|
For many children, holidays mean more time for fun, leisure, and yes - that desktop computer or handheld device with multiple games and applications to while away the hours. These come especially handy during a long road or plane trip  . Such games and apps (applications in short) include those designed specially for the 'Apple' family of multimedia devices - the iPod, iPod Touch and the iPhone. If your family has been bitten by the 'i-bug' and has an iPod Touch or iPhone, you may already be familiar with a few (or several hundred) of the tens of thousands of customised apps available thru the iTunes store or designed by third party developers.
Here's our pick of edutainment apps for young children - which are either free or cost up to US$1.99 (less than S$2.80). If they prefer other games, how about a compromise - get them to play these in between their 'favourites'? Give these apps your own 'test run' as well - you may just find yourself addicted to one or two 
 1. PopMath
Cost: US$0.99
Age: 7 years and up
This app features simple math operations. Users can pop math operations and the result bubbles one after the other. Fun for both kids and adults.
 2. Coloring Fun
Cost: US$0.99
Age: 2 years and up
If your children love colouring, this is great. You can colour drawings that include animals, a house, a boat, etc. You can also save selected drawings into a folder. The names of objects in the drawings are also spelled out loud, which helps to teach them spelling.
 3. Wheels on the Bus
Cost: US$0.99
Age: 1 year and up
Your toddler know and love this song! He or she will enjoy this story book which allows interaction with the bus and people on the bus by using gestures.
 4. Bumblebee Touchbook
Cost: US$0.99
Age: 1 year and up
Kids would love an animation sequence featuring a wide-eyed bumblebee and music by Tchaikovsky and Rimsky-Korsakov, and simple, interactive learning activities where they can touch any word to watch it animate and hear it spoken.
 5. Trace
Cost: Free
Age: 5 and up
In this fun app, you walk a man to a target in each screen and level. You can draw and erase paths and you need to avoid moving obstacles. This helps to develop problem solving skills since as the levels gets higher it becomes much harder to avoid obstacles and get to the target.
 6. Memory Match Kids
Cost: US$1.99
Age: 3 years and up
Though this is similar to the physical version of matching identical shapes, it can be challenging even for adults. With a large variety of graphics and animations, this will keep both young and old occupied for some time, while improving memory skills.
 7. Create A Cartoon Face
Cost: US$1.99
Age: 2 years and up
This is a fun app that helps to promote creativity. Make different faces and experessionapp lets you generate cartoon sketches by selecting a face type, hair style, eyes, mouth, nose, etc. Without any skill, you can create quite entertaining cartoon faces. My son loves this app, he giggles constantly when playing with it. You can get the app and view the other reviews here.
 8.Sneezies
Cost: US$0.99
Age: 3 years and up
In this addictive game, you sprinkle sneezing powder on furry little pompom creatures called “Sneezies” that float across the screen trapped in bubbles. Their This frees them , and their sneezes will start chain reactions that free even more sneezies! Great fun – your child AND you will find it hard to stop.
 9. Preschool Adventure
Cost: US$0.99
Age: 1.5 years and up
This application allows kids to select from 5 applications teaching colors, shapes, body parts, sounds, and a body matching game. The colours and graphics are pleasing and children will enjoy hearing the sounds of the different words.
 10. MiniPiano
Cost: Free
Age: 6 months and up
Every child should indulge in some creative music play! This simple piano lets users tap out tunes to their heart’s content.
Do you have other educational apps to recommend? Do let us know.
 |
EduBuzz 