Tiny Fingers, Big Fun: Our Favorite Kids’ iPad Apps
July 30, 2012
Hand your iPad to a small child, and you can be sure their eyes will immediately widen as they realize the simple but intense joy of what we (boring) adults call “touchscreen computing.” The bright, responsive screen is like an imagination-magnet for little kids, who take to tablets like fish to water. But if your device is devoid of any quality children’s iPad apps, expect to find your app drawer and e-mail account a mess when you pry it out of your companion’s tiny hands. Here are some of our favorite iPad apps designed specifically for the youngest iPad users out there, which will keep a curious kid busy poking and swiping for hours.
PBS Kids Video (Free) – Over 1,000 videos (with more added each week) from your kids’ favorite PBS programming populate this great free app. Drawing on popular titles like Curious George, Sesame Street, and The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That, the focus of PBS Kids Video is to entertain as well as educate from within an environment that a little one can navigate easily on their own.
Squiggles! (Free) – This drawing app embraces the newness of drawing as a creative outlet by providing several pre-made scenes for the user to interact with, rather than just blank pages and virtual crayons. What are just “squiggles” in Squiggles! become rocket exhaust, sheep’s wool, waves, and other parts of a story that continues to progress as you play.
Dr. Seuss Book Collection ($11.99) – Who doesn’t dig Dr. Seuss? It’s time for another generation to discover the work of this legendary series of books, and not just by flipping the pages. Each of these five famous stories includes narration, dynamically highlighted text, and interactive sequences to enjoy while reading or being read to.
Peekaboo Barn ($1.99) – Even in the digital age, you can’t keep kids away from farm animals and the wacky sounds they make. Tap on the doors of the iconic red Peekaboo Barn to reveal animated cows, sheep, and other favorites, who mooo and baaaa to the delight of tiny ears everywhere. While the app includes built in English and Spanish narrators of its own, you can also record the names of the animals in your own voice, or install additional language packs at the cost of $.99 for five European languages or four Asian languages.
Alphabeast ($2.99) – This isn’t your average set of alphabet flash cards. Instead, Alphabeast is a set of 26 stylish, hand-drawn interactive scenes made to represent each letter of the alphabet, based on the quirky kids’ book, The Lonely Beast. Each has a noise-making, playful element of its own, such as a playable Drum kit, or a dancing Robot to touch and smile at.
Dibu’s Monster Maker ($1.99) – Help a half-pint take back the night with this adorable what’s-under-the-bed simulator, also known as Dibu’s Monster Maker. This app challenges you to get creative with over 250 cartoon parts, mixing and matching them to build your own unique monsters. The resulting creatures are more friendly than scary, outfitted with accessories like Converse sneakers and colorful t-shirts, so there’s no need to worry about nightmares when the iPad light goes out.
Toca House ($1.99) – The designers at software studio Toca Boca have gotten up to something diabolical: they’ve set out to convince kids that doing chores is actually exciting. Part Sims, part mini-game collection, the residents of Toca House have a lack of motivation when it comes to cleaning up their a mess, and only you (or your favorite toddler) can help them do the dishes, mop the floor and mow the overgrown lawn. Vibrant illustrations bring the Toca-world beaming to life, and the wacky sounds and animations make what might otherwise seem mundane seem…fun!
Alexei Bochenek is a lifelong tech nerd & film buff based in Los Angeles. When he’s not playing with his phone, it’s because the movie has started. Shhhhh!
