Get a head start on this school year with these fun educational apps designed for your preschoolers.
Axel Scheffler’s Flip Flap Ocean (iOS only)
This app is a creative execution of an e-book based on the book by Axel Scheffler. The illustrations in the book are structured with a split screen to show the combined features of different ocean animals to make a new animal. Each illustration has a poem that accompanies it that describes the new animal. Children can slide the animal halves to make new animals and the text changes as they create. It has delightful music and clear engaging kid voices to narrate the story. Preschoolers will especially enjoy the sing-song rhythmical nature of the text and benefit from hearing the rhyming words. There is a “read and play” option as well as “read to myself” option. The latter option would be great to use as you to sit beside your child and read the story together identifying the rhyming words as you discuss the different animals. The app is $.99 and appropriate for children ages 3-5.
Grandma’s Preschool (iOS only)
The app begins with the bus dropping the kids off at Grandma’s school which resembles Grandma’s house. The house is organized like a typical preschool where children can move around and choose a learning activity by tapping on letters, numbers, science experiments, or an art center. Additional activity areas that can be explored include nap time, outdoor recess, centers with books and toys, and a white board for teaching and learning. Children are positively rewarded for their effort with Grandma’s dancing, clapping, and high fives. The app has a nice balance of digital play and learning exploration. You may need to monitor and encourage your child to visit the more academically-focused learning areas as the app does not regulate how much time is spent in the play arena. Grandma’s character engages players with her positive spirit and dancing energy; however, some present-day grandmas may not like the way grandma is represented with gray hair and glasses. The app does not require any in-app purchases and is available for iPhone and iPad for $2.99
Tally Tots Counting (iOS, Android, Kindle)
Tally Tots makes counting fun! Numbers 1 through 20 are presented first by counting to the number, introduced with a short game and reinforced through tapping and counting while playing. Tally Tots even has a familiar number song that your child will enjoy singing as a familiar image from each game flies by. This is a great app to have for learning to identify and count up to 20! The app is $2.99 and appropriate for children ages 3-5.
STEM Apps for Back to School