Many parents know how good an iPhone can be for keeping kids busy. Even if it doesn’t allow them to have an iPhone of their own, most parents have little hesitation in trading it in for a few moments of peace.
Now that the iPad is out, a new generation of apps are being released just to increase the display capacity. Virtually all apps that work on the iPhone work on the iPad, but the iPad-specific apps have a noticeable difference in quality. Many developers have rushed to release updated versions of their iPhone apps for the iPad, and Apple allows you to download the updates for free if you’ve already purchased them for your iPhone.
If you’re an Apple fanatic and you’ve already bought your new iPad, it’s only natural that you want to share your excitement with your kids. Here are 5 of the best kids’ apps for the iPad:
1. 123 Color HD ($.99 by Steve Glinsberg) – 123 Color HD is a talking coloring book available in English, Spanish, French and German. It’s already being hailed as the #1 educational app for iPad. This is “the” app for kids. It’s fun, never scolds for doing something wrong, and rewards kids with celebratory sound effects and spinning stars for coloring the pictures correctly. This means that children have fun when they do it wrong, but they struggle to do it right. The detail of the iPad version has improved a lot compared to the iPhone.
2. Ace Omicron ($.99 for Casey Gatti) – Ace Omicron is a fun spaceship shooter game with a new and improved version only for iPad. All versions are in the same download, with the correct version for your device installing automatically. This game is 21st century asteroids and kids love shooting giant rocks and enemy ships alike. The graphics and sound are second to none. There’s not much educational here, but it sure gets your attention. There are three game modes available: Classic, Hyper and Twilight.
3. Launch! ($.99 for CandyCane LLC) – Throw! is a simple puzzle game involving adorable “furballs”. It is incredibly addictive for children and adults alike. The game’s soundtrack is cheerful and makes kids feel like they are having fun while challenging their brain and sense of logic. The game takes place by touching a ball of fur and moving it in a direction to eliminate other balls of colored fur. The game features 10,000 different puzzles in 19 game levels. Modes include Arcade, Free Play, and Challenge.
4. iMake Faces ($.99 by iMagine Machine LLC) – Faces iMake is from the creator of the popular Itsy Bitsy Spider and Halloween apps. This app is all about creativity and imagination. The faces are put together from different images and basic colors and can be stored in a gallery for the young artist. This app is still in the iPhone version, but on iPad it is even better. The app comes with tutorial lessons so kids can quickly learn how to maximize their fun.
5. HD sneezes ($4.99 for Chillingo Ltd.) – Sneezies HD will set you back a bit more than the other apps listed here, but it’s worth the price. The HD graphics of this game complement the relaxing gameplay, making it almost hypnotic. The Sneezies characters are another version of the “furball” and simply ooze cuteness. Called both a casual and a melodic game, Sneezies HD requires only one free finger and a bit of attention. More than 60 levels of increasing difficulty are included.