When my brother got his iPad for Christmas last year he had no idea that it would soon be commandeered by your two children. So this year when thinking of things to ask for from Santa, he thought it’d be awesome if Santa just brought the kids their own iPad mini. Problem solved!
Since the kids opened up their new iPad I’ve been on the hunt for great apps to load for them. Here is a list of the 10 best iPad apps for preschoolers that we’ve found and enjoyed over the past few weeks!
10 Best iPad Apps for Preschoolers
This is one of my favorites, probably because it is a great tool for teaching reading (or the phonetic component of reading, anyway). Teaching a child to read is one of my favorite things in the entire world! This app is great for teaching letter SOUNDS (which is WAY more important than learning their names). It also adds a cognitive component of mini-crossword puzzles as well as consonant blends. This app is completely customizable and includes a special section for parents.
2. PBS Kids Cybershape Shape Quest -
Help your animal friends return to their homes in this augmented-reality game! These 3 fun-filled
educational games deal with spacial reasoning, geometry and problem solving. My son absolutely loves the game aspect of it and doesn’t even realize how much he’s learning as he plays! Find it on the
PBS Kids website, FREE.
Allow your children to enjoy their favorite Youtube videos, using a cool interface that makes it easier to find the video they want, in addition to ensure they never reach an inappropiate video. Searching for kid-friendly screen time that doesn't leave you feeling guilty? Smart Kids Videos lets your kids learn a ton while having fun with videos you’ll feel good about giving them. Find it on the Smart Kids Video web, $2.99.
4. Zoorchestra -
Who says classical music cannot be fun?
Zoorchestra is a fun and easy to use musical app for kids. Your child can change the instruments, tempo, and much more in this interactive music app created by a father! Find it in the
app store here, $1.99.
5. ABC Mouse 26 A-Z Music Videos -
Download the ABCmouse.com Music Video app and watch
26 animated music videos, one for each letter of the alphabet! I love how this app pairs well with Interactive Alphabet when my daughter becomes more interested in each letter. She’ll ask me to pull up a letter and then watch and enjoy the video while asking me about A words or B words, etc. Find it in
the app store here, FREE.
6. PBS Kids Play at Home with Daniel -
Make everyday experiences interactive with Play at Home with Daniel. Parents can even join on the fun as
kids visit the doctor, get ready for bed, and more with Daniel Tiger! My daughter plays this over and over again going through Daniel Tiger’s day, including playtime, bedtime, daily hygeine, and a fun sticker book! Find it on the
PBS Kids website here, $1.99.
7. Monkey Preschool Lunchbox -
Monkey Preschool Lunchbox is
a collection of six exciting educational games for your preschooler (ages 2 to 5). It seems to be quite the favorite amongst my friends and upon their recommendation I’ve downloaded it for the kids. You can find
more about this app here, $1.99.
This interactive pop-up book allows your little one to count, but won’t let him/her recount an object that has already been counted, therefore helping to increase a child’s one-to-one correspondence ability. Some of the games are locked until you purchase the app, but the book portion alone is worth downloading.
9. Fish School HD
Colorful fish teach your preschooler his letters, numbers, shapes, and colors in an under-the-sea world. (ages 3 to 5, $2.99; iPad)
If you don’t want to pay for the Handwriting Without Tears App, this is a great (and FREE) alternative that helps your child learn how to form their letters in a fun and interactive way. Like the HWT app, it would be even better if you had your child use a stylus. I also really like this one because it includes lowercase letters as well (unlike the Handwriting without Tears app).
What’s your preschooler’s favorite app?
