There are hundreds of apps for kids these days, but how do you know which one has the best to offer? A couple of weeks ago, four apps were developed by Shravan (12) and Sanjay Kumaran (10), Chennaibased boys who had achieved over 10,000 international downloads in total.
The brothers went public two weeks ago. Their list of apps include the free Alphabet Board and the Colour Palette, for young children aged three and above.
Here are some apps which rock at the moment:
One, two, three
Those of you who have grown up disliking Maths should try out the Rocket Math app, which is a hit with adults as well. Developed by Dan Russell-Pinson, users earn money to build rockets by doing basic arithmetic problems. This math practice session, disguised as a game, has 56 different missions, which use concepts like numbers, counting, telling the time, shapes, maths facts and patterns.
The New York Times gives it a glowing review, calling it a high value offering for the money (Rs 56).
Details: itunes.apple.com
Puff the dragon
How about an app that has been co-created by a musician? Indie rock outfit, Gruffalo and National frontman, Matt Berninger, have worked together on a new children’s iPad story app called Dragon Brush. Based on a Chinese folktale, Dragon Brush (Rs 168) tells the story of a rabbit, Bing Wen, who loves to paint. When he gets a magical paintbrush that makes paintings come to life, he sets out to make life better for the people around him.
The app also contains a clever hunting game where pots of magical paint are hidden within the illustrations.
Details: dragonbrushapp.com
Barrie’s tale
An interesting way to make a personal connection to a story is to actually become a part of the story. The main feature of the It’s Me! Peter Pan app is that your child can replace Peter Pan’s face with his own photo.
One can also upload additional pictures to convey different emotions, throughout the story. In addition to reading and listening to the story, users can colour pictures, complete jigsaw puzzles, explore Neverland and record one’s own narrative. The basic version is free for download.
Details: itunes.apple.com
Tell me a story
With today’s generation, drawing pictures or writing in a diary is passe. The My Story app (Rs 112) helps kids make their own books. Called a great tool to improve literacy and creativity, children can upload photos, record their voices and even send the finished product via email to friends and family. A useful tool to document family events and social outings, as children love hearing stories about their younger selves.
Details: mystoryapp.org
On a song
The Little Fox Music Box iPad app (Rs 271) is rich in detail and colour. Creating a noise for all the right reasons, the app’s design concept, a collaboration between designer/ illustrator Heidi Wittlinger and Shape Minds Berlin, is based on animated cutouts of physically handdrawn paper artwork, an ‘oldschool’ technique. Features three songs - Old MacDonald, London Bridge and Evening Song.
Despite the limited number of songs, even the grownups are hooked! Details:shape-minds.com
Once upon a time
Indigenous fairytales are a must for young children. The Tales for Great Grandchildren, a free collection of folk and fairytales from India and Nepal by storyteller, John Jackson, sees 13 illustrated short stories aimed at children aged 7-12. Expect flying turtles and talking lotus flowers.
Details: jjbooks.com
Finger whiz
There are plenty of ‘doodle’ apps out there, but the Kids Doodle -Movie Your Drawing, features more than a dozen neon-glow brushstrokes. The ‘movie’ mode works especially for those learning how to draw, for it plays back the dtrawing steps, like a movie. Free, and can be used on the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch.
Details: itunes.apple.com
The laws of gravity
We can’t seem to get enough of educational apps. The Monster Physics app, (Rs 108), which released two months ago, is a challenging app for kids who like to build things. Features ‘hands-on’ refining of one’s own inventions and putting together intricate contraptions involving as much as 68 different parts like wheels, rockets, propellers, cannons, magnets, claws and wings.
Details: itunes.apple.com
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