iPad apps and learning games for a four-year-old?

April 27, 2016 12:21 PM

Looking for iPad apps and learning games for a four-year-old.

I'm looking for some new iPad apps and learning games for a girl who just turned four. She was a little bit of a late talker (now exploding into constant questions), and becoming interested in letters and numbers without necessarily having a ton of success at reading yet. She likes the games we have like Cupcake Chef and Ear Doctor and Dora ABCs -- and if I'm not looking she switches over to Angry Birds or Fruit Ninja -- but I'm looking for something perhaps a bit more directive in terms of learning skills. Monkey Preschool Lunchbox was a good one for a long time for us and I've been meaning to take a look at the next level. She especially loves animals. What have you had luck with?

posted by gerryblog to Education (9 answers total)

Best answer: I'm a mom to a five-year-old. We have graduated from some of these apps, but some of them are still high on the love list.
- The apps from Toca Boca.
- The Monster at the End of this Book - the book you love is also an adorable, interactive app.
- Petting Zoo. Adorable.
- Zoo Train.

When your little one gets a bit older, check out the apps from Tinybop.
Also for when she's older: Monument Valley.

There are others but I took them off my phone because she's outgrown them. Best of luck!
posted by cleverevans at 12:35 PM on April 27, 2016

Best answer: We've really enjoyed Endless Reader (and Alphabet), as well as the Peg + Cat: The Tree Problem apps.
posted by statsgirl at 12:42 PM on April 27, 2016 [1 favorite]

Best answer: We loved LetterSchool, where the kids trace letters with their fingers or a stylus. The graphics are really fun and they encourage creating the correct shape of letters.
posted by LKWorking at 12:56 PM on April 27, 2016

Best answer: Seconding all of the Toca Boca apps.

My kids also loved Faces I Make, Singing ABC, Fiete, and Monster Coloring Book.
posted by pipeski at 1:10 PM on April 27, 2016

Best answer: Seconding Endless Alphabet!

If you're looking for all apps, not just interactive ones, the PBS Kids app has great shows that are both entertaining and educational. My 5-year-old loves Dinosaur Train and Peg + Cat and has learned quite a bit of science and math from both.
posted by rabbitrabbit at 1:18 PM on April 27, 2016

Response by poster: Thanks all! Some of these we already have and others were totally new!
posted by gerryblog at 5:18 PM on April 27, 2016

The Nighty Night Circus
Forest Home
Anything by Sago Mini
Metamorphabet
The puzzle books from Disney
Nthing the Monster at the end of the book, and its sequel (which features Elmo, so ymmv)
posted by dpx.mfx at 6:41 PM on April 27, 2016

In addition to many of the ones mentioned above, we loved:
all the apps by Bamba
Bugs and Buttons
Bugs and Buttons 2
My PlayHome
Lola Panda apps
posted by belladonna at 5:00 AM on April 28, 2016

I just wanted to mention Apps Gone Free, which often features apps for young children. They've had lots of Toca Boca apps over the past several months, and they also often have lots of learning games from Eggroll (I don't know if they're particularly great, I just see them a lot).
posted by kristi at 12:54 PM on April 30, 2016