We were sent a list of Top Travel Apps for Kids on iPad or iPhone, put together by mobile phone experts Recombu.
As we’ve already featured some of their choices in earlier reviews, I decided to check out 5 apps that Ezra (5) and Jed (2) hadn’t yet tried.
Fish School HD, £1.49
Designed by Duck Duck Moose, creators of super popular apps like The Wheels on the Bus and Itsy Bitsy Spider, this is a simple but fun educational app that uses form-changing fish to teach shapes, letters and numbers. There are also modes for colours, free play and a matching game. Fish School kept both Ezra and Jed busy, and remarkably calm (lovely classical music in the background) on a long train ride recently so it gets ‘2 fins up’ from mama.
Tozzle – Toddler’s favourite Puzzle, £1.49
I don’t think you’ll find a better app for a long journey than Tozzle, which has 39 different puzzle pages ranging from pretty pictures, to animals, letters and numbers. It’s great for shape recognition and motor skills, and it’s also addictive (in the best way). I couldn’t help getting in on the action and the makers do say Tozzle is aimed at ages 2 to 99.
Winnie the Pooh Puzzle Book, £0.69
Maybe it’s because they love the old bear but this was a definite favourite for the boys. You follow Pooh on his quest for honey pots, helping him collect pots as you go with 4 different puzzles to arrange. The animation’s really cute with silly sounds and the babes always giggle when Pooh’s belly rumbles. You can also record your own or your child’s voice reading the tale. A simple app with classic appeal and a great price too.
Crayola Colour Studio HD, Free
I love the idea behind this app that offers loads of colouring pages that you can fill in using your finger or a Crayola iMarker stylus. Sadly the babes found it too frustrating, as they had to press hard to make a mark and they kept asking for the pen, which apparently is not yet available in the UK (and costs £30?!). Out of all the apps, this is the most likely to get deleted.
ABC PocketPhonics £1.99
I’m seriously impressed by this app. Within minutes of using it, my 2-year-old was writing recognisable letters on the iPad! It helps teach reading with phonics using more than 170 words, letters and sound combinations. It also teaches writing by tracing your finger along dotted lines to make letters. There’s even a mode for cursive writing if your child’s ready for joined-up letters. ABC PocketPhonics is an essential app for pre-schoolers, whether you’re on the move or stuck at home. Brilliant.
We can also recommend these other apps on Recombu’s list:
Create a Car
Dr. Seuss
Talking Tom
Flick Football
Itsy Bitsy
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Some great apps here, have a few of these all ready but i think i will get the first two that you mentioned.. That is if i can get the iPad from the 2 yo…
Hey Frankie, yeah I was especially pleased with the phonics app as you can tell. A real winner, that said the boys are all about Pooh!