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Best iPad apps for toddlers
Looking to entertain a baby for a few minutes? There's an app for that. Here are 10 iPad apps perfectly suited to the 2 and under set.
Tue, Jun 05 2012 at 8:00 AM
Photo: umpcportal.com/Flickr.com
While the debate rages on about whether you should let your baby use your iPad (or give your baby her own iPad,) the fact is, if you have a young child and an iPad, there will likely come a time when the two will cross paths. Fortunately, there are lots of great apps made specifically for your iPad that can keep baby entertained on a plane, in a restaurant or at the doctor's office. Here's a list of readers' top 10 favorites:
1. 5-in-1 Kids Pack HD. If your little one loves matching games, this is the app for her. Lots of matching games are included, and you can customize each one by the size of the grid, timing and types of objects to be matched — numbers, pictures, letters. (iTunes, $1)
2. AlphaBaby. This simple app is great for even the youngest of babies. Kids can touch the screen and a letter (or number, or shape) will appear. If they touch again, they will see a new image. A voice says the name of the letter, number or shape out loud when it's touched. It may sound kinda dull, but to a little one, it's just the right kind of cool. (iTunes, $1)
3. Bubbles. It's a scientific fact that kids love to pop bubbles (just ask any scientist who has kids.) And that's all this app aims to do. There's no teaching, no repeating, just the ultimate in super-fun bubble-popping distraction. Go ahead, just try and tear your toddler away. (iTunes, $1)
4. Drawing Pad. This app is like a virtual arts and crafts kit for kids. Tots can choose from crayons, pencils, brushes and big fat erasers. Oh, and don't forget the stickers — lots and lots of stickers that kids can layer in their drawing as they see fit, or delete at will. (iTunes, $2)
5. Fish School. This cool app includes lots of fun activities for kids working hard to master the basics. Toddlers can name numbers and letters, guess colors, and play memory matching games. (iTunes, $2)
6. I Hear Ewe. This fun app includes 24 animal cards, and 12 vehicle cards, each identified by name and by sound. It's like a 'See and Say' toy for next generation. And for the price, you can't beat it! (iTunes, Free)
7. Squiggles. This app is marketed for toddlers and preschoolers, but I'm pretty sure my older kids (and even my husband) would fight to play it if they could. This fun app makes a child's hand drawn "squiggles" come to life — from a wiggly line to a sheep's wool, a curly bear, rocket smoke ... you name it. Best part? It's free! (iTunes, Free)
8. Peekaboo Barn. This app is a fun animal recognition game featuring all of your toddlers favorite critters, including pigs, roosters, cows, goats and more. And of course, this game wouldn't be complete without the playful version of "Old MacDonald Had a Farm" tinkling in the background. (iTunes, $3)
9. The Monster At The End of This Book. This is one of my girls' favorite books, so I just knew the app would be a winner. Kids can read the story and use the interactive features to untie knots, knock down walls, and help Grover overcome his fear of monsters. (iTunes, $4)
10. Toddler Counting. How fun could it possibly be to count? Count cows. Count sheep. Count strawberries. This app not only counts along with you, but it applauds when you're done. That's pretty darned fun for a 2-year-old. (iTunes, $1)
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"A new way to teach your child music. You will be happy by seeing your kids learning music on their own by just using iPad app.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/jazzy-world-tour-free-musical/id57490952..."
Great article! My 2 year old daughter loves FarmYard Piano for iPad
You get to play animals as a musical instrument
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/farmyard-piano/id537768014?mt=8
There is one more fantastic application, that my kids love: It's the Totoya creatures, a cool iPhone and iPad application http://www.totoyacreatures.com/ let's try it, it specialized for toddlers.
I want to recommend Pic-a-boo iPad app for the little ones. Great design and my kid loves it
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/pic-a-boo/id567474459?mt=8
We just launched an update version of Tactilly, the ipad app inspired by my toddler. You can add "audio hotspots" to any image and we include a default album of animals drawn by Karen Dessire, a wonderful illustrator (hrtislove.com).
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/tactilly-give-your-photos/id545810965?ls...
Oh, and please feel free to send any feedback to alex@tactilly.com!
Toddler Seek & Find is the bee's knees. Whimsically drawn, wonderfully quirky little scenes where almost everything is interactive. Make circus performers do little tricks and a band of frogs play tunes, tap a helicopter and it flies around, tap a dog and it barks and tugs it's owner over backwards. Feed ducks, pop toast, the little scenes within the scene are fantastic. We have all of them!
Wow !! These are great apps and are really entertaining to kids. I have also made such an app. Here is the link :- http://www.svindals.com/appnweb/apps/thescarybearphant/ . Please give your reviews about this app !! Thanks
Fun and entertaining enough to keep toddler occupied while standing in the grocery store line, yet still soothing and educational.
Natural Tots http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/natural-tots/id547264523?mt=8&uo=4
or
Merry Cherub http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/merry-cherub/id518189755?mt=8&uo=4
These apps have great nature photography and original illustrations and music. They are easy to use for Toddler or baby in just seconds they are having fun.
Try words with tots, by a company that cares about child education
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/words-with-tots/id550076523?mt=8
This app may be of interest too. The toddler or infant touches the screen and feedback is instantly presented. http://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/dinochime/id546414474?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D2
Hello Folks !
I hope I will be in the list in the future ;)
Jack the Greedy Snake
Kisses !
Jack
Nice article!
Our girl likes playing with Happy Pets. There the kids guess animals by their images, sounds they make & food they eat. The game's free & really beautiful. Here's the link to it in Appstore: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/happy-pets/id513271905?mt=8
My fave app for my baby is High Contrast Shapes, Letters, and Numbers. Here is the link: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/high-contrast-shapes-letters/id521485281?... It includes the alphabet, numbers, and high contrast shapes for visual learning.
i love Squiggles too! I will try playing with dolphins and my daughter loves baby tap and learn, she is 3 - http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/baby-tap-learn/id520540178?mt=8
Great article,
Playing with Dolphins is a favorite at our house. You might want to add it to your list.