I am not a fan of electronic gizmos for kids, but I am a Mac fan. When offered an opportunity to review a new app for iPhones and iPod touch by Parents Magazine, I decided to approach it with an open mind. Previously, I’d bashed such applications, but this one is different.
My own personal experience involves my five-year-old son, who has verbal apraxia. The tracing activities are wonderful in providing him with a unique way to practice fine motor skills while engaging with letters, shapes, and numbers. I am also thrilled to have him using the iPod touch, as soon he will be using it as an AAC device to help him communicate.
The green factor in this app may be a stretch, and for that dear reader, I apologize; however, if your are looking for an app to entertain your child on the car, airplane, waiting room, iPlay n’ Learn may be for you. Heck, you can’t beat the price.
iPlay n’ Learn is available for only $0.99, and it consists of many great features appropriate for preschool and kindergarten children.
We’ve seen firsthand that the activities in the application keep children laughing and entertained as they learn about letters, numbers, colors and shapes. Encouraging audio messages and exciting animations like the chugging train – to deliver positive reinforcement and keep kids engaged.
Disclosure: I received a $10 gift certificate in order that I could download this iphone/iPod touch app., as well as buy a little music for my soul!
My 23 month old nephew’s favorite “app” on my i-phone – The photo album. He loves flipping through it and naming family members and objects.
Jennifer – my comment isn’t really to the application (I don’t have an i-phone or a touch) you write about but to the comment about having a five year old son with apraxia. My two year old son just received the apraxia diagnosis and I am trying to get my arms around it. What resources have your used, found, recommend? Things that worked, things that didn’t? Any advice or things to try would be greatly appreciated. Right now his expressive language is below 12 months (however he comprehends well above his age). Thank you! Wendy
Wendy, i think you are lucky to have gotten your dx so early. My son has been in ST since he was three, and we just got a DX after visiting the Camaratas in Nashville. You should look into them, as well as Kaufman. We may go see her this summer, and I want to get her program. I have tried using what I think it is (ie teaching approximations), and we’ve seen more progress ever since. Fish oils help too (nordic naturals). You can email me at jennifer at ecochildspay dot com.
what are the studies saying about radiation leaking from cellphones when playing games on them?
Corey, that’s a good point. I think the radiation is from using it at as phone transmitting and receiving calls, because you are holding it so close to your head. When children play games on an iphone, it is in their hands, and the phone is not transmitting other than searching for signals. You can also turn the wifi and cell phone part off (I know at least the wifi part can be).
The Environmental Working Group just did a study on cell phones and according to them as long as the phone is on radiation is being emitted. I don’t know anything about apraxia so this is not speaking to your situation, but it seems like more video crack to me.
Whenever I give my iphone to my son to play games, I put it in airplane mode, which turns off all the “communication” functionality of the phone. This makes it so that I am in essence giving him nothing more harmful than an ipod. Which, depending on your viewpoint, could be good or bad 🙂
You know, you can please some of the people….and obviously not all people all the time.
As a mom of three, I have learned that it is my prerogative to make choices – and compromises. The face is, that kids are often stuck in a car, or a plane, or waiting for an older sibling’s music lesson to finish. If you are totally organized, you’ll have a carefully packed tote bag filled with healthy snacks and educational games and toys. But sometimes, the day may have gotten away from you and you don’t have that bag at your fingertips. That’s when you might turn to something like your iPhone, in which case it is helpful to have recommendations such as this one of Jennifer’s to guide you towards the higher quality ones.
So thank you, Jennifer!
we have developed new fun app for kids!
ABC zoo is a teaching and developing iPhone and iPod touch application for your kids. Easy-to-use on a trip or whenever you are out with your children to amuse or keep them busy. A useful and funny app that lets your kid get used to reading. Your kids will learn alphabet while playing.
available here:
xoxol.net
Hi Jennifer. This comment is a few months after the fact – but better late than never! 🙂 We’ve never been big fans of gadgets for our kids, but they can definitely be used as an educational tool with the right apps. Take a look at LunchboxReviews.Com if you’re ever on the lookout for educational, age-appropriate apps for toddlers, preschool and early elementary kids. Lunchbox collects apps and reviews to save parents time when mulling over the purchase of the best iPhone apps for kids. 🙂
I try to be on the “healthy organized” side of things when it comes to my 3 and 8 year olds: packing the healthy snacks, no tv or gadgets in cars, only educational lessons/games on the iPhone etc…but it’s not always easy! Luckily there are more healthy choices for snacks these days and more educational Apps for the kids as well! Our favorite Apps: Montessori Cross Words, Math Girl and Smarty Shortz Our favorite DVD for fall: Spookley the Square Pumpkin
Our favorite healthy snack: those new Veggie Sticks and miniature Green Machine Juice (finally Costco carries both!) Ok I’ll step off my soap box…….thx
You should check out http://www.p2games.co.uk
They have so many great apps for kids!