Kid-tested, parent-approved Apps!
As a parent, it can be really difficult to navigate the world of Apps when looking for something for your child. Is it age-appropriate? Is it safe? Is there an educational component, or is it purely for fun?
Raising Yuma decided to venture out into those waters, and here's what we found. It's a selection of apps tested first by Yuma parents, and then test-driven by our kids. The list below are the ones that both parents and kids enjoyed.
Keep in mind a few pointers along the way:
• Make sure to turn off in-app purchases before turning your device over to your kid. There's nothing worse than finding a big charge on your account for something odd like Smurfberries. Along those same lines, make sure your child doesn't know your password to download new apps. Otherwise, you may find a hefty, unexpected charges on your account.
• We found it helpful to create a separate screen for the kids on our devices. That way, our stuff remained (mostly) intact, and the kid had a zone of her own to go to when it was time for play.
• Be sure to set up boundaries for play. In our house, it's OK to play with the iPad on long road trips. However, at a restaurant, the iPad doesn't get to come inside. Make sure that your family has rules in place to suit your needs and values.
• Make sure you try each app before turning it over to your child. Some apps may be too advanced for some kids, or your kid may be too advanced for the app. Either way, that can create frustration and boredom. Rather than watching your child mash the screen in frustration, give it a try first yourself to make sure that the app is right for your little one.
Ant Smasher
This free game is great fun for all ages – simple to play, easy to understand. The principle? Smash the ants, not the bees, to earn points. Best of all? It's free.
Ages 2 and up
Free
Animal Chatter
This educational game combines fabulous HD imagery with the appropriate animal sounds. Ever wondered what a rhino sounds like? Now you can find out. Categories include Mammals, Birds, Insects & Herps and more!
Ages 2 and up
$.99
Dora and Diego
There are a variety of Diego and Dora-related educational apps out there, and we've enjoyed each one we've tried. ABCs, for example, focuses on your child's reading skills using familiar characters they love.
Ages 2-6
$.99-$3.99
Doodle Buddy
Unleash your little artist with this fun app that allows kids to create pictures using their fingers, as well as decorate existing pictures with stamps, stencils and drawings.
Ages 2 and up
Free
FirstWords Animals
Great for any age, this app teaches kids letter recognition, and for older children, it serves as a good teaching tool for spelling and reading.
Ages 3-6
$.99
Montessori Crosswords
Help kids develop their reading, writing and spelling skills with this phonics-based app, which has a variety of levels to grow with your child's skills.
Ages 3-6.
$2.99
Super Why!
Based on the popular PBS series, Super Why! takes kids on a fun adventure on the road to reading.
Ages 3-6.
$2.99
Pickle's Dolls
This sweet app lets kids unleash their inner fashionista, styling the paper dolls from the tops of the heads to the tips of their toes.
Ages 2 and up
$1.99
Shark Dash
Physics plays a key role in figuring out this app. The goal is to clear the board of the ducks and coins, in as few turns as possible, while avoiding the hazards and obstacles along the way.
Ages 5 and up
Free
AniMatch
This app is just like Memory, only each match is rewarded with the appropriate animal sound! It's simple and fun, with creative graphics and entertaining sound effects.
Ages 2 and up
$0.99
Hungry Fish
We started with the addition side of this app, and within the hour, my preschooler was rocking out simple equations. It's fast-paced, easy way to learn basic math skills. Other levels include subtraction and negatives.
Ages 4 and up
$6.99
Caboodle Doodle
Create unique works of art with a variety of brushes, from traditional to ladybug feet to a rolling marble across the surface of your “canvas.” This fun, creative app also features stencils and a variety of colors.
Ages 2 and up
$0.99
Songify
Simply put, Songify turns speech into music, much to the delight of both young and old alike.
Ages 2 and up
Free
Read Me Stories
Does your child love to be read to? Then this is the right app to download! It features a new free book every day, with the option of buying an additional “library” of stories.
Ages 2 and up
Free
Alien Buddies
Four different games will exercise your little one's brain, with matching games, puzzles, dot-to-dot connecting, and stickers for creative fun.
Ages 3-7
$1.99
Where's My Water?
Another physics-based game, kids will have to use creative problem-solving skills to get the water down to the alligator who is waiting to take a shower.
Ages 4 and up
$0.99
Bugs and Buttons
Of all the apps we've tested, this was my favorite, hands down. Featuring 18 games and activities, the app allows kids to exercise their imaginations while still learning different skills, like counting, sorting, patterns and more.
Ages 2 and up
$2.99
Monkey Math
Give your child a leg up in the math department with this fast-paced math game that rewards achievements with digital stickers. Games rotate throughout the levels, from addition and subtraction to shapes and sequences. It also looks at the concepts of less and more, and a variety of other early math skills.
Ages 3-6
$0.99
