Having an iPad for your kids can be a great thing, but it can also bring total anxiety into your life: what if they throw it and it breaks? Are they going to be hooked on technology? When they don’t get what they want and they beg for the iPad are you going to cave just so you don’t have to deal with the toddler drama?
We have found that our iPad experience works best when there are limits.
- Limit time: We set a timer so that screen time is only in 30 minute increments. Occasionally we allow a movie but never is he allowed to be on the iPad for hours on end.
- Reward for good behavior: We learned this the hard way. If you use it as a reward, the time spent on the iPad will be enjoyed by all. Our son turned into a monster when we first introduced the iPad to him and would repeatedly scream “my iPad!” when we had to take it away. Since then we use it only as a reward for good behavior- if he has a fit, he does not use the iPad.
- Filter Games: We have a folder with his name on it. He knows how to get to it and that all of those games are appropriate for him. We also have it so that they are all educational. We use it as a learning tool for him to access information and stimulate the technology craving of today’s day and age.
Sometimes parenting is hard and having something to occupy the little ones can be a major bonus, but what are the best apps to have on the iPad so that just because your child is spending screen time they are still learning and benefiting them.
I figured I would share with you what we have on our iPad and what the favorite toddler apps are that we feel have been a blessing to our little guy.
ABC Mouse – Welcome to ABCmouse.com – the #1 learning program for ages 2-7! You may subscribe to ABCmouse.com from within this app or you can log in to an existing account to get started immediately. ABCmouse.com is proven to accelerate learning, with children developing early literacy and math skills two to three times faster as a result! It is totally educational but fun. Our son loves earning tickets and we sit down together to learn at his specific learning level.
Counting 123 – Your ultimate counting teacher!!! Watch your children as they play & quickly learn how to count and recognize numbers in this fun and simple children’s game. Your children will be counting in no time!!! Completely FREE & packed with 4 different mini-games Fish Tap challenge, Spot the Differences, Jumping Grasshopper and a Dresses Fashion Show. Enjoy remarkable animation technology which introduces a first look at numbers for the whole family to enjoy.
Lego Duplo Trains – All aboard! Driving the colorful LEGO® DUPLO® Train from station to station is any toddler’s dream. Your child will play the role of the train driver, load cargo, build bridges, stop at crossings, help passengers, refuel, and lay new tracks to steer the train safely around obstacles. Copying grown-ups and their activities is important to your 2-year-old toddler’s development – and few things are as ‘grown-up’ as driving a huge steam train through the scenic countryside, full speed ahead, horns tooting. If your toddler is fascinated by trains, this simple game will provide new inspiration for hours of creative play – with or without a LEGO DUPLO train set.
Sorting 3 – TinyHands Sorting 3 is the third game in our Sorting series. Like the other two games of this series, this game teaches about sorting, but it also contains more complex sorting environments such as sorting by concept combinations and contextual classification.
Toddler Games and Fish Puzzles for Kids – Polished underwater puzzle activities for toddlers and kids! Large wooden puzzle pieces, exotic underwater marine animals, and vibrant colours make it perfect for young kids and toddlers. There are three difficulty levels and a tropical aquarium that can be filled with fish and other sea animals. Puzzle activities are carried out with encouraging and rewarding manner. Kids earn aquarium fish as a reward every time they complete a puzzle. There are 46 different fish/sea animals to be earned. Toddler Games and Fish Puzzles is designed from the ground up for one, two, and three year old kids.
Peekaboo Barn & Peekaboo Safari – Open up the world-famous Peekaboo Barn, perfect for toddlers. Inside the little bouncing barn, friendly farm animals are waiting to pop out and surprise your little one. Try and guess who they are; tap the doors to find out! More animals, animations, and sounds than ever. Work with your child to learn the names of animals and hear the sounds they make. Younger children will love opening the barn doors to find a new animal animation, as they learn about cause and effect and become familiar with animal names and sounds. Older children will enjoy guessing animals by sound, then seeing the animal names, which helps develop early literacy skills.
PBS Kids – The app provides a safe, child-friendly viewing experience for all ages. Kids can easily browse and watch videos at home, on the road, or anywhere with a 3G or WiFi connection. Every week, the app will introduce your child to a new “Weekly Pick,” a set of fun educational videos that will engage him or her in reading, science, math and more.
Quizzing Toddler Preschool – Toddler Preschool Quizzing entertains while teaching your toddler everything from shapes and letters to musical instruments and fractions. Choose one or more categories from the toddler safe menu and the app will display colorful quizzes and flashcards with directions read out loud in English, Spanish or French. Approved by teachers, parents and toddlers alike the app focuses on simplicity and ease of use.
