iPad Kids

Rube Works App Review – Check Out These Mighty Machines

By Emily On January 9, 2014 · Add Comment

A few weeks ago I was skimming through my Twitter feed and I stumbled across a tweet about a newly released – and officially endorsed – Rube Goldberg app. To say the least, I was intrigued and got in touch with the developers at Electric Eggplant to see if I could snag a promo code and more information about this really cool app. This was before the holidays, and yesterday I finally got the pleasure of sitting down with my iPad to see what Rube Works was all about. Designed with input from Rube Goldberg’s granddaughter, this app captures the essence of Rube from start to finish. Players create complicated “machines” to perform daily tasks such as getting a glass of orange juice or turning out the lights without getting out of bed. All of the items are supplied, it’s up to players to put them together successfully. At [...]

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Max & Ruby Science Educational Games App Review

By Emily On January 6, 2014 · Add Comment

One of the first shows that my son became obsessed with at a young age is Max & Ruby. The animated series follows a brother-sister duo as they problem-solve their way through common, everyday obstacles without much interference at all from grown-ups. In fact, my son often asked me why we never saw Max and Ruby’s parents; he asked so many times that I actually Googled it. Turns out that Rosemary Wells, the author of the popular book series upon which the show is based, has deliberately omitted much adult presence: “The television series gives kids a sense about how these two siblings resolve their conflicts in a humorous and entertaining way.” Released late last year, Max & Ruby Science Educational Games is a physical science app that carries on the spirit of independent problem-solving while teaching preschoolers and kindergartners important science skills. Through narrated guidance, kiddos play along [...]

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Mystery Math Museum Proves Math Apps Can Be Fun

By Emily On December 31, 2013 · Add Comment

Finding a quality math app that isn’t dryer than a burnt English muffin is hard. That’s why Artgig Studios made waves earlier this year with the release of Mystery Math Town, an engaging and fully customizable math app that also touches on several other early-learning topics. Well, Artgig has done it again with their October release of Mystery Math Museum. Using what worked in the original, this newer app switches gears a little to build math skills on players ages 6 to 12. The characters are just as fun and unique as in the first game, and the multi-user profiles let kiddos adjust game play based on their math knowledge. Follow a friendly ghost as he tries to capture dragonflies that are loose in different themed museums. To open doors and earn talking portraits, players collect numbers and solve equations – working on addition, subtraction, and multiplication. At [...]

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Toontastic Jr. Releases Kung Fu Panda Edition

By Emily On December 20, 2013 · Add Comment

The holidays are upon us and that means families are gathering from all corners of the world to celebrate. Sometimes, for one reason or another, we can’t all be together at the same time. That’s why our friends at LaunchPad have quietly released their newest app Toontastic Jr. Kung Fu Panda. It features the movie-making magic as the other award-winning Toontastic apps, starring Po and his high-kicking friends from the popular animated franchise. Best of all, the app’s StoryShare feature lets kiddos share their creations with family and friends that just can’t be there to see the movies in person. We love Toontastic apps because they foster creativity with their open-ended play and limitless options, as well as build on literacy and storytelling skills. The high levels of interactivity within the movie-making process puts players 3 and older in the actual movie, and leaves the storyline to [...]

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Mickey Mouse: Mash-Up App Review – Mickey Goes Interactive

By Emily On December 17, 2013 · Add Comment

It’s undeniable that the iPad has introduced never-before-seen levels of interactivity to the lives of kids. There are a countless number of apps that put players smack-dab in the middle of a game by taking a picture or recording sounds. Children become integral players and open their little minds to heightened creativity and imaginative play. Mickey Mouse: Mash-Up gives interactive a fresh, new meaning using old-school animations and engaging activities. Players have to help Mickey and Donald Duck through a cartoon short that’s missing some elements. This is done by instructing kids to draw certain elements on their own that are later added to the finished short. There’s even a scene at the end where the player’s name is displayed as a credit for making the cartoon. The graphics are decidedly retro-feeling and tie in to Where’s My Mickey?, a fun physics puzzler. For those of us that [...]

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