep.

2. Secure it: There are parental controls on most tech devices that can turn certain features on and off. Settings on the iPhone, for example, that can be restricted include explicit song titles, Internet browser, YouTube, iTunes and the camera.

3. Set limits: As with any new toy, parents should set expectations and limitations with their kids when the device is handed down, and should encourage other forms of learning and play beyond the screen.

4. Find the right apps for your child: A good app is the perfect combination of education and entertainment, and should be appropriate for your child’s age and stage of development.

5. Avoid apps that try to sell: Apps labeled “lite” or “free” often attempt to make money by trying to sell virtual items while a child is playing a game, or link to another related app that requires payment to download. Select apps from trusted, reliable sources, and make sure that they are not trying to market to your child.

 

Here are some more of my favorite iPhone Apps if you need more ideas!

Math Bingo, Montessori Crosswords, Words With Friends, Move It, Fish School, Rocket Math, Solitaire City, Stack the States, Starfall ABC’s, Preschool Connect the Dots, iJewels, Jewel Bling Free, Sudoku, Zaner-Bloser Handwriting, Shape Builder, Hangman Classic, SkyView, SpinArt, Tic-Tac-Toe, Word Wagon, Bob Books, Cookie Doodle, Living Earth, Sky Burger,  abc Pocket Phonics

I hope you enjoyed this month’s iPad Educational App picks! I’d love to hear your favorites, so make sure to leave a comment below!