We are a proud Apple family. Computers, phones, and tablets with the little apple symbol on the front all reside here at our house, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. We got an iPad when the first group came out in 2010. Since then we have obtained another one and most recently, and iPad mini. Can I tell you know how much I WISH I had had an iPad back when I was trying to travel halfway across the world with a 16 month old??? It would’ve made a world of difference, let me tell you.
Recently at a teacher workshop I had a colleague with many years on me ask what the ‘hype’ was all about concerning the iPad. I couldn’t contain my gawking expression, so I’m sure she thinks I’m a spoiled generation nexter who doesn’t spend time catching up on my written correspondence or actually talking on the phone with human beings rather than texting. Regardless of if either of those are true, I gently explained to her that the iPad is the end all be all of teaching and learning tools. Then our occupational therapist brought out hers and showed her apps she used to help the students she works with with their fine and gross motor skills.
Blew.her.mind.
All of the Leapsters, LeapPads, Smooth Tablets, and Meeps Tablets talk a good game, but the bottom line is this: the iPad is more expensive, but you make up for it ten fold. We may have spent $50 over the past two years on apps, whereas the Leapster games are around $25 EACH and their ‘apps’ can only be downloaded to Leap Frog products and are $7.50 at the cheapest. The iPad is more versatile, more user friendly, and you get more for your money. Period.
Okay, enough of the persuasive speech.
Thing 1 was 3 when he began manipulating the iPad. We didn’t really have to show him anything, he just kind of figured it out on his own. He had already been used to the iTouch, so going from that to an iPad was cake. We take it in the car, while we’re waiting for our table at restaurants, sitting in restaurants (no judgement…sometimes you just want to talk to your spouse at dinner without talking being interrupted by little kid chatter…you know it’s true). It’s been extra helpful while traveling. Anyway, the following apps are some of the best apps I’ve come across that my boy has used. They cover a variety of ages and subjects and can be used at home or in the classroom, if you are a teacher and are lucky enough to have one in the classroom.
In this game the player has to create a contraption to get something from point A (light blue box) to point B (red box). They have to constantly plan, create, and improve (attn. STEM schools!) to get the task done. They get progressively harder as the player passes each task. Just youtube ‘Fantastic Contraption’ to see it in action.
Ages: 4+
Similar to Fantastic Contraption, although this has different backgrounds and scenarios, whereas Fantastic Contraption has the same background, it just gets more challenging. It is also much more user friendly for younger kids.Where’s My Water
This is similar to the objective of Fantastic Contraption, but it it uses water and pipes instead.
Again, similar concept. Get the little guy to the swirly candy.
Cut the Rope
Ages: 4+
Same concept as the others, but this game has an object connected to multiple ropes and you have to get it into the frog’s (??) mouth. As you move along the task gets more difficult.
Six Towers
Ages: 4+
The object of this game is to create towers of six blocks in the least amount of moves possible. It teaches strategy and thinking ahead.
Ages: 3-6
This is a great app for the child who is just learning how to write her letters and numbers. It allows her to choose her color crayon and trace over the letters just as you and I did in grade school. I wish I had had this as a kid!
Toontastic
Ages: 5+
This is probably my FAVORITE app for kids! With this app kids can create their own story and characters, animate them, put music to it, AND record themselves reading the story. Through the app you can also view movies already made by children all over the world. If you teach elementary and have an iPad in your classroom, you must get this app!
Cat in the Hat
Ages: 3-6
With this app the beloved Cat in the Hat is read aloud to the child, but it is also interactive. The child can touch a word and it says the word again for her. It is also a little animated. This helped with K’s inflection and fluency. The only downside is that it is a bit pricey. You can buy other books as well, but each book is a separate purchase. Great for the budding reader in a family that is very busy.
Simplex Spelling: Phonics2
Ages: beginning readers and up
This is a great app for both budding readers and those exploring more complex consonant/vowel patterns. Basically this is more like a personal phonics tutor. It goes through 54 simple phonics lessons and kids practice spelling 10 words using the patterns taught to them in the lesson. There aren’t many graphics or anything, but it is good extra practice. It also tracks the child’s progress, helping you see what they have mastered and what they need extra help with.
This app allows the player to fill in an interactive multiplication chart as well as practice multiples of numbers.
Math Academy
Ages: 4+
This has fun practice with math operations.
Marble Math/Marble Math Jr.
Ages: Junior – 4-8
I haven’t used Marble Math regular, only Junior, so I can’t actually speak for it. However, I do know the junior version works on various math concepts using mazes and ‘marbles’ they have to connect. The child is given a task and has to move the marble over the correct answers to complete the task.
Ages: depends
This is a great app that shows how a fetus changes week to week. We used it to show my 5 year old what was going on in my belly as it got bigger. He was fascinated by the pictures and facts. Great for pregnant women as well!
Anatomy 3D
Ages: 7-8+
This particular app pictured is all about the organs. K went through a period where he was really interested in the human body. The hubs found this app that shows 3D rotating pictures of each body organ. It explores cells, tissues, and all of the other body systems as well. Good for kids interested in the body as well as teens taking an anatomy course!
Dinopedia
Ages: 4+
My kid LOVES dinosaurs, so this was a must. It’s from NatGeo, so you know it’s going to be worth it. You can scroll through just about every type of dino and find facts and illustrations. Fantastic.
iLearn Solar System
Ages: 7+
This is a great app for the kid who loves everything space. Kid-friendly graphics and wording help even the younger learner understand more about the planets.
Frog Dissection
Ages: 8+
I have no idea why my 5 year old loved this so much, but this app allows you to do a virtual frog dissection, just as you would with a real frog. It uses graphics, not photos, and walks through the steps one by one. This is great for a kid going through biology or for a teacher who has a student who does not wish to partake in the dissection of a real frog.
Stack the States
Ages: 7+
I love this app and so does my son! A fun way to quiz kids on states! Quizzes them on the basic outline as well as various facts. And they have cute little eyes that blink as you stack them! They also have a Stack the Countries as well.
Encyclopedia Britannica Kids Presidents App
Ages: 7+
This app is great when kids begin learning about our nation’s presidents. It’s simple, but a great resource for a 3rd or 4th grader who is just getting into U.S. history and government.
GeoExpert
Ages: 6+
This app allows students to learn the position of states, countries and capitals all over the world. The child is given the name of a country/state/capital and they have to touch its location. They have three tries to get it correct; each time it turns a different color. This is a fantastic app for a 3rd-5th grade classroom. I used a similar program on the computer once and used it as a quiz for my students as we ‘traveled the world.’ The only downside is the horrible elevator music in the background. Turn down your volume.
Brainpop and Brainpop Jr.
Ages: 4-17
If you are a teacher you are definitely familiar with BrainPop. It.is.amazing. I use Brainpop just about every day in my classroom. Basically it is full of animated short videos (approx. 3 mins.) on just about any topic you can think of. Brainpop is recommended for grades 3 and up (although I find some of it is beyond some of my 3rd graders), and Brainpop Jr. is geared more for K-2. If you are homeschooling, I HIGHLY recommend investing in the cost. It’s about $80-90 per year for the full app, or you can get the free app that produces one free video to watch a week.
Moozart
Ages: 3-8
With this app kids can create their own music or modify songs and the notes are barnyard animals. They can control the speed and the position of the notes. Fun!
Smash the Food
Ages: 4+
So this app is oddly entertaining. My kid LOVES this and it’s kind of addicting. Basically you choose a different meal combination and then guess how much oil, salt and sugar there is in the meal. Then for the best part…it smashes it all at once! Hehe.
Little Things
Ages: 3+
Ever heard of I Spy or Where’s Waldo? Same concept, just more to look for. If you want a great app for traveling, this is a must!
Mosaic
Ages: 4+
This is great for the creative/artsy child. My kid LOVES those sticker mosaics you can find at the craft store, so this app was perfect for him. The child can come up with her own mosaic, or she can copy one using the same colors. They can time themselves and save it as a picture.
Create a Car 2
Ages: 5+
In this app kids create their own race car using a wide range of parts. Once they create their car they can drive it along a street and complete simple tasks. If you have a car-loving kid, this app is a must.
2 Comments
🙁 Wish I would have seen this before Christmas. We have an Ipad and our 3 year old son was beginning to take it over. So we debated between another Ipad and the LeapPad for Christmas and decided to give the LeapPad a try. How disappointing!!! Not only are the apps expensive, the content is limited to certain age levels, and the biggest issue – the screen size!!! Being use to the large Ipad screen, the smaller leappad screen is VERY frustrating for my son. Needless to say, we are thinking about trying to sell and getting a second Ipad!
Oh man! Sorry it didn't work out…those companies really scam parents out of money, imo! The second iPad is exactly what we did with our son. He was taking ours over, lol, so we just got the newer version when it came out and gave him the old one wrapped in an Otter Box (which is a MUST if you do that!). It's definitely worth considering. Thanks for sharing your experience!