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What are the Best Apps for 2-5 year olds?

L

Lindat

macrumors member
Original poster
May 10, 2009
66
0
I've just done a search on this topic, but I couldn't find a previous similar question. There must be lots of you parents that have downloaded apps to keep junior quiet and entertained for a short while - what do you reckon is your child's favourite? Or most educational? Or best value? I'd like to download a few of the better ones, but where to start? Any good tips truly appreciated for pre-school age fabulous too-good-to-be-true Apps! Thanks. :)
 
OK! I think I would have done anyway, but thanks for the tip!!
 
My son (2yo) loves the following:
I Hear Ewe
I See Ewe
Old MacDonald (by Duck Duck Moose)
Wheels on the Bus (by Duck Duck Moose)

When he was 12 to 18 months, he loved First Words: Vehicles and First Words: Animals. I think there's a free First Words sampler to give you an idea whether your kids will like it before you buy.

If he sees my phone, he's all over it. I might need to get him an iPod Touch. :)
 
Perfect Apps for Preschoolers?

Thanks Baxtradamus! I downloaded a couple of those earlier today to try them out. Anyone got any cool ideas?
 
I'll give you (and anyone who asks) a free promo code for A Little Piggy...

I designed it to be a kids' first app... it features my daughter's foot and you play 'This little piggy', touching the toes from big to little, and read/hear the classic nursery rhyme (currently in English, Spanish, or French). You can touch the sole of the foot to make the baby laugh. And if you touch the toes in order, you are rewarded with videos of farm animals.

Upcoming free updates will have original music as well!
 
TuffLuffJimmy said:
I hate giving parenting advice, but do you think sitting your kid in front of a screen to rot their brain is the healthiest thing?
Click to expand...

The original poster said "keep junior quiet and entertained for a short while - what do you reckon is your child's favourite? Or most educational"

Hardly sitting a kid in front of a screen to rot their brain. That's one of the reasons I included multiple languages in A Little Piggy, in fact.
 
FWIW....as a parent of a 5 year old AND a 6 year old (13 months apart)....

Many of the games mentioned are great. We've also got iWriteWords, Mental Case (a flash cards app that I have their sight words in), pocketphonics, Flash Cards, Koi Pond, Frogger and TicTacUlt (tic tac toe ultimate).

They've outgrown a few others....but those keep them interested.

And to the naysayers.....I'm one of the biggest on 'parenting old style' (if you will). Grew up with no video games, computers, not even cable tv. Had to go to my neighbors/best friend's houses for all that (and really didn't get into it).

But, it's a different teaching world now. Both my kids have brought home CDs that have the exact text book material used in class for math and spelling. The teacher sends weekly 'what are we doing' notes home to let us 'follow along' with the class. They have computer assignments weekly for math. For the kindergartner, it's just the CD text book and I mostly print out pages, but there are follow along teaching and doing videos also on the CD. In fact, the 1st grader has 3 weekly math assignments that are done ONLINE and the results are sent to the teacher. This is all from a public school district. I'm pretty impressed, and luckily my kids are enjoying it and love to go to school (fingers crossed it lasts!).
 
The last thing I'm gonna do to pacify some kid is put my $200+ iPhone in their hands for entertainment. :rolleyes:
 
indianavtx said:
The last thing I'm gonna do to pacify some kid is put my $200+ iPhone in their hands for entertainment. :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

PSP Go $250

Nintendo DSi $170

iPod touch $180

When you add the cost of games/apps (many free or $0.99), the iPod touch is the most affordable platform.

Plus apps are not just for pacifying or entertaining, but for educating as the original poster and I already explained.

My kids use my iPhone (safely ensconced in an OtterBox case) all the time. And that's why they're suggesting new app ideas and learning about programming.
 
indianavtx said:
The last thing I'm gonna do to pacify some kid is put my $200+ iPhone in their hands for entertainment. :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Then you better really think about that $20-30 thousand dollar bedroom.

MacToddB said:
PSP Go $250

Nintendo DSi $170

iPod touch $180

When you add the cost of games/apps (many free or $0.99), the iPod touch is the most affordable platform.

Plus apps are not just for pacifying or entertaining, but for educating as the original poster and I already explained.

My kids use my iPhone (safely ensconced in an OtterBox case) all the time. And that's why they're suggesting new app ideas and learning about programming.
Click to expand...

Plus, the iPhone/iPod Touch actually has some educational programs and games to choose from. Not so much on the other platforms. Also the same reason we chose the Wii as a gaming platform for the TV.
 
indianavtx said:
The last thing I'm gonna do to pacify some kid is put my $200+ iPhone in their hands for entertainment. :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

So apparently you have never had to wait for hours in doctors office with KIDS before? Last thursday i waited 2 hours for the Orthopedic Spine Guy because he was running late. Do you even HAVE kids? (for the record, i've driven over 3000 miles since june to medical appointments, often with 3 kids in tow and only 1 seeing the doctor.... so shoot me for needing some form of entertainment in the office for them, in the car they listen to audiobooks).

The OP didn't ask for parenting advice - that isn't what MR is about.

Obviously there is a market..... look at the offerings.

And like another poster pointed out - it's a wayyyyy more flexible and affordable platform to do it on. My DD loves that i can hand her math drill with her latest facts on it, all customized for her by using Math Drills - well worth the money.
 
TraceyS/FL said:
So apparently you have never had to wait for hours in doctors office with KIDS before? Last thursday i waited 2 hours for the Orthopedic Spine Guy because he was running late. Do you even HAVE kids? (for the record, i've driven over 3000 miles since june to medical appointments, often with 3 kids in tow and only 1 seeing the doctor.... so shoot me for needing some form of entertainment in the office for them, in the car they listen to audiobooks).
Click to expand...

What did people do in doctors' offices BEFORE gameboys??
 
TuffLuffJimmy said:
What did people do in doctors' offices BEFORE gameboys??
Click to expand...

MacToddB said:
Doctors made housecalls. ;)
Click to expand...

That. Or they respected OUR time more. Imagine that... not booking 4 people for the same appointment time creating a mess when you get off.

Here is hoping that he won't be 2 hours late when i go back in 2 weeks with another kid. But hey, i guess i'da gotten seen on time if i'd been a Gator Football player 'eh?

But that child will have a BOOK in her hand to read.... not playing games (math drill) like her younger sister. Reading in an office/waiting room is hard with a child in Speech/Reading/language therapy 2 hours a week and needs special glasses and other stuff.
 
MacToddB said:
amen. that's why my wife and I try to book the first appointment of the day, so they can't be too far behind! :)
Click to expand...

I try to do that too.... but this was a "take what they have" situation. She needed to be seen then with an xray baseline. UGH. (And it's a 80 minute drive!)

The next one is 1st after lunch - here is hoping that isn't an all day thing... i even mentioned that to him :D
 
TuffLuffJimmy said:
I hate giving parenting advice, but do you think sitting your kid in front of a screen to rot their brain is the healthiest thing?
Click to expand...

Let me guess, when my kid starts crying at the DMV you're the first one to shoot me a dirty look, right?

So I try and do things like this to protect you. (Yes, it's for you. I don't care when they whine, I'm imune to it now.) And wow, I still get critisized.

So sorry I tried to make your life better.
 
Tappy Tunes is nice. They just tap to play a note from tons of kiddie songs. It has bailed me out many times while have 10 or so 2 to 3 year olds in my class.
 
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