Mac, iOS, and Android apps for babies?
October 17, 2015 7:28 AM Subscribe
The Son of Jordemort (9 mos old, 6 mos adjusted) is lately very interested in daddy's job, which, as far as he understands it, involves smacking at the screens and keyboards of various devices. I feel like there's got to be at least a few full-screen apps out there that would emit various entertaining sounds and colors in response to his prodding, but I'm having a hard time finding what I'm looking for. Any suggestions?
Really I'm just looking for something that will play different noises/animations when he touches different keys on the computer keyboard, and something similarly simple for my touchscreen devices. Educational content is not really a concern, I just want something squeaky and colorful for the boy. Searching for "baby apps" turns up a lot of stuff for tracking his feedings, diaper changes, etc, but that's not what I'm looking for. I don't need software to help manage my baby, I need software to entertain him.
Really I'm just looking for something that will play different noises/animations when he touches different keys on the computer keyboard, and something similarly simple for my touchscreen devices. Educational content is not really a concern, I just want something squeaky and colorful for the boy. Searching for "baby apps" turns up a lot of stuff for tracking his feedings, diaper changes, etc, but that's not what I'm looking for. I don't need software to help manage my baby, I need software to entertain him.
"Toddler Lock" on android devices is a touchscreen app that does exactly what you're asking ... pops up a randomized color and shape and makes pretty chimey music when kids touch the screen. It also prevents them from getting at an other apps, which is helpful.
(I don't have a keyboard option off-hand but we gave our kids an old broken keyboard and let them smash away just for the clicking and banging action, which was plenty exciting on its own.)
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 7:36 AM on October 17, 2015 [1 favorite]
(I don't have a keyboard option off-hand but we gave our kids an old broken keyboard and let them smash away just for the clicking and banging action, which was plenty exciting on its own.)
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 7:36 AM on October 17, 2015 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Looks like searching "toddler apps" will get you a bunch of best-of lists for touchscreen apps that fit your requirements. Having played (and loved) the Bloom app myself, I can recommend it for adults & kids -- it's a very pretty music toy created by Brian Eno.
posted by ourobouros at 7:44 AM on October 17, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by ourobouros at 7:44 AM on October 17, 2015 [1 favorite]
We had a drumming app wherein amro jr. could smack the iPad screen and make various drum sounds.
posted by amro at 7:52 AM on October 17, 2015
posted by amro at 7:52 AM on October 17, 2015
No interactivity but perhaps Pong Time (Android) would provide some entertainment. One of my little relatives is only momentarily interested in any sort of video but absolutely fascinated by the bouncing-album-cover screen-saver-like thing that appears when music is played on her parents' media system.
posted by XMLicious at 7:56 AM on October 17, 2015
posted by XMLicious at 7:56 AM on October 17, 2015
Best answer: Patatap.com is a web game that does different things when you press the keyboard keys.
posted by xo at 7:58 AM on October 17, 2015
posted by xo at 7:58 AM on October 17, 2015
Best answer: iPhone apps:
Soundbox by SagoMini (the best!)
Petting Zoo
Balls
Fisher Price Giggle Gang
Music Time! With Caspar babypants
posted by tristeza at 8:02 AM on October 17, 2015
Soundbox by SagoMini (the best!)
Petting Zoo
Balls
Fisher Price Giggle Gang
Music Time! With Caspar babypants
posted by tristeza at 8:02 AM on October 17, 2015
We have Baby Finger for the iPad, which does exactly what you're saying -- every time you touch the screen, a shape appears (or disappears) and it makes a noise.
posted by KathrynT at 9:42 AM on October 17, 2015
posted by KathrynT at 9:42 AM on October 17, 2015
I would second the Bloom app by Brian Eno - it's worth it as my son keeps going back to it. You might also try searching for "bubble apps" I found a bunch of free ones that put up bubbles when you touch the screen and then you can pop them. Oh! And also sago Soundbox.
posted by machine at 10:47 AM on October 17, 2015
posted by machine at 10:47 AM on October 17, 2015
Tesla for iPad is amazing and keeps tiny babies and giant teenagers equally enthralled.
posted by annathea at 1:52 PM on October 17, 2015
posted by annathea at 1:52 PM on October 17, 2015
Baby's musical hands is a big colorful music keyboard, great on iPad
posted by KateViolet at 3:55 PM on October 17, 2015
posted by KateViolet at 3:55 PM on October 17, 2015
My daughter loved an iOS app called Colorful Rotating Bear. Batting at the app makes the bear giggle and spin faster.
posted by insoluble uncertainty at 6:10 PM on October 17, 2015
posted by insoluble uncertainty at 6:10 PM on October 17, 2015
babyozzy really liked Infant Zoo. bok bok, bok bok.
posted by uncleozzy at 7:04 PM on October 17, 2015
posted by uncleozzy at 7:04 PM on October 17, 2015
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posted by jordemort at 7:34 AM on October 17, 2015 [1 favorite]