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Our son is 19 months now and his ipad use has increased since we’ve been home. We do try to limit his ipad use but there’s only so much you can do when stuck at home for more than two months now.
Technology is such a big part of our world that children get exposed to it at a young age. We don’t want our kids to get addicted to the internet and social media but we want them to grow up technologically savvy so they can navigate the modern world. The key is to set limits and practice healthy technology habits.
I’ve downloaded several learning apps for our son so he can improve his vocabulary. He has been using these apps for the past few weeks and we were surprised at how much he has learned in a short period. Here are my top five favorite educational apps for toddlers:
1. ABCMouse ($49/year)
ABCMouse is one of the first educational apps we’ve introduced to our son on his ipad and it’s his favorite. They currently have a special offer of up to 49% off the annual subscription which means it only costs $49/year. You also need wifi or data to access this app.
My son has been using it for about a month now and he knows how to navigate to the games and puzzles by himself. This is usually where he spends his time because he is still a toddler and a lot of the other parts of the apps are for kids pre-school and above. The app has taught him how to recognize colors and butterflies. He’s also starting to recognize and say letters through the games and puzzles that he’s been playing.
Try it for 30 days free here. ABC Mouse is available in the App Store, Google Play, and Amazon.
2. Fish School – 123 ABC for Kids (free)
Our son loves pointing out fishes to us that he sees on TV or at our friend’s house. He can’t quite say the word he and calls it “pssh.” I got this app for him because it’s a toddler educational app that incorporates his love of fishes. The great thing about this app is that it is available without wifi or data.
Fish School teaches him numbers 1-20, the alphabet, shapes, colors, imaginative play, differences, and matching pictures. This app is easy for him to use and navigate on his own. The app also has soothing music so I enjoy using this app with my son. In addition, I really like that this app is free and it doesn’t have in-app purchase buttons so my son doesn’t accidentally buy something using my account.
Fish School is available in the App Store, Google Play, and Amazon.
3. The Wheels On The Bus (free; $7.99 full version)
The Wheels on the Bus is one of the first songs that our son recognizes. This also one of his favorite app because he likes anything with wheels. I tried the free version but I had to convert to the paid version when I realized how much our son loved this app. The free and paid version is available without wifi or data.
It’s a fun learning app for toddlers. There are puzzles, coloring pages, games, matching, songs, and many more activities related to the wheels on the bus song. The Wheels on the Bus app is also easy for a toddler to play on his or her own. Through this app, our son has learned how to do the car puzzles, coloring, and games on his own.
The Wheels on the Bus app is available in the App Store and Google Play.
4. YouTube Kids (free)
YouTube Kids is a free app that lets parents control what kids watch on YouTube. Parents need to sign up for a free YouTube account to choose what videos to add to the app. The great thing about this app is there are no ads and limited functions so toddlers don’t accidentally like, buy, or watch something inappropriate. Unfortunately, you need wifi or data to access the videos in this app.
The videos that we have in the app and the channels that we subscribe to are all educational. Our son watches nursery and learning songs from Coco Melon, Little Baby Bum, Badanamu, Dave and Ava, and Robie 317 (Filipino nursery rhymes). Through these songs, we can see that he is starting to say letters, colors, and animals.
YouTubeKids is available in the App Store and Google Play.
5. Sago Mini World (Free; $6.99+ full version)
Sago Mini World is an educational app that encourages imaginative play. There are 30+ different worlds like camping, big city, zoo, farm, and friends. We are currently using the free version Sago Mini World is a subscription-based app with monthly and yearly plans but it is free for the first month if you want to try it out. This app is also available without wifi or data.
My son and I like playing with this app because there’s no structure or limits. It’s free play and it teaches him about cause and effect. If we move this animal here, then it goes in the lake. If we press the sun, all the animals go to sleep. The imaginative play he does in this app also manifests to real life. We’ve been noticing that he’s been playing pretend with his cars more often.
Sago Mini World is available in the App Store and Google Play.
Using apps like these are great tools to help toddlers learn their letters, colors, and numbers in a fun way. However, it’s important to set limits and find other ways for children to learn, such as a regular reading routine, so they are not dependent on technology.
What educational apps do you use for your toddler? Comment below!
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Thanks for this post. I will be trying them. Been only using Youtube Kids so far.
You’re welcome! I hope your toddler likes them. 🙂