Tag Archives: apps for kids

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How to Draw

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There are several apps with this name. This review refers to the FREE one by Mind the Kids Ltd.

This app gives kids step-by-step visual and verbal instructions for 12 drawing episodes. Episodes teach how to draw things such as a dog, a princess, and the space shuttle. In the “I am watching” mode, kids can use paper and pencil. In the “I am drawing” mode, the program verbally explains as it draws in red lines for the child to draw over on the iPad or iPhone.  Then the red lines disappear leaving only the child-drawn image behind. There is an option to color and add additional details or background to your drawing. Drawings can be emailed or saved in your photos.

A couple of issues – I think it would be difficult to use this program on anything smaller than an iPad. I also wish there was the option of a blank sheet so that kids could create their own original drawing. It is possible to create your own drawing but… you have to go into an episode and basically ignore the instructions to do your own thing.

All in all, it is somewhat limited but it is also FREE and fun.

How to draw - Mind the Kids Ltd

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MatchPad

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As the name implies, this app is a card matching game along the lines of concentration. It has a cute little tiger on the front so I downloaded it for free one day just to check it out. I was hoping to find all sorts of cute little animals for kids to match up. Instead the cards have an odd assortment of items to match – like shoes, jewelry and wine glasses (hmmm). The app times you & keeps score as you progress through several levels. In addition, as you successfully complete a level, you are given verbal praise such as awesome, cool or to easy (not to be confused with too easy which actually is the correct homonym).

There doesn’t seem to be a free version available any more –  just the $2.99 HD version. I am not sure I would download again it for free let alone $2.99.  Matching games are good for kids but there must be better versions on the market.

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TypeDrawing

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Very cool FREE app that permits you to draw in type. I have the free version which has limitations but I would recommend starting with it just to get the creative juices flowing 🙂

A use that immediately comes to mind is writing concrete poetry  – how cool would that be! Kids could write a tornado poem in the shape of a tornado, a cloud poem in the shape of a cloud, etc. The app allows you to input whatever text you want. Then you can use those words to draw a simple shape in any color you wish.  You can also change the font and the size of the text.

And……even the free version permits you to save your creation to a photo gallery. So from there the sky is the limit – you can email it to parents or grandparents, bring it into another program (such as Story Kit) to create a book, etc.  Awesome!!

Highly recommended!

TypeDrawing for iPad V3.0 - Hansol Huh

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StoryKit

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This FREE app can be used by young kids to write stories on an iPhone, iPod or iPad.  Kids can illustrate, take photos or use saved images to enhance their stories.  They can also record themselves reading their stories. Finalized stories can be shared on the StoryKit server.  Kids receive a private web address for their stories. Pretty cool!!

Also included in this app are 4 digital books (3 LIttle Pigs, Humpty Dumpty, Goldilocks & the 3 Bears, Rocket Man) to read or they can be edited to create another version of the tale. They are older versions of the stories not the ones that kids are familiar with. The Rocket Man has a reference to smoking in it.

The value of this app is in its writing component. Some teachers are using this app with iPod or iPad labs because it’s FREE and easy to use even with young kids. There are many uses beyond basic stories – take photos and create a travel journal, illustrate and define vocabulary words, photograph and explain cycles in nature, write about historical images, create a math glossary, photograph & label geometric shapes, etc. You are only limited by your imagination!

Worth downloading.

StoryKit - ICDL Foundation

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Dr. Seuss Band

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I LOVE this musical app which is designed to use on the iPhone/iPad. Kids (and adults) can easily learn to play cute little tunes on the interchangeable horns. There are three levels of difficulty – easy, medium, and hard. Kids can also play on the keyboard and make up their own tunes. It’s a great app for the budding musician 🙂

The app was free the day I downloaded it but it generally costs $.99.  There are additional charges to unlock more advanced levels.

Highly recommended!

Dr. Seuss Band - Oceanhouse Media

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Best Corny Jokes

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After teaching third grade for MANY years, I have definitely developed a third grade sense of humor. I love riddles and used them in my classroom for years. They are fun and educational (because they make kids think about homonyms and the multiple meanings of words).

With this app you can easily text, email, or paste the jokes into FB, Twitter, etc. The jokes seem to be geared to kids as they are fairly simple with a lot of play on words.

That being said, I am a bit cautious about recommending this app to be in kids’ hands for a couple of reasons – the use of the word moron and one kid-inappropriate joke comparing a naked man to an elephant. Funny…. but NOT for kids.

If you, the adult, are the keeper of this app then go ahead and get it. Ask the riddles and have the kids answer while waiting in a restaurant or for an appointment. It’s free and 99% appropriate for kids.