Kids Iphone App Review
Our kids test them, we review them!

Algebra Explained Chapter 1 by iLearnFastSoftware.com shows that learning fractions really can be interesting and made fun. This app is different than the other math apps (we have tested many different apps this week) because it has a live host. The videos make the lessons meaningful and interesting for the student.

My oldest daughter uses KhanAcademy.com too and the videos there are very well done. Khan uses a “black board” to make his videos and the result is pretty impressive. In Algebra Explained Chapter 1 by iLearnFastSoftware.com you get the same effect along with seeing a teacher right in front of you. Not only are you in the classroom for part of the class, but in Bill Nye the Science Guy or Mr. Wizard type scenes you are also taken to a real life example.

In one case Jamie is made to do push-ups because her little helper Carter beats her at Horse. It is a fun way to teach a lesson about Exponents in this case. The idea is to have a tutor and not to replace a math teacher or completely handle the math instruction for your child. My daughter is NOT home schooled, but if she were this would be a great addition to KhanAcademy.com or my own instruction. In our case we used it to prepare for the Arizona version of the Iowa Basic test called AIMS. She had mentioned that she needed to know more about fractions–adding, multiplying, etc. This app fit the bill.

I cannot say this is the only app you need for learning Algebra or math, but it is certainly top on the list and a must have for a child learning those subjects. I would expect this is appropriate for a student in 3rd to 5th grade depending on their school and learning level. It is interesting and fun, but really you are paying for the excellent instruction.

I should add this is a must-have for an involved parent. If you are working with your child on homework then this app offers many hours of instruction. Perhaps take 30 minutes a day three times a week and assign a lesson. Talk with your child about what funny thing Jamie or Carter did today. The Samurai sword was funny and Kristin and I both watch it a few times. She just gets it and it happens to be a simple idea shown in a memorable way. When your child is done with the 30 minutes ask what was covered and talk about it a bit. Just take it easy and make it fun.

I cannot wait to check out Chapter 2 and see what else iLearnFastSoftware.com has in store for us.

Fun – 4
Learning – 5
Attention – 5
Total – 14

Check out the video for a quick look at what Kristin and I were checking out one day.

Swapsies by Spinlight Studios is a fun app for kids to learn fine motor skills as well as some cognitive skills like matching and accomplishing lists. My 4 year old daughter loves the app on our iPad and likes to make the characters mismatch as well as match.

A nice addition to the app is the ability to choose a character. My daughter seems to pick a new child each time from the list. Sometimes a boy, sometimes a girl. I think she just likes to see the different faces in the different outfits. This isn’t an app that will last weeks or make it to your home screen, but it is an app that I bet your child will come back to and enjoy especially if prompted. It is hard not to laugh when you get an outfit correct and press the notes. A nice touch.

Attention – 3
Fun – 4
Learning – 3

Total – 10

Kids Song Machine By Genera Kids is a fun app that both my 4 year old and 10 year old really like. The three of sat on the floor around the iPad (it works on the iPhone too!) and laughed and pressed characters as the song played. It was fun to pick a song and the interface was simple for even a young three year old. Really just two buttons to press–song selection and then go!

My four year old is scared of the “scary” song, but not really. I think she likes to think it is scary and she is a big kid because she can listen to it without freaking out. The only catch is that the child might get stuck in a song if they are in the back seat and out of reach since the go back or exit button is kinda hard to find. It might be nice if the song just ended and left you to pick a new song. Maybe not?

In either case it is a fun app that will hold your child’s attention for a good while!

Attention – 5
Fun – 4
Learning – 1

Total – 10 and that is ok. Some apps are just plain fun to play with. This is one of those apps!

Pop Out! The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Loud Crow is yet another stellar app/book for your iPad or iPhone. The neat thing about this app was the little tabs you can pull on to get the characters to move, but that is only the start. Click the tree or the blueberries and you are in for a surprise. Keep clicking them!

Loud Crow was kind enough to give away a promo code for this book and we have awarded it to a randomly selected reader. Her review is already in and the app is a success with her <1 year old! Wow I would not have thought that this book would have been appropriate for such a young age, but I am convinced.

Does the app read to you? Yes. A pleasant voice? yep. Interactive? You got it. Learning is there too with the highlighting of words with selection to repeat the word. My daughter loves the book and we are at the point now where we are pushing apps to the farthest pages of our device. This app stays in the reading books folder for sure.

Attention - 5
Learning - 5
Fun -5
Total - 15

How could you not like this book on the ipad or iphone?

Diggers by Lucy Hall is really a hand-eye-coordination app. My DAUGHTER loves the app although I do not think she shares the common-in-boys obsession with big working trucks. I made the mistake of telling Lucy Hall that in the US we call these Back Hoes, which turns out to not be true since the app covers all sorts of “diggers” or heavy machinery.

The app itself lets the child build a “digger” by placing the puzzle pieces where they go. The pieces snap into place well and there are different levels for different kids. When the puzzle is complete you see the actual photo of the “digger” and it makes the “digger” sound effect. Is it a cool app? yes it is.

Why get this app? Well you need to keep your kids busy sometimes and it is a fun app. I like to talk about the education angle and this app teaches some hand-eye-coordination and is fun too.

Is it a must have app? No it isn’t. If your child likes “diggers” though, they will love this app for the iPhone or upsized for the iPad.

Learning – 3
Fun – 5
Attention – 4

Total – 12