Another easy-to-use app that will keep your children hooked for hours. The Deluxe app features 5 different categories of words: All Words, Animals, At Home, Colours and Shapes. Once again, the app uses a drag and drop method for children to spell the words, and offers visual hints.
When each letter is touched, the sound of the letter is produced. When each word has been spelled correctly, the image spins on the screen and a corresponding sound is made (for example, a mooing noise will follow the word ‘cow’).
First Words (FW) also has a range of other similar apps including: FW Feelings, FW Animals, FW Vehicles, FW At Home, FW Xmas, and more.
This app is similar to the other spelling apps that I have described, however what is different about this particular one is that it contains beautiful photographs of the images being spelt. There is also Little Speller Four Letter Words which contains a variety of beautiful images.
Another great feature of this app is that it is highly customisable, and you can easily take your own photographs and add your own words to the apps database. Your child will love seeing a picture of your face appear on the screen, followed by the corresponding name “mum” or “dad”. It is also a great way to teach your child how to spell their own name.
What child wouldn’t love to learn their ABC’s from their favourite TV show character Elmo. This app brings Elmo and learning the alphabet to life, featuring dynamic video clips, music and songs.
Your child can touch any letter of the alphabet to unlock surprises, and trace different letters of the alphabet with their finger. There are bonuses such as colouring pages and other hidden treasures. It truly is a great educational app!
The bright images and background in this app is enough to attract any child’s attention. It is very user friendly and is a fantastic app to teach your child counting from 1 to 10.
Each game features 10 questions, and at the end of each game a score is given. Your child is required to count the number of animals on the screen, then touch the corresponding number (i.e.- If three monkeys appear on the screen, they press the number 3). If they answer correctly, the sound of applause sounds to offer the child praise and encouragement.
If they answer incorrectly, the computer counts the number of animals on the screen for the child.
By: Piikea St. LLC
This game teaches kids how to count to 20 by guiding bees to a flower. The aim of the game is to fill four big honey bears by directing the bees appropriately. It is a very fun app with cool and relaxing background sounds.
Best iPad 2 apps for toddlers and preschool children: Music, Puzzles, Animals and Games
Wood Puzzle HD
By: Tropisounds
This is definitely our favourite puzzle game, and the full-version features 30 different puzzles. Some puzzles are quite basic, while others are a bit harder and more detailed. Each puzzle features nicely coloured images and sounds. Highly recommended!
Wood Puzzle First Years
By: Tropisounds
From the creators of Wood Puzzle HD, Wood Puzzle First Years features 18 various puzzles. It helps your child to learn shapes, body parts, colours and more. Once again, this app is highly recommended!
ABC Alphabet Puzzles
By: Clever Kids
The full-version of this app features nicely coloured puzzles of different animals from A to Z. The puzzles are a little more detailed and harder to complete than the ‘wood puzzles’, but lots of fun nevertheless.
Match It Up 2 and Match It Up 3
By: My First App
This app was recommended to me by our speech pathologist. It is a fun and colourful matching game for toddlers, helping children to develop visual perception skills though the matching of conceptually related images. It also helps to develop cognitive skills such as categorization.
ANIMALS AND SOUNDS
SoundTouch
By: SoundTouch
This app features 360 sounds and images of animals, birds, vehicles, musical instruments and household items. It features beautiful photographs and clear sounds, with each item featuring 5 different sounds and photographs. This was another app recommended to us by our speech pathologist.
Zoola
By: Best Kids Apps
This app is designed to teach children about animal families and the sounds that they make. The full-version features over 400 photographs of animals, baby animals, mummy animals and daddy animals. It includes categories such as farm animals, safari animals, forest animals, water animals and puppy dogs.
FLASHCARDS
ABA Emotions
By: Innovative Mobile Apps
This app is a fun and interactive way to teach your child emotions. It features over 200 coloured photographs of various emotions, including: sad, happy, surprised, excited, sleepy, and much more. It is also customizable so you can upload your own images and record your own voice.
ABA Flashcards- Actions
By: Kindegarten.com
Another great app to teach your child actions, such as: cuddling, laughing, listening, running, kissing, painting, jumping, and much more. It features clear and colourful images, and is of benefit for both visual and auditory learners.
MUSIC
Itsy Bitsy HD
By: Duck Duck Moose
Not only will your child learn this popular nursery rhyme, but they will have a lot of fun doing it! Each illustration in this app is interactive and will encourage your child to touch and explore everything on the screen. Each screen features different activities for your child to discover.
Kids Song Machine HD
By: Genera Kids
This app features 10 popular kids songs, including: Old Mc Donald, If Your Happy and You Know It, The Wheels on the Bus, and more. Each song features brightly coloured and interactive animations.
Baby Piano School
By: Love-Creative.com
This is a great way to introduce your child to the piano. It is very easy to use and you can make up your own songs, or play along to one of many piano songs. It features dynamic cartoon yeys, 13 different key sounds, and various coloured scenes.
BOOKS
Moo, Baa, La, La, La! – Sandra Boynton
By: Loud Crow Interactive Inc.
This book, along with the other books created by Sandra Boynton, is a fun and interactive book for the entire family to enjoy. However this book in particular is my favourite. It features colourful interactive animations, dynamic pages, and can be ‘read to you’ or ‘read at your own pace’.
I Like Books – 37 Picture Books for Kids in 1 App
By: GrasshopperApps.com
The full-version of this app contains 37 different picture books to read with your child. They are designed to teach children about the world they live in, and includes titles such as: I like colours, I like my body, I like spring, I like water, I like winter, and much more.
FUN AND GAMES
Play School Art Maker
By: Australian Broadcasting Corporation
This is a creative, interactive and fun way for children to create their very own pictures and animated scenes. It features the poplar play school characters such as Humpty, Big Ted, Little Ted, and Jemima. Your child can choose their background and what they would like to add to each picture. You can also unlock various puzzles and other interactive games.
Little Charley Bear
By: Studio Liddell
If your child isn’t already in love with Little Charley Bear from his hit TV show on ABC for Kids, they will fall in love with him in this app! Watch short clips of Charley in his amazing imaginary worlds, and unlock bonuses including puzzles and games. The graphics in this app are absolutely amazing, and there is so much to see and do!
Talking Roby
By: Out Fit 7 Ltd.
This app is a little bit different, and features a hip-hop dancing robot that repeats everything you say. It is great for trying to encourage your child to speak and communicate. This app was also recommended to us by the speech pathologist. It also allows you to type a word or sentence, and Roby will repeat what has been written.
