Favorite Toddler Apps

  Technology is a big part of today and will be an even bigger part of our future.  When I was teaching, technology was used daily in the classroom. Not only did I use it in my lessons, but students also used it daily. Whether on the computer, using tablets with educational programs or using an interactive SMARTBoard. As soon as I felt AG was old enough to start using the iPad, we let her. This was around 18 months. Over the past 12 months of using the iPad, she’s learned a lot from some fabulous apps out there. She has a time each day when she’s allowed to play (supervised) on her iPad. My goal is to make sure the apps she has access to are not only age appropriate but apps that she can learn from. Over the past year, we’ve found some pretty amazing apps that I can’t wait to share with you today.

First, the just for fun apps. While she still learns with the following apps, they’r more for fun and have a higher entertainment level to them. They are apps she can navigate on her own, without my help.

Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood: We’re big Daniel Tiger fans. This is a great app for exploring his neighborhood and spending time with Daniel Tiger.

PBS Kids:  Your little can watch their favorite PBS shows using this app.

Strawberry Shortcake Puppy Palace: This app is really cute. The littles get to help Strawberry Shortcake take care of her puppies. They give baths, pick out bows and feed them.

Peek-a-Zoo: This was one of AG’s favorites from 18 months to 2.5 years. It’s a great way to learn animals along with animal sounds. The graphics in the app are superb.

Peek-a-Boo Barn: Another fun animal app for littles. Easy to use, engaging and lots of different animal sounds to learn.

 

Now for the educational side of things. These are apps she learns from. Apps that I help her with in the beginning until she’s able to use them on her own.

Tiny Hands Lotto: This is one of the first educational apps AG really “got.” It’s a matching game. There is a variety of different categories of cards to match. Littles tap the card and have to match the card to one shown above. Hubs and I were amazed when AG successfully sorted and matched her first set at 18 months. This app is great for little learners.

Tiny Hands Towers 1:  Children build towers and learn how to sort by size. This is another app AG has been using since 18 months and still enjoys at 2.5 years. This app teaches about size and ordering from largest to smallest.

Endless Alphabet:  This is a pricier app, at $6.99 but one I would recommend for learning letters. This app is well designed and very entertaining for littles. Not only does it teach letters, it also teaches sounds.

Fish School:  This app teaches letters, numbers, colors, shapes and more. It’s engaging with it’s underwater theme and fish swimming in to form the letters, numbers, etc.

Elmo Loves ABC’s: Another great app for teaching ABC’s. What I like about this one is they have the littles trace the letters before they’re able to open some of the fun things that go along with, like a video. AG’s favorite part about the app are the videos that go with the letters. Sometimes she gets frustrated tracing the letters, so it’s one that I always do with her. I know as she gets older, it will get easier for her to use on her own.

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There you have it, the most used apps on our iPad. Of course, I am a believer to putting a limit on screen time each day.  As with many things in life, moderation is key. AG is allowed to use hers while she eats breakfast, which is her brothers longest nursing session. She’ll sit quietly, eat and play. I can keep an eye on her, while catching up with what’s going on in the real world from The Today Show.  I’m always looking for tried and true apps for littles, please share your favorites with me!