Tag Archives: apps for kids

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Love to Count by Pirate Trio

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This iPhone/iPad app is FREE today. Designed for 4 – 7 years olds, it introduces math concepts (such as counting, ordering, addition, subtraction, shapes) using a pirate theme. Kids earn and collect rewards for their treasure chest as they progress through the 700 math tasks included in this app. More than one child can be added to the program and parents or teachers can monitor their children’s progress. The statistics section shows what tasks have been completed and which were completely correctly on the first attempt. Nicely done app!

Common Core Standards met:

  • K.CC.2 – Correctly name shapes regardless of their orientations or overall size.
  • K.CC.4 – Understand the relationship between numbers and quantities; connect counting to cardinality.
  • K.OA.1 – Represent addition and subtraction with objects, fingers, mental images, drawings, sounds (e.g., claps), acting out situations, verbal explanations, expressions, or equations.
  • K.G.2.  – Correctly name shapes regardless of their orientations or overall size.

Recommended!

Love to Count by Pirate Trio - Next is Great

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Millie and the Lost Key

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Since this is my 100th review, I wanted to write about an app that I love. Millie and the Lost Key is the second book in the Millie Was Here series for the iPhone/iPad. I was able to download it on a FREE day but it normally sells for $1.99. Millie, the adorable adventure-seeking dog, travels (by cab) to a dark and mysterious island (Central Park) in a quest to find the ultimate treasure – the key to endless bacon. The story was not adapted from an already existing book. The interactivity on every page was built into the story as it was written. There are also hidden stickers throughout the story for kids to collect. The Millie series is now available in 11 languages. Languages can be changed in the setting of your device. This is a great app for preschool and primary-aged kids.

I also loved Millie Was Here (review posted on June 24, 2012) – can’t wait for more adventures of Millie.

Highly Recommended!

Millie & The Lost Key - Millie Was Here, Book 2 - Megapops LLC

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Giggle Ghosts

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This counting iPad app for toddlers costs $.99 but I was able to download it on a day that it was FREE. The giggle ghosts are very cute – kids will love to hear them laugh. Kids help 20 ghosts get the party by bouncing them across rooftops. In the first level the sky is clear and they have to bounce 5 ghosts. The app counts to 5 and shows the written numbers. The second level is the same but there are leaves blowing in the sky. The third level is the same but  there are clouds in the sky. And in the fourth level it is raining, but the counting task remains the same. At the end the app counts all 20 ghosts at the party. I was hoping that the 4 levels would count:1 – 5, then 6 – 10, then 11 – 15, and 16 – 20 rather than all be the same. Cute and simply done – it might be fun for Halloween!

Keep reading my blog to find out when apps are offered for FREE!

Giggle Ghosts - by Busy Bee Studios - Busy Bee Studios

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Tap A Tune

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This adorable app for the iPhone/iPad is FREE for a limited time. Kids 2+ can play their own nursery rhymes (7 included) & holiday tunes (9 included) by tapping the animals as they pop out of holes in the ground. The app has 3 modes: baby mode (plays the tune correctly no matter which animal is tapped), play mode (tap the animals in the order that they pop up), and freestyle mode (tap the animals in any order to create your own tune). There is an option of changing to a keyboard when you feel your child is ready to make that transition. There are also 9 instrument options – piano, accordion, clarinet, acoustic guitar, xylophone, drum, harmonica, harp, and animal noises! When a tune is completed, all of the animals pop out of their holes to dance as the tune replays. The result is sheer happiness!

Recommended!

Tap A Tune - Mindshapes Limited

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JibJab Junior

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From the folks at JibJab comes a FREE app for your iPad that puts your child as the star of his/her own books. JibJab has been around since 1999. During the 2004 presidential election their Flash movie, This Land, featured George Bush and John Kerry singing a parody of the Woodie Guthrie song, This Land is Your Land. It became a huge success, received millions of hits, and was featured on several major news channels. The company has continued to make videos but added a commercial site several years ago where you can find 1000+ Make & Share eCards and 500+ Starring You videos. Their videos are made for adults so you will want to use the app for your kids rather than explore the website.

The kids’ app was updated in January of 2012 and it is very easy to use. Just choose a picture of your child from the photo library, Facebook, or take one with your camera. Place your child’s face in the opening, adjust it to fit the space, and then add his/her name. Make sure you choose the correct gender so that the pronouns are correct. If you have more than one child, you can create books starring each of them. The book has animations on each page. There is not a read along option because your child’s name is inserted in the text. The first book, The Biggest Pizza Ever, is free. After that you may purchase individual books ($7.99) or join the book of the month club ($3.99, but be aware that it automatically renews until you cancel). I have been a fan of JibJab for years so was excited to see them come out with products for kids – fun stuff!!

Learn more here: http://www.jibjab.com/kids

Highly Recommended!

JibJab Jr. Books - JibJab Media Inc.

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Wonder Kids

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This app is designed for the iPhone/iPad for toddlers and preschoolers. I downloaded it for FREE – it usually costs $1.99. It is supported in 5 languages (English, Korean, Chinese, Japanese & Spanish) and can be easily changed from one language to another by clicking on the flags. The version I have included about 40 animal flashcards. Additional in-app purchases are available. The animals are presented in abc order (for the English version of the word). For each animal you can opt to hear the word pronounced or an entire sentence using the word. I really like this feature – it makes this app stand out. There are 5 activities available for each animal – coloring, jigsaw puzzles (3 levels of difficulty), matching (3 levels of difficulty), bingo, and drawing. Each of these activities repeats the word or sentence containing the word and the colorful illustrations become animated when the activity is completed. This app is very appealing and nicely done!

Although this app is designed for young kids, it could be used to teach foreign language vocabulary to older students! However since I am not a foreign language expert, I cannot speak to how the sentence structure might translate.

Keep reading my blog for app alerts which will let readers know when the apps that I have reviewed are available for FREE  🙂

Recommended!

Wonder Kids - zibann

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K12 Timed Reading Practice Lite

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I download the FREE version of this app for iPhone/Pad to try. Kids read short, timed stories to determine their reading rate. Words-per-minute and a percentage (above or below the average rate) are reported. Stories can be reread to improve the scores. The full version (for $1.99) allows you to keep track of multiple students and has 250 leveled stories.The app’s description says that there are 46 Flesch-Kincaid levels of reading between 0.0 and 4.7 but only a general grade level (K, 1, 2, 3, 4) is marked in the lite version. Perhaps the full version is more specific.

Reading rate is important – if kids read too slowly their comprehension is compromised. But true reading fluency includes reading rate as well as the ability to read with accuracy and expression. This app tests rate in isolation. If the app had a record option, an adult could go back and listen for accuracy and expression. As it is, it could be useful depending on the needs of your child/children. If you have a child that is an accurate but slow reader, this app could be helpful to increase his/her reading rate.

K12 Timed Reading Practice Lite - K12 Inc.

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Find the Synonym

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This FREE app designed for the iPhone/iPad was just released today. It is listed as a game app rather than an educational app but it would be great for kids in upper elementary school/junior high. A word is shown with its part of speech and definition. You are directed to create a 4 – 7 letter synonym of that word using the letters provided. Points are awarded based on the length of the word, the time involved, whether clues are used, and/or if any mistakes are made. Badges are earned as the game is played. It’s simply designed  – not a lot of bell & whistles but it is heavy on content. There are a total of 1000 synonyms in the app. After you find 250 of them, antonyms are unlocked. There are 500 antonyms in the app.

I realize that this app was not designed for kids per se but it is educational. More flexibility in the settings would make it more suitable for classroom use. I could not find a way to restart the game. The game picks up where it left off & points are cumulative, so only one person can play. Also, having access to both synonyms and antonyms would be a plus. I am sure that teachers will come up with creative ways to use this resource 🙂

Recommended!

Find The Synonym - FreshLogo

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ZOOLA Opposites

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I originally posted a review of this app on July 6. At that time this app was FREE as the developer worked out a few known bugs. I discovered today that it had been updated again on July 9 and it works perfectly!! The cost is now $1.99. Designed to teach preschoolers the concept of opposites, this app is simple to use. Kids can flip 35 cards which have pairs of opposites on the front/back. The illustrations are nicely done and appealing. The opposite words are pronounced for the kids and the written words are show. This app is great for teaching young kids about opposites!

Common Core Standards met:

  • K.L.5 – With guidance and support from adults, explore word relationships and nuances in word meanings. Demonstrate understanding of frequently occurring verbs and adjectives by relating them to their opposites (antonyms).

Recommended!

ZOOLA Opposites - Best kids Apps

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Opposites 1

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This app for the iPhone/iPad is designed for kids ages 2.5+ to help develop the concept of opposites. Two levels are unlocked in the FREE version with 10 additional levels available if you purchase the full version. Each level has 4 sets of opposites to match. Kids find 2 pictures that show opposites and drag them into the box. As they do so, the written word appears underneath. If correctly matched, they disappear making the each choice simpler. You can add your own voice (or even better, your child’s voice) reading the words. This option is important for younger kids who cannot read the words plus it helps them make the text-to-print connection. Before adding sound however you’ll need to make sure you know what word will appear under the picture because that information in not on the recording page. I had trouble recording 4 out of the 16 words in the first 2 levels. The app would freeze and have to be restarted. I think young children would really enjoy hearing themselves “read” the words to go with the pictures so I am hoping that the developer can fix the bugs.