Top apps for tots
It may give them square eyes, but Apple's iPhone and iPad also seem to be great teaching aids with a range of toddler-minded apps in store. We take a look at some of the best.
Voice Toddler Cards
It may give them square eyes, but Apple's iPhone and iPad also seem to be great teaching aids with a range of toddler-minded apps in store. We take a look at some of the best.
Developer: Sai Services
This app includes 400 flashcards including alphabet cards, numbers and colours, as well as featuring real photos and labels for each picture. Available in either English or Spanish.
AU$1.19
First Words
Developer: Clever Coding
This app hopes to achieve the lofty goal in its title displaying drawings of objects with an audio guide when touched. A great introduction to reading and language with fruit, numbers, animals, shapes, letters of the alphabet, objects from the beach, colours and sports.
AU$2.49
Animal Sounds
Developer: Tantrumapps.com
Great graphics, real photos of animals and audio that plays real animal noises. Though beware, Tantrumapps has stupidly created several versions of the app that either feature all 36 animals in one app or the option to buy separate apps and GET RIPPED OFF!
AU$1.19
I Hear Ewe — Animal Sounds for Toddlers
Developer: Claireware Software
Cartoon drawings of animals with a detailed audio guide. You touch the screen and it says “this is the sound a cow makes ... Mooooo” (it uses real animal sound recordings). The app includes 24 different animals and the sound of 12 vehicle motors.
Free
Old Mac
Developer: Duck Duck Moose
An interactive book, but not your traditional take on Old MacDonald. Highly interactive, allowing tots to poke or slide objects on the screen to see what happens. Our only complaint was soft volume on an iPod Touch.
AU$2.49
Itsty Bitsy Spider
Developer: Duck Duck Moose
Another interactive book with an interesting and immersive twist on a nursery rhyme classic. Again, soft volume lets this title down somewhat.
AU$1.19
First Words: Animals
Developer: Learning Touch
Arrange letters to spell the names of animals. This app reads out the letters as you place them, has animated pictures of the animals, and makes the animal noise when you get it correct. A Lite version is also available with three animals for free.
AU$2.49
Hatch
Developer: Phodder
Designed to distract toddlers in the supermarket. Egg tapping to reveal a special friend.
AU$1.19 or Free (paid version has no ads)
Toddler Tweets
Developer: iCrysta
Tap the screen to bring the picture to life — birds tweeting and chirping, balloons flying away.
Free
Little Brainiac Fruit
Developer: Nerdtown
Multiple choice word puzzle with four pictures. Hear the word spoken and match the fruit. Features drawings of the fruit, and encouraging audio whether you're right or wrong.
Thomas Game Pack
Developer: Hit Entertainment
Three games featuring Thomas the Tank Engine and friends. Matching mission, cargo mazes and engine puzzles. Cargo maze was a hit with our Thomas-loving, app-reviewing toddler.
AU$3.99
Balloonimals
Developer: IDED
Blow to inflate the balloon, shake to transform into different animals. Lite version features only one animal shape.
AU$2.49 or lite version free
Giraffe’s Matching Zoo
Developer: Tomato Interactive
Memory-style game with zoo animals. Features cartoon-like drawings of the animals and includes cute sound effects like the snapping jaws of a crocodile.
Free
Smack It
Developer: The Game Creators
Watch for critters to pop up their heads and smack them down into the ground.
Free or deluxe with extra levels for AU$1.19
Chuggington Roundhouse Romp
Developer: Ludorum
Tap the trains as they pop out of the roundhouse. If you get them all right, you’re rewarded with a clip from the show.
Free
Toddler Talking Cards
Developer: Blustudios
Features photos of each item and includes numbers, animals, shapes, colours, letters, vehicles and food. Choose voice in English or Spanish and shows both English and Spanish spelling.
AU$1.29
Old McDonald’s Farm
Developer: Are you Game Inc
Music and long play version of the classic song, designed to entertain and keep children engaged. It has a great tune and really fun graphics.
AU$1.19
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
Developer: Are you Game Inc
Cartoon-like graphics telling the story, but quite short tune. By default it only plays once, but you can set to repeat and play over and over.
AU$1.19
Puff The Magic Dragon
Developer: Are you Game Inc
Another beautiful rendition of a classic children’s tale. Not interactive, but gorgeous cartoon graphics tell this wonderful story.
AU$1.19
Baby Piano
Developer: Dream Cortex
Eight-key piano with animated animal characters. Free style or play along to a nursery rhyme.
AU$2.49
Wheels on the Bus
Developer: Duck Duck Moose
Follow along to this song, moving the bus so the wheels go round, opening and shutting the doors, pushing the people up and down.
AU$1.19
Toddler Flashcards
Developer: iTot Apps
More flashcards but this time in French as well as English and Spanish.
AU$1.19
Baby Apps All in One
Developer: Friendiki
Includes five apps in phone style interface — dial a phone, colour piano, letter board, flashcards and quizzes.
AU$2.49