Keeping the kids happy while the adults chat
October 5, 2009 8:14 AM Subscribe
What are some iPhone apps to amuse kids ages 4 - 8? I have the star wars "light saber" app and a mini piano app, and those have been big hits, but they are getting old now.
My 5 and 7 year old enjoy Cooking Mama enough that I might have to spring for the paid version.
posted by padraigin at 8:29 AM on October 5, 2009
posted by padraigin at 8:29 AM on October 5, 2009
BubbleWrap. AtomicFart. PAC-MAN. Cradle. WhackGroundhog.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 8:33 AM on October 5, 2009
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 8:33 AM on October 5, 2009
My six year old loves poker dice (motion X Poker). She is the only kindergartner who knows what a full house is. "Daddy! I got jakes over queens!"
posted by shothotbot at 8:36 AM on October 5, 2009
posted by shothotbot at 8:36 AM on October 5, 2009
Bubbles -- you use your finger to create bubbles on screen and then poke at them to pop!
Crazy disco -- a disco ball rotes on screen --shiny!
posted by cestmoi15 at 8:40 AM on October 5, 2009
Crazy disco -- a disco ball rotes on screen --shiny!
posted by cestmoi15 at 8:40 AM on October 5, 2009
My kids are 8 and just-about-7, and these are their favorites:
Balloonimals
Doodle Kids
Finger Paint
ZooBorns (baby animals -- how can you miss?)
Dots Free (the classic connect-the-dots-to-make-squares game)
I Can Has Cheezburger (some of the jokes will go over kids' heads, of course)
posted by cerebus19 at 8:40 AM on October 5, 2009
Balloonimals
Doodle Kids
Finger Paint
ZooBorns (baby animals -- how can you miss?)
Dots Free (the classic connect-the-dots-to-make-squares game)
I Can Has Cheezburger (some of the jokes will go over kids' heads, of course)
posted by cerebus19 at 8:40 AM on October 5, 2009
My friend wrote a pretty amusing iPhone app: Mustache. Kids seem to enjoy it :)
posted by jacquilinala at 9:01 AM on October 5, 2009
posted by jacquilinala at 9:01 AM on October 5, 2009
Glowstick (free)
Parachute Panic (worth the $0.99, even for adults)
posted by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints at 9:17 AM on October 5, 2009
Parachute Panic (worth the $0.99, even for adults)
posted by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints at 9:17 AM on October 5, 2009
Tower Bloxx
Rolando
Sneezies
FirstWords
Memory Match
Giraffe's Matching Game
Doodle Kids
Scribble
Monkey Flight
Suzy Dress Up
Tic Tac Toe
Toddler Teaser
Upsi Runner
Colorama
Bug Squash
Blowfish
Air Hockey
Alien Choir
De Blob
Crazy Penguin Catapult
posted by prinado at 9:43 AM on October 5, 2009
Rolando
Sneezies
FirstWords
Memory Match
Giraffe's Matching Game
Doodle Kids
Scribble
Monkey Flight
Suzy Dress Up
Tic Tac Toe
Toddler Teaser
Upsi Runner
Colorama
Bug Squash
Blowfish
Air Hockey
Alien Choir
De Blob
Crazy Penguin Catapult
posted by prinado at 9:43 AM on October 5, 2009
My nieces (age 6 and 3) love the Koi Pond app.
They can add fish, delete fish, attract them by touching the screen, feel it vibrate as they "nibble" on their finger, add rain, add wind, go from daytime to night time, etc.
It's good for at least 15-20 minutes of peace and quiet for my brother and his wife.
posted by willmize at 10:15 AM on October 5, 2009
They can add fish, delete fish, attract them by touching the screen, feel it vibrate as they "nibble" on their finger, add rain, add wind, go from daytime to night time, etc.
It's good for at least 15-20 minutes of peace and quiet for my brother and his wife.
posted by willmize at 10:15 AM on October 5, 2009
My 4.5 y.o. loves Pocket God (Please don't judge me too harshly).
He also enjoys Samp, but not as much.
posted by evilelf at 10:17 AM on October 5, 2009
He also enjoys Samp, but not as much.
posted by evilelf at 10:17 AM on October 5, 2009
Free: Blowfish, Paper Toss, CatchaMouse,
Cheap: Doodle Jump, Bounce On, Mew Mew Tower
posted by Gary at 10:17 AM on October 5, 2009
Cheap: Doodle Jump, Bounce On, Mew Mew Tower
posted by Gary at 10:17 AM on October 5, 2009
When I was developing the Secret Cat app, friends' younger kids liked to spend time playing around with the cat sounds, colors and background, and playing guess-my-combination. However, if having to listen to a cat meow, spit or purr for 20 minutes straight would drive you to drink, it's probably not a good choice.
Since I wrote it, I'm probably supposed to make my connection clear here: I would make 70 cents of your 99 cent investment.
posted by mdevore at 11:32 AM on October 5, 2009
Since I wrote it, I'm probably supposed to make my connection clear here: I would make 70 cents of your 99 cent investment.
posted by mdevore at 11:32 AM on October 5, 2009
Grabimo (itunes link) is really cute. My 6 year old niece loves it.
posted by aeighty at 12:28 PM on October 5, 2009
posted by aeighty at 12:28 PM on October 5, 2009
Doodle Buddy.
posted by The corpse in the library at 1:10 PM on October 5, 2009
posted by The corpse in the library at 1:10 PM on October 5, 2009
Unblock Me.
posted by The corpse in the library at 1:12 PM on October 5, 2009
posted by The corpse in the library at 1:12 PM on October 5, 2009
For something more interactive, check out what they're doing with The Hidden Park. Right now it only appears to work in a few locations (Portland, London, Tokyo), but I'm sure there's more than enough people who would vote for multiple parks in your area.
posted by june made him a gemini at 2:20 PM on October 5, 2009
posted by june made him a gemini at 2:20 PM on October 5, 2009
Response by poster: Fantastic suggestions - every one. Thank you all.
posted by bonsai forest at 8:28 PM on October 5, 2009
posted by bonsai forest at 8:28 PM on October 5, 2009
Bebot might be worth a look for kids at the higher end of the age spectrum. With the caveat that they might drive you crazy with the noise.
posted by garrett at 11:27 AM on October 6, 2009
posted by garrett at 11:27 AM on October 6, 2009
« Older Picture my sister in Nepal frustrated in an... | Who designed these new logos for CW and MTV shows? Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 8:16 AM on October 5, 2009