Top 10 Travel Apps to Keep Your Kids Content
Whether you're on planes, trains or automobiles, these apps will keep the kids happy and save your sanity. The best part - we've managed to find apps that are incredibly fun, and incorporate brain stimulation at the same time.
1. Sound Touch
Sound Touch is intentionally simple for developing brains, but won't be boring for your toddler or preschooler. As your young one presses images on the screen (animals, music, transportation), a correlating sound and image pops up - the roar of a lion, the ringing of a phone, the rushing of a train on tracks, etc. Each item has five different pictures or sounds attached to it, keeping kids engaged longer than you'd expect. Being entertained while they are (unknowingly) schooled? Sounds smart to us.
Available on iTunes and Android Market
2. Read Me Stories
No one can ever take the place of you, but as a decent substitute during the periods when you prefer not to be distracted (like driving) our money is on Read Me Stories. This app consists of a library of books that are simple but fun, whimsical and captivating for young kids - always with a good message at heart. It includes a decent amount of free books, with access to the larger library coming at an additional (but nominal) cost.
Available on iTunes and Samsung Android
3. Alphabet Tracing
There are no bells and whistles involved with Alphabet Tracing (literally). With all the cluttered apps in the early alphabet learning arena, we love the simplicity and clean presentation. An uncomplicated screen encourages kids to practice tracing upper case and lower case letters and numbers. Like most apps, the sound can be disabled, and best of all, it's free. Think of it as old school learning in a new school world.
Available on iTunes and appbrain for Android
4. The Monster at the End of This Book
We may have grown older, but we'll always have a soft spot for Grover and the hit book from our heyday, The Monster at the End of This Book. First published by Sesame Street in 1971, the book now takes a modern twist, with Grover asking for your help to turn the pages (except for the part where he wants you not to turn the page, and then kids can help break down a brick wall and more by tapping on the screen). Of course we know how it all ends, but like life, most of the real fun happens along the way.
Available on iTunes
5. Doodle Buddy
Your little buddy may not have the dexterity for many devices or activities, but Doodle Buddy is an age equalizer, since almost anyone can draw with their digits. An app that's fun for kids who are only able to swipe their finger across the screen, it also offers more creative options for the older members of your crew, enabling them to change colours, background, brush strokes, upload pictures and more. But if simply for your toddler, this app is a total snap. (And it's free.)
Available on iTunes
6. Bakery Story
Bakery Story is unquestionably a game, but with legitimate learning thrown in. As the proprietor of this busy bakery, your little entrepreneur is responsible for all aspects of the store, from mixing and baking cakes, to menu planning to seating customers and more. The older the player, the more they'll understand, but kids six and up will rise (get it?) to the occasion when running their own shop.
Available on iTunes and Android Market
7. Motion Math: Hungry Fish
There are dozens of math-focused apps available, but our preference tends towards Motion Math: Hungry Fish for its visual manipulation of addition, subtraction and negatives. As the numbers pop onto the screen, drag them together to make the required total. In the highest levels of difficulty (the Caves), there's only one chance to get it right before the Mad Fish eats your wrong answers. This game has relatively simple graphics compared to some games, but they'll be concentrating too hard to figure (ha!) that out.
Available on iTunes
8. Roxie's a-Maze-ing Vacation Adventure
Maybe it's because the twisted roadways remind us of small European towns, but Roxie's a-Maze-ing Vacation Adventure is a total trip. The goal here is for kids to drive, walk, fly, ski and raft along twisted roadways, trails and towns, picking up objects so they can move onto the next challenge. With gorgeous graphics and unexpected animation, it requires problem solving and patience, and engages both their mind and their senses.
Available on iTunes
9. Lume HD
Nominated for dozens of graphic awards for its truly spectacular images made entirely out of paper and cardboard, Lume tells the story of a little girl who goes to visit her grandfather, only to find the power is out at his house. Although he's nowhere to be found, he's left clues all around for her. A puzzle adventure game, this is definitely geared for older kids (six and up at least) and challenges their problem-solving skills, tenacity and imaginative thinking. For $2.99, it's a steal. (Note that it is not yet available on Android platforms.)
Available on iTunes
10. Playtime Theatre
For once, you'll be proud of them making a scene. Playtime Theatre allows kids to direct their own medieval play complete with moat, waterfall, drawbridge and a cast of misfit characters. As director, they can go backstage, change the cast, their location on set, the lighting, and the sequence of events. In short, this is their theatre and they are in control. It can take a little bit to figure out all the moving parts so to speak, but once they get into the groove, it's on with the show.
Available on iTunes
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