Category Archives: educational apps for kids

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Cursive Writing HD

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This iPad app normally sells for $.99 but I was able to download on a FREE day. It shows kids how to write in cursive utilizing three modes. In the abc mode, both upper case and lower case letters are taught. Kids are shown how to trace each letter using the proper stroke sequence. This section of the app is very well-done. In the word mode, kids are shown how letters combine to form 234 words. In the sentence mode, kids can practice writing one of the 3 sentences provided or they can type in their own sentence which is converted to cursive. What a great idea! Unfortunately, the writing style (in both the word mode and the sentence mode) is not consistent with the writing style of the abc mode. For example, the lower case o and b become very loopy. Many upper case letters are formed in completely different way. Words are not started on the base line. After teaching cursive writing for 30 years, I know that the biggest challenge is teaching kids to properly connect the letters. This app does a nice job of teaching the individual letters in the abc mode but I would not recommend/use the word or sentence mode.

Cursive Writing HD - Jiwoo Studio

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Marble Math Junior

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FREE for one day, November 2, 2012  – Marble Math Junior for the iPhone/iPad. Kids solve a variety of math problems as they roll marbles through a series of mazes. There are three levels. Level 1 covers addition to 10, equivalent numbers, sequencing of ordinal and cardinal numbers, and shape recognition. Level 2 covers adding coins to $1.00, addition/subtraction to 20, time to the hour, and comparing/sequencing numbers to 100. Level 3 covers money to $2.00, telling time by 15 min. intervals, fractions (1/2, 1/3, 1/4), multiples (2,3,5,10), addition to 100, and sequencing to 1000. Currency can be customized 5 ways: Australian dollar, Canadian dollar, Euro, British pound, & U.S. dollar. Not only does the game supports multiple players but it also allows you to customize specific skills for each player to practice – what a great option! Another great thing about this app  – when a player answers incorrectly, he/she can choose of 3 options: try again, show me, or next problem. Kids earn marbles as they answer correctly and high scores are recorded. Worth downloading!

Common Core Standards met:

  • K.OA.2  – Add and subtract within 10, e.g., by using objects or drawings to represent the problem.
  • K.CC.2 – Correctly name shapes regardless of their orientations or overall size.
  • 1.OA.6 – Add and subtract within 20, demonstrating fluency for addition and subtraction within 10.
  • 1.MD.3 – Tell and write time in hours and half-hours using analog and digital clocks.
  • 2.MD.8 – Solve word problems involving dollar bills, quarters, dimes, nickels, and pennies, using $ and ¢ symbols appropriately.
  • 2.OA.1 -Use addition and subtraction within 100

Recommended!

Marble Math Junior - Artgig Studio

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ABC Games – Montessori Phonics-enabled Alphabet

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ABC Games – Montessori Phonics-enabled Alphabet for the iPhone/iPad is FREE for a limited time. It is designed to teach 2 – 5 year olds the letters of the alphabet and their sounds. Kids may explore the alphabet in any order that they wish. There are over 100 animations which correspond to the letters of the alphabet. The 3 words for each letter are pronounced and spelled. The illustrations are animated cartoons. Pages for each letter are uncluttered – simply presented but engaging. The app also has a parent section that shows how often your child has visited each letter. Nicely done!

Common Core Standards met:

  • K.RF.1 – Demonstrate understanding of the organization and basic features of print. Recognize and name all upper and lowercase letters of the alphabet.

Recommended!

Interactive ABC HD - Pre-reading for Kids - Kids Academy Company

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Off to Bed

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FREE for a limited time for the iPad – Off to Bed, an interactive e-book for bedtime. The developers of this app describe it as an interactive lullaby dedicated to all the children and parents of the world. And that it is! The music and narrator’s voice are soothing. Each page is beautifully illustrated with the perfect amount of interactivity – enough to make it interesting but not distracting to the story. The story counts down from 5 as a little boy gets ready for bed and enters the world of dreams. Perfect for toddlers, it is very calming and sweet – with giggling clouds, goodnight kisses from cute little creatures, bleating sheep, etc. The Spanish version of this book (¡A la cama!) was featured by Apple in ‘Rewind 2011’ as one of the 5 best apps in the Books Category in Spanish App Store. A lovely bedtime story – download it today!

Highly recommended!

Off to bed! for iPad - DADA Company

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Thomas & Friends: Hero of the Railway

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FREE for the iPad for a limited time, Hero of the Railway is an interactive e-book featuring Thomas and friends. Read, watch, listen and play games with Thomas, Hiro, and other engines in this adventure. This app is so well done – great narration, vibrant & detailed illustrations, wonderful animations. I love all of the attention to detail. For example – as the story progresses, a cute little train on the bottom of the page chugs along. After reading the story there are clips to watch, pictures to paint, jigsaw puzzles, and a matching game. This app is a must for all fans of Thomas and Friends!!

Highly recommended!

Thomas & Friends: Hero of the Railway - HiT Entertainment

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The Great Cookie Thief…A Sesame Street App Starring Cookie Monster

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FREE today for the cookie monsters in your life 🙂 This e-book for the iPhone/iPad normally sells for $2.99. There’s a cookie thief in town and your child becomes an official deputy to help identify him. Words are highlighted as the story is read so that beginning readers can read along. The story is presented in a movie-like format with the text appearing in talk bubbles. Kids tap an arrow on the right to advance to the story to next page/scene (which I wish loaded a bit faster). There are also surprise animations when kids tap the characters. A really nice feature is the Parent Notes section which gives 22 tips on how to use the book with your child. At the end of the story your child can create his/her own wanted poster. Take a picture with your camera or use one from your photo album and let your child decorate it with paints and stickers. Creations can be printed or shared via email, which is a locked option thank you!  My daughter was obsessed with the cookie monster when she was little – she would have loved this app. Worth downloading!

Recommended!

The Great Cookie Thief... A Sesame Street App Starring Cookie Monster - Callaway Digital Arts Inc.

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Crazy Fun Lab: Brain Training for Kids

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This app for FREE for a limited time for iPad. Tickle, the monster, is a very hungry guy! Toddlers (3+) feed him sweets by matching candies, cakes, pastries, etc. Sometimes the objects are rotated, sometimes only 1/2 of the object is shown, sometimes only the object’s shape is shown. This app requires kids to recognize shapes, colors, and sizes which helps them develop the essential skill of visual perception. The game has 4 modes and it increases in difficulty as kids progress. They are to work as quickly as possible with the goal of making 100 correct matches before the timer runs out. My only concern with  this app is what Tickle is eating – all sweets. Other than that, it is a cute app – great graphics, catchy music, intuitive, and easy to play!

Crazy Fun Lab : Brain Training for kids - by Play Toddlers (Free version for iPad) - Play Toddlers

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Jigsaw Puzzle with Monsters

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Jigsaw Puzzle with Monsters is normally $3.99 but FREE today. It includes 12 “scary” monster puzzles for kids 4+. To begin, kids click on one of the 12 monsters shown on the desktop. The puzzle pieces disperse and kids are supposed to drag each piece to its proper place. When the puzzle is completed, the monster makes a sound. Very cute !

Jigsaw Puzzle with Monsters - Wombi Apps

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Weird But True

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FREE for a limited time – Weird But True is an e-book from National Geographic Kids. 300 wacky facts are presented in a fun & interactive way. Kids can swipe to move from fact to fact or shake their device to generate a random fact.  Sound effects and surprises add to the fun!  There is a fact finder which kids can use to locates facts by subject – animals, weather, space, etc. The app also includes a “Weird -O-Meter” which kids can use to rate the level of weirdness for each fact. Facts can be shared via email, Facebook, and Twitter. This app won the Spring 2012 Parents’ Choice Award and was chosen as New & Noteworthy, What’s Hot, & Staff Favorites by Apple. Kids will LOVE this app 🙂

Highly recommended!

Weird But True - National Geographic Society

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Madagascar Movie Storybook Collection

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FREE today for iPhone/iPad, this app normally sells for $.99. The Madagascar Movie Storybook Collection features favorite stories & characters from the Madagascar movies. Included with the app is a 30 page story based on the first Madagascar movie. Madagascar Escape 2 Africa and Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted are available as in-app purchases. There are three ways to  enjoy this book – read to me, auto play, or read to myself. This e-book uses vivid images from the movies and features genuine character narration – which kids will love. The story is not interactive – there is nothing to tap, find, move, etc. on the individual pages. Regardless, you will want to download this app if you have a child (2+) that is a fan of the Madagascar movies – it is nicely done storybook.

Madagascar Movie Storybook Collection - zuuka incorporated