iPad & iPhone apps for the Tyke: part I

Most of you know the sweet agony of scrolling through thousands of apps trying to find the one that is worth your money and gig space. Let’s face it there are just waaaay too many options and it’s hard to tell what is really going to suit your needs just from the app artwork and screen captions, especially when it comes to apps for your little ones. I mean you don’t want them on a tablet all day, but when they are on it, like me, you want to make sure they are getting the most out of the app you paid $1.99 for!

So I’ve comprised a list of apps both educational and fun that my little Hippo not only enjoys, but has really benefited him educationally. We spend a lot of time playing them together, but Jax will also pick up the iPad, unlock it and play them himself without prompt.

 

Vocabulary:

1. ABC Phonics Word Family by ABITALK : Something new I found that does sounding out and match the word to the photo. He likes this one because when he does a good job a little dinosaur pops up and does a squeal! Cheesy, but he loves it!

2. ABC Spanish Reading Magic by LECTURA MAGICA: Last year when I was in San Antonio we had our son enrolled in The Pineapple School which is a great Spanish Immersion School that not only is in a green facility but is family owned and serves homemade organic Latin themed foods. I believe that school and weekend food fests in Luling City Market barbeque are the only things I really miss about San Antonio! I have been continuing his education with this app. It works and he loves it!

3. Alphabet Tracing by Oncilla Technologies: This one definitely takes a lot of patience when it comes to the tracing. But it has helped with the letter recognition and sounding out.

4. Little Patterns For Kids-Learn Little Patterns ABC by Grasshopper Apps: This one is great! It’s patterns and letter recognition. You can also record your own voice to it.

5. Into To Letters by Montessorium: Shows you how to trace, what sound the letter makes and the difference between lower case & capital letters! We’ve been using this one since we got the iPad!

6. Nick Jr’s A to Z w/ Moose & Zee by Nickelodeon: If your kid is a Nick Jr. kid like mine, he’ll love this one! It’s just like the mini hidden letter game they do between shows on Nick Jr. except now they actually get to pick the letter before Moose does! I wish Nick Jr. would come up with more Moose & Zee app games because this is one of Jaxon’s favorites! He plays it over and over again on both the iPad and iPhone! Speaking of Nick Jr., has anyone tried the Nick Jr. Boost? How do you like it? I’m thinking about joining.

7. Elmo Loves ABC’s for iPad by Sesame Street: Now if your kid is an Elmo freak like mine, they will LOVE this app! It’s pretty awesome! You trace the letter, you get three options of something that starts with that letter and then when you choose one, a song comes up about that subject & letter. There are also some other song options, letter finding, coloring and more. Love this one for younger ones, gets them started early!

8. Super Why! for iPad by PBS Kids: Great for the older toddlers that are just learning how to put their letters together to make a word. Jax loves Super Why! and it’s been very instrumental in building his reading skills. Each time the child completes a task they receive a sticker and that they can use for this interactive sticker book. Sticker was all Jax needed to hear!

So this is what I have for today and as far as vocabulary. Will post my picks for books, math, fun, etc. in the coming days! In the meantime check these out with your kids, I’m sure you’ll enjoy a few!

The Potty Chronicles

Potty Training!! I think I’ve been dreading this since the day the nurse looked at me and said, “It’s positive! Congratulations!” Why? Why is it such a scary thing for us parents? The concept seems so simple. Put the kid on the potty when he wakes up, 30 minutes after he eats, right before his nap, right after his nap, and before he goes to bed. All the while throwing in a few “Do you need to go potty?” or “Let’s go potty!” in there throughout the day. You sit the kid on there for about 5-10 minutes, read a story, sing songs! Do a potty dance once they make the toilet delivery and go about your business! Sounds simple enough! Yet, every time you mention, Potty Training to parents they shutter! It’s because every time you mention the word, Potty to your toddler they get a look of panic and fear and run to the other side of the house! If I ask Jax, “Do you have to go potty?” Before I can finish the sentence he counters with, “Nope! Nope! I didn’t! Nope!” and then I have to drag him to the bathroom where we fight to remove his diaper to get him to sit on the potty. Now some days it’s an absolute miracle where he will just walk to the bathroom on his own, proclaim that today he will use the potty and begin to undress himself. I live for these moments! These moments make me feel like Super Mom! I stick my chest out so that the giant M across my chest glisten’s like my perfectly conditioned hair in the sunlight and I say, “Yes, son! You are the potty champion!” *cue the record coming to a halt with a scratch* Uh… yea, back to reality!

So what is the secret? I mean I’m sure it’s just a case by case basis! But my kid HATES diapers now, so I would think that he would WANT to go in the potty so he doesn’t have to wear the diapers! He LOVES his Brobee & Muno underwear but he knows he can only put them on once he goes potty… So GO POTTY KID!!! Lately I’ve been using this app on my iPhone & iPad by Pull-Ups. It’s called iGo Potty! It’s super awesome. It has a timer on there to help keep you on potty schedule. When you hit the Potty now button, it plays a little song (that Jax loves) while your kid goes potty! At the end you end the song and then it gives you some options on whether your Hippo went potty or tried or didn’t make it this time. When you check the I Went Potty button, it sends a sticker to their chart and then once they collect a row of stickers it unlocks a game. I told Jax if he fills up his sticker chart I will give him a small toy, but he has to put his pee pee and poop IN the toilet. It’s been working over the past couple of days!! It also allows you to share your chart, so I’m able to email Jax’s progress to his father so that we can all share in this Potty Glory!!! Now because of the Pull-Ups app, my little Hippo may be ready for an actual Pull-Up soon!!!

Find this in the App store

*Cue the Super Mom theme song*