Remember the days when you had to look something up? You either grabbed a dictionary, thesaurus or a volume of the Encyclopedia Britannica. Or worse, you had to walk five miles uphill in the snow to the public library. Oh, kids today have it so easy…
Here are six iPad reference apps for your kids, where the only thing they will have to worry about is having a good WiFi connection:
Explore the Animal Kingdom
This educational game contains over 100 animal pictures and sounds. Because of the combination of visual and auditory features, it is designed for kids as young as six months old. Turn the iPad to portrait to see the animal with its name displayed. When someone touches the screen, the animal sound and pronunciation of the name of given. Turn the iPad to landscape and you will see multiple animals on the screen. Touch them to create a harmony of animal sounds. Customize the app so your child will hear your voice or their’s as the animal’s name is read. $0.99 (50% off for a limited time).
Dinosaurs: An Early Introduction
Introduce your child to 18 dinosaurs with this app. By touching the screen, you will learn their names and hear the sounds they make. Press the circular icon and you will see the dinosaurs’ skeleton and bones. The featured dinosaurs include: Stegosaurus, Brachiosaurus, Triceratops, Tyrannosaurus, Iguanodon, Pterandon, and more. $0.99.
American Presidents for the iPad
This is a great app for children and adults. Learn about every president from George Washington to Barack Obama. It features a small biography of about 1,500 words, and includes photos, portraits, prints and graphics. There is also a time line with information of important events. The map shows the expansion of the United States over the years. Children can take the quizzes to see how much they have learned. Don’t forget to check out the Constitution, Declaration of Independence, and notable speeches. $3.99.
Britannica Kids: Solar System
Explore the solar system with your child. This app includes images, videos, and articles. All which you can share via email. Topics include the sun, planets, moon, asteroids, comets, the formation of the solar system, gravity and space, and exploring the solar system. All 8 planets are featured and there is a timed quiz. For fun, your child can play games like memory, jigsaw puzzles, magic squares, and brush off, all based on the solar system. The content is perfect for kids ages 8-12. $4.99.
U.S. Geography by Discovery Education
This app contains plenty of information about the geography of our country. There are games, 42 videos, over 42 challenges (with 210 questions). You can compete with friends and others. There are daily medallions and 126 unique achievements. The featured topics include the Earth, archaeology and dinosaurs. The app is divided into 7 geographical regions – Pacific, Mountain, Southwest, Mid Atlantic, and New England. Each region has six categories each – overview, bodies of water, culture, climate, land forms, and major cities. Also included are Discovery News stories, which are updated frequently. $6.99.
Grammar App HD
This interactive book teaches grammar in a fun way for children. It also comes with a step-by-step guide to grammar. The app checks your child’s understanding of the text, punctuation and its usage, and how to write correct sentences. There are over 200 tutorials (some are videos) with over 1,000 questions. It also includes grammar games. Topics covered include parts of speech, tenses, verbs, prepositions, personal pronouns, and more. $0.99.
