Phonics with Phonzy is a phonics app for kids. It is unique in ways of encouraging kids to practice the letters and words out loud, which is essential in any language learning experience. It also demonstrates mouth movements to show kids how to pronounce the sound. It is a free app right now. However, I don’t know how long it will stay free. If you need phonics help for your kids, this might be a good one to try and… Read more

It is hard to believe it is time to think about holiday gifts already. This year I am putting a list of our favorite tablet toys and accessories for kids. If you already have an iPad or iPhone, or are planning to get one this holiday season, these toys will go well with iPad and iPhone, and all are educational and fun! For more gift ideas for kids, please visit 15 gift guides for kids from real moms. We also… Read more

We have been using the app iF Poems for a while and liked how easy it is to use and how rich the content is. iF Poems is an app carries 270 classic poems for kids. It allows users to search poems by categories and kids age. It is a gentle introduction of poetry for kids. On the opening page, you can see there are 12 categories of poems: Growing UP, Nature Seasons and Animals, Humour and Nonsense, Love and… Read more

I like storytelling activities and storytelling learning tools. Storytelling helps kids develop oral language skills, boost thinking skills, creativity, and imagination. While learning to put a story together, kids in fact gain skills in better listening and reading. Also storytelling helps kids express their emotions and feelings that many times are hard to do. Today we share top storytelling learning tools for kids on iPad, many are also available on other devices. This is part of our Best Learning Tools… Read more

I liked the app Petting Zoo a lot, so when I saw the same developer has another app Hat Monkey, I had to get it. Hat Monkey is an interactive book app for toddlers to kindergarteners. But I ensure you that people of all ages will love it. It is a story about a cute monkey who wears a hat all the time. Kids are welcomed by the monkey on the opening screen, pointing to the arrow that opens up… Read more

We like Disney movies, from those classic movies like Snow White, Dumbo, to recent ones, like Frozen; from action movies like Pirates of the Caribbean, to comedies like Wreck It Ralph. Disney makes good movies for kids with great moral and educational value, and entertaining enough that the whole family can enjoy. If you like Disney movies, you will like the free app Disney Movie Anywhere. It was launched on Apple App Store earlier this year, and recently, it is… Read more

Reading poems at a young age helps kids develop a love of language and appreciate the beauty the language can provide. The rhyme, the rhythm, and the selection of words, … all help kids not only learn the language but also learn about life. Funny poetry for kids is a fun way to get kids interested in poetry. Today we have an app that is perfect for introducing poetry for kids. Funny Kids Poems is a fun app for kids… Read more

Recently I found a wonderful website that offers free digital picture books for kids: Unite for Literacy. It is a website, so you can access on your computer. It also works well on iPad and iPhone. All books have professional narrations, plus there are more than 20 languages to choose from. When you get on the website, the program does ask you to choose location, but that is it. You don’t need put in name or contact information. On the… Read more

My Monster Mayhem is an interactive book app for young children. It is listed among our 25 Monster Apps for Kids as a monster themed book app. It is a fun read, even if it is not during Halloween season. It is free for limited time, so definitely grab it before the price goes up. A young girl gets in trouble with her mom for many reasons, sometime it is to slam the door, sometime it is to splash bath… Read more

How can you not love Cookie Monster?  Our four year old laughed out loud through this app as Cookie Monster used his signature bad grammar to express various forms of dismay over his lost cookies. Cookie Monster’s Challenge offers a series of brain-building games designed to challenge and engage children ages 3-5 by practicing self-control, focus, memory, following directions and problem solving – skills that are essential for school readiness. There are 10 mini games in the app. Each game presents… Read more

Many kids like to play jigsaw puzzles. Playing puzzles has many developmental benefits for kids. While playing puzzles, kids develop hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills; learn to understand surrounding environment, recognize shapes, improve memory and problem solving skills; Kids also learn to set goals, and be patient. There are many puzzle apps for kids on the App Store. I recently found one that really stands out, as it also adds word recognition into the play. 101 Animal Puzzles for Kids… Read more

Plants is an interactive diorama about plants in different biomes. Via open ended play, kids learn the eco systems and how plants grow and live in the real world. It is designed by Tinybop, whose first app Human Body was a great success. I love the guided exploratory approach of teaching. There is no lessons to go through and there is no talking in the app. Opening the app is like walking into this amazing world of nature, and it is… Read more

We love Toca Boca apps. Although the apps are designed for young children in toddler and preschool age, my older child and myself have always enjoyed playing with Toca apps. I like the design concepts behind their apps – they want their apps be kids’ toys, not games. The difference is playing toys doesn’t follow rules, kids can play anyway they want to. This is how we feel about Toca Robot Lab. It is a fun toy for anyone who… Read more

Whose Toes are Those is a very fun matching game app for kids – and adults. It is a quick and easy play for kids any age. Kids match animal feet to their heads, which train their observation skills. It is available for both Apple devices and Android devices. It is free for limited time on App Store. The play is simple. When kids open the app, they will see 3 animal pictures in front of the curtain, and 2… Read more