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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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)

Developer: iCrysta

Tap the screen to bring the picture to life — birds tweeting and chirping, balloons flying away.

Free

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Developer: Dream Cortex

Eight-key piano with animated animal characters. Free style or play along to a nursery rhyme.

AU$2.49

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

Developer: iTot Apps

More flashcards but this time in French as well as English and Spanish.

AU$1.19

Developer: Friendiki

Includes five apps in phone style interface — dial a phone, colour piano, letter board, flashcards and quizzes.

AU$2.49