Super Kid-Friendly Apps for Smartphones
Marin Mommies presents another guest article by Marin Mom and writer Gabrielle Cullen.
From TV to DVDs to iPhones, iPads and other smart tools, parents are constantly monitoring what those little eyes see. Instead of fighting tooth and nail about something the kiddo finds online, get ahead of the game and have a top-notch, super kid-friendly folder of smart apps at the ready when media time is requested.
For ages 2 on up, there is a hefty amount of choices, including interactive storytelling, memory, color or number games and many hand/eye coordination games.
Check out this list of family friendly apps—all have been kid tested and parent approved!
Shake-n-Tell: Free, upgrades available for $1.99—all ages
Will the princess to save the prince next time your little ones are begging for a goodnight story? Cool new app Shake-N-Tell gives users various stories plots and endings, very Choose-Your-Own Adventure, and every night could mean a new tale. There are “flash card” prompts for characters and plot points. The app is free but there are advanced packages including the Princess Pack, the Space Pack and the Ghost Pack. There is even an recording option! Created by a stay-at-home writer dad, this should be the first one in the folder. Check it out.
MyPlayHome: $3.99—ages 1–7
Imagine a dollhouse where pieces never go missing and furniture is upgraded without any extra costs! This fantastic virtual dollhouse is easy enough for a 2 year old and still captivates an 8 year old who can feed whole families at the touch of a button. No extra upgrades make this a “totally worth the money” app. Check it out.
Giraffe’s Matching Zoo: Free—ages 3 and up
Like a super protein shake for the brain muscles, matching games let toddlers flex their power. Match the fun animals in Giraffe’s Zoo, accompanied by great sounds! Every two matches open up a Treasure Chest and FUN button. Check it out.
Wheels on the Bus: $0.99—ages 2 and up
What parent hasn’t sung this song a hundred times? Take it to the next level with this award-winning, parent’s choice interactive app, a musical book with all kinds of little tasks, such as spinning the wheels, opening and closing doors, swishing wipers and popping some bubbles. This one has a little of everything, from singing to games and coordination. Created by parents! Check it out.
Shape Builder: $0.99—ages 3–6
The kiddos drag colorful shapes and letters together in a puzzle situation. Like Tetris without the pieces disappearing! This app has over 1500 reviews and every one is a full five stars. Check it out.
More Pizza: $0.99—ages 3 and up
Who wouldn’t get a kick out of creating unique pizza over and over again? With 15 kinds of crusts, 13 sauces, and 57 toppings, this is hours of fun. Kids can even set an oven times and send snapshots of their favorite pizzas to the grandparents. Just don’t play this one on an empty stomach, it’s been known to cause pizza cravings! Check it out.
First Word Animals: $1.99—ages 2 and up
Little birds in the sky will drop Scrabble-like tiles into place, offering little bookworms-in-training a crack at spelling. Check it out.
Scribble Lite: Free—ages 4 and up
With tons of colors, pen sizes, and draw-on photo options, the possibilities are endless. Not to mention it’s kinda fun to shake an Iphone to wipe the slate clean. Check it out.
Koi Pond: $0.99—all ages
One of the very first smartphone apps, this soothing setup allow kids to touch the water, make it rain, feed the Koi Fish and change the background of the pond. New updates add finger nibbling fish and a holiday mode. Great for creating quiet time. Check it out.
Wacky Safari: Free—ages 2–5
A fun mix and match of images allows kids to line up over 40 matching animal pictures, all while hearing jokes and jungle-worthy roars. Cool wacky “phone” game, kids can call different animals! Check it out.
What’s your favorite app for kids? Let us know!
Photo: iStockPhoto