My kids have become one with the iPad this summer. I have been very relaxed about screen time for the kids this summer. First, they're on vacation. Second, it's a gazillion degrees of hot in DC! As if that wasn't enough, yesterday, it was cooler in Louisiana than here in the DC metro area. It's crazy!
Luckily, the apps the kids keep returning to are educational, so I don't feel guilty about the extra screen time. They're learning and don't even realize it. Well, they probably do, but I know they are having a lot of fun. If fighting over whose turn it is on the iPad is any indication of fun.
Awesome Eats by the Whole Kids Foundation is a cute, fun game that also teaches kids about healthy eating. Kids have to sort fruits, vegetables, and other healthy foods on conveyor belts into different bins. As the your kids progress in the game, there are new obstacles: faster conveyor belts, crows stealing food, rocks, and more. I like that we can all play together as a family. Cost: Free.
Ruckus Reader is the latest offering from Ruckus Media. I have long admired Ruckus Media's apps and was thrilled to finally be able to try them out. Ruckus Reader bundles all the interactive ebooks into one easy to use app. Ruckus Media books are based on popular characters like My Little Pony, Dino Dan, Chuck & Friends plus many more. The free version includes one ebook from each series. To access the entire library, a subscription is required. The parents section allows me to track how much time each kid spends on different ebooks. Each week, Ruckus Media emails me a progress report. Cost: Free for limited ebooks; 6 month subscription with access to entire RM library is $24.99.
Disney's Brave: Storybook Deluxe app gives Sophia a chance to follow along the free spirited, curly-locked Merida from the Brave movie. I love that this app is available because the movie is very dark and a bit scary at the end. I know Sophia would be frightened by those parts of the movie, she can read the story or follow the narration. There are also coloring pages, puzzles, and Merida's Challenge-an archery game. Cost: $6.99
In Toca Store the kids stock and run their own store, cash register cha-ching sound effects included. This is a favorite of Jaxson's but sometimes the kids take turn playing shop owner and customer. After the customer places the item he/she wants to purchase, the shop owner rings it up. There's even a change purse full of gold coins. We alternate counting the coins in Vietnamese and English. Cost: $1.99 (Check out the Toca Boca Facebook page, they're putting their apps on sale this summer!)
ToonTastic is perfect budding animators. Kids will learn storytelling principles as they create their own animated cartoon. They can use the included characters and backgrounds or draw their own. Once the scene is set up, the kids can move around the characters and record sounds and dialogue for each part of the story arc. Even background music is included, depending on the emotion kids want to portray for reach scene. Once your director/animator is finished, they can save the video and watch it over and over again. It's so simple to use, even my 2.5 year old can create his own story. Cost: Free.
I received codes in order to review Ruckus Reader and Disney's Brave. I personally paid for the Toca Store app as well as Toca Boca apps. All opinions are my own.
