Right around age 2 is when I started letting Toby, Eleanor and Callista have more freedom with my iPad. Before then there were too many arguments and tug-of-war incidents, too much confusion over what the home button did and generally not enough patience – both with apps and each other.
Now, we’ve established a decent concept of sharing and taking turns, and they’re really enjoying their play time with the shiny, happy technology.
Toca Boca is our favorite developer. My favorite of our Toca games is Toca Monsters, in which you prepare food to feed your hideous monster friend. ETC’s favorite Toca apps are the hair salon apps – they love shampooing and washing the characters’ hair and adding accessories.
My two favorite educational apps I’ve downloaded are Make It Pop, which teaches shapes, counting, letters, colors and size descriptions (tiny, medium, big, etc.). You pop popcorn, balloons, bubbles and make fireworks explode. The other is Endless ABC, which has you match letters while teaching each sound. Older children learn to spell, read and define words you won’t find on your average spelling list – belch, rainstorm and lick were three we did tonight.
The PBS app is nice with its oodles of favorite-show episodes, and you readers are familiar with the Yo Gabba Gabba obsession in my house. Peekaboo Barn was the first app they ever learned and loved, and they still love playing it.
Do you like using technology with children? What apps do you recommend?
8 Responses to Apptastic
Leave a Reply
Boo ya! I was 4 books behind, but I've rallied! Onto book No. 30! #ABeautifulMess #amreading
Because I'm a total lightweight & don't parent while even slightly drunk, & because I finally found plain sparkling water (not club soda) - fizzy, no-rum mojito water FTW!
![](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8280/8746931157_29945ca84b.jpg "Eleanor. She's currently my most challenging child - fearless, doesn't listen to "no" & is very attached to me. For all the frustrations, she is joy defined. This face!")
Eleanor. She's currently my most challenging child - fearless, doesn't listen to "no" & is very attached to me. For all the frustrations, she is joy defined. This face!
OBNOXIOUS. I doubt this is relevant to Gone Girl's story, so why the conception distinction? Do you ever see an IVF-mention for the random next-door singleton baby? (If it is relevant, I'll apologize for my rant.)
Keep your britches on, & try to refrain from telling me how much you loved or hated this book. I waited this long to read it because I didn't want to be swayed by ALL the hype. (Book No. 29 of 2013) #ABeautifulMess #amreading
Cleaning up the dinner mess while my brain visits Hogwarts. If I can't have a new book in my hands, I'm listening to an already-read book on audio. #amreading ⚡
Pizza sauce today. I dropped the messy ladle carrying it in from the grill. Will I ever learn? Probably not.
The summer sun is going to give me 3 tow heads.
![](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7294/8741481743_4a11021cb4.jpg ""I working," Callista said. "I hiding," Eleanor said. "Playing with strings!" they both said. Sisters. I love being their mama.")
"I working," Callista said. "I hiding," Eleanor said. "Playing with strings!" they both said. Sisters. I love being their mama.
I'll start book No. 28 of 2013 as soon as I'm done dicking around with #ABeautifulMess.
These guys are so at home on a farm. I love it. ☺
I think my basket was filled with strawberries minus 1 bite each. #triplets
Baby Pygmy goat minutes after being born! (Some sort of afterbirth was still hanging around, so ... avoid that area if you're squeamish.)
Looooove my library!
Don't be like me & miss out on this book for too long. WOW! (No real-book pic because I bought the Nook book. In fact, Nook/Kindle/etc. versions are still a steal at $3.99. Buy it!)
HOPELESS by Colleen Hoover - these characters & their humor have made me laugh out loud several times, & I'm not even halfway through! #YAlit #amreading
I really should wear an apron when I cook. ☺
Eleanor Explains It All (or why she sent Callista to time out) on my blog. Link in my profile!
Eleanor just sent Callista to time out. C was throwing a fit on the floor, so E decided she needed a TO, & C obliged. #triplets
Luxury.
My two love the cookie/cupcake/cake maker apps. You drag each ingredient into the bowl, stir it, put it in the oven, frost/decorate, etc.
When the hubs and I upgraded our iPhones, we kept our old 3′s and filled them with free apps for the kids to play when we were out and about. They have Innotabs that they play on at home but they are big and bulky for when we are at restaurants, so they get a kick out of putting their “phones” in their pockets to play with while we eat out.
The baking apps sound awesome. Thank you!
My 2 year old loves Tozzle, a puzzle game, and Monkey Preschool Lunchbox, which teaches colors and shapes and stuff.
Ooh, we’re working on shapes. We’ve been stuck on triangle on circle for a while, so maybe a new shapes app will help. Thank you!
My daughter loves KidsDoodle – basically its just a doodle pad but there are different “paint” options. Keeps her busy. She also likes Kids Connect the Dots and Kids Shape Puzzle both by IntelliJoy.
I am going to try the Make it Pop one, thanks!
I need to find a doodle app for them. I’ll check this one out. Thank you!
We like Duck Duck Moose apps. My 3 yo fav is Trucks. You get to wash a car, fix a flat tire, pick up the trash… Its great!
I don’t know if it is an app or just videos, but the Baby Einstein stuff is awesome with my god-daughter. Love!!
I saw your Disney pictures on your twitter feed. We were there 3/4-7. When did you go?