Apps for Hugs, Valentines and Math

Make learning fun with these apps that cover math, social skills, and more!

Oh No Fractions!

Oh No Fractions! doesn’t have kids running in terror when you ask them to work on fractions. Simply compare two given fractions to solve for greater and less than. The app shares if you are “correct” or “wrong” and provides a tool to “prove” the answer. The prove it tool is excellent for giving kids visual support in comparing two fractions. The only settings you need to control is setting the max denominator from 2 to 99. An excellent app for kids to think through fractions.

Fizzy’s Lunch Lab Fresh Pick

Fizzy’s Lunch Lab Fresh Pick engages kids to be problem solvers and math thinkers while completing 8 games. Games focus on mapping skills, money, positional words and basic logic. Amusing videos move the storyline along. You can skip the videos and tutorials, but because they always show up the flow of the app can get a little slow. We love the content PBS covers in the app as we don’t see these kinds of games very often in the app store.

Hugless Douglas

Hugless Douglas just needs a hug. Join him on a journey to find the best hug that only a special loved one can give. The app provides a “read to me” video storytelling or you can read it yourself with light interactivity and vocabulary words highlighted on each page. We really love the extras in the app. Join in a game of tic-tac-toe or peruse the “hug gallery” and email a loved one a special hug.

Faces iMake – ABC

Faces iMake – ABC is a delightful ABC and puzzle app for young children. Kids choose a letter and see a creative “Faces iMake – style” illustration (pictures made up of random objects you can find around the house) that starts with that letter. This illustration then falls apart and your child needs to put it back together. Many of the puzzles are challenging but we appreciate the creative use of materials in each one. The narration in the app is quite funny and you’ll find your child giggling along. The narrator doesn’t have a traditional US English accent, but it doesn’t take away from the language learning.

First Words Valentine

First Words Valentine has eight free words for your beginning reader to build sound by sound. Parents can set up the appropriate environment for their child by adjusting the variety of settings. Thematic words paired with colorful pictures for young children and options for parent customization are what make this app perfect for Valentine’s Day.