Candepop

Whether you think they are educational or that screen time is an absolute no-no for toddlers, the reality is that most toddlers will at some stage get a smart phone in their sticky mitts. If only to allow mommy or daddy five more minutes with their latte, or to keep the great escape imitations to a minimum during nappy changes.

To do a top ten of kids apps these days would be nearly impossible. The market has exploded; bringing with it some amazing, creative and educational apps. But also a slew of junk that any parent would be loathe to present to their future Steve Jobs.

So, (having received a request to do a top apps post) the best I can do is the top apps on my phone. This list is based on usage by toddler Cal combined with apps which I am happy to see him playing with as I feel he may learn something from them too. 

Peekaboo Barn - The Peekaboo series from Night and Day Studios are wonderfully easy to use, introducing new words and animal sounds and have been gleefully received by any toddler I have seen using them.

Alphabeast - Created by a local Irish team this alphabet app from illustrator Chris Judge, James Kelleher and Simon Judge brought some style and class to a world of lazy alphabet app creators who felt that stock photos and bad fonts were acceptable for toddlers who knew no better.

Pi'ikea Street Interactive Alphabet - You really can’t have too many alphabet apps, as long as they’re good ones. Toddler’s second favourite and another definite help in learning all about letters.

Dr Seuss - We have a number of Dr Seuss apps. Oceanhouse Media have taken the wonderful rhyming and illustration and converted them into simple but slick apps which toddler has frequently chosen to use, even over cartoons on YouTube.

Anorak Magazine - An app which really is beyond Cal’s range but yet he loves it anyway. In true magazine style this contains stories, things to draw, things to do, games…plenty to keep little ones busy through lengthy car trips.

Toca Boca - The creators of the Toca Boca series of apps have found the magic formula for pre school apps, no language. Lots of hand eye co ordination, lots of fun but all the characters say is erm, oooh and various noises that Cal thinks is hilarious as he cuts hair, feeds monsters or builds robots.

Montessorium Intro to Letters / Maths - I love the Montessorium apps and luckily toddler does too. Following Montessori methods these are designed to teach kids numbers and letters and are presented in a simple but stylish format. Our early use of these apps was very much mummy and toddler together but Cal has picked up enough that he will go in and out of the various sections and call for me when he has trouble completing a task.

Numberland - not an early favourite of mine but for Cal thinks some of the voices and sounds are hilarious and takes great joy in repeating back “one giant foot!” and various other phrases as he clicks through the numbers. He also doesn’t seem phased when he accidentally chooses one of the multi lingual options, playing away anyway. I have hopes for French learned by osmosis but so far nothing…

A Charlie Brown Christmas - A classic, now in app form which we are both happy to play with all year round and often is taken out purely for a dance to the excellent music from Vince Guaraldi.