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"Children's Apps that Inject a Little Learning into Vacation"

Children’s Apps That Inject a Little Learning Into Vacation

By WARREN BUCKLEITNER

 
Dealing with some antsy kids? One solution is quality children’s apps. Not only are they perfect for rainy day fun, but they can extend your school’s curriculum into the vacation, a point you might not want to mention to your child. They are listed here by age, from young to old.
 
ABC ZooBorns, $2.99, is packed with crystal-clear photos and YouTube videos that feature baby zoo animals as a way to give meaning to letters and words. Best for ages 2 to 8.

Lego 4+ lets you mix and match virtual Lego blocks to build a vehicle, which you can then drive through a side-scrolling maze. The app features the same vehicles used in various Lego kits, which is why it is free. Best for ages 3 to 9.

Little Fox Music Box, $2.99, is akin to stepping inside a well-made cuckoo clock. The touch-and-discover format is full of surprises, which keeps things interesting. Best for ages 4 and up.

Bugs and Bubbles, $2.99, is one of my favorite apps to come along so far this year. Besides featuring real-looking bugs and shimmering bubbles, the 18 math and logic games become harder as you play, so there is always a challenge. Best for ages 3 to 8.

LetterSchool, $2.99, is a case study in how to enhance an age-old schoolhouse subject (handwriting) with the latest technology. Each upper or lower letter or numeral is presented in a choice of common penmanship styles, in follow-along fashion. Best for ages 3 and up.

Monster’s Socks, $2.99, is one of many excellent children’s e-books you can find in the app store this summer. Beautifully illustrated and not too scary, the story has a theme similar to “Where the Wild Things Are.” Best for ages 3 and up.

Nick Jr. Draw and Play, $6.99, turns an iPad into an easel, stocked with many shades of fine-lined colored pencils, crayons, markers and charcoal. Best for ages 3 to 8.

The Great Cookie Thief, $3.99,  effectively brings the old West to your iPad. Besides the interactive antics of Cookie Monster, you can use the iPad’s camera to create your own “wanted” poster, of your dog. Best for ages 3 and up.

Motion Math: Wings Pro, $6.99,  turns a school worksheet into addicting fun, as you lean left or right to steer a bird toward an island. To do so, however, you must quickly calculate greater quantities, using sets or, later, fractions. A free version with in-app sales is available. Best for ages 4 and up.

Math Doodles, $2.99, lets children explore the sheer joy of mathematical relationships in different languages and forms, including Spanish, binary or Braille. Best for ages 5 and up.

Monster Physics, 99 cents, contains a ready supply of blocks of ice, bowling balls or rubber bands, which can be used to get your pet monster through a maze. Fifty puzzles keep things interesting. Best for ages 7 and up.

The Sonnets by William Shakespeare, $13.99,  is a celebration of the spoken word, using 154 of Shakespeare’s sonnets, each read by famous actors like Fiona Shaw (“Harry Potter”) or David Tennant (“Doctor Who”). Best for ages 12 and up.
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