Posted on 5/3/11 by Mandy Chatsworth · Comments
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5 Terrific Educational iPad Apps for Preschoolers
It's been fun to see Apple's iPad (and now the iPad 2) morph from a techno-curiosity to a truly useful, and even indispensable, everyday device. And in the field of education, the iPad has made tremendous strides. The iPad's price tag still makes the device somewhat of a luxury, particularly in public school environments, but there are many reasons to get excited about the possibilities of our favorite tablet computer in educational contexts.
This entry focuses on our earliest learners, anywhere from ages 3 to 7. As any parent can tell you, grabbing and sustaining attention at this age is often a herculean task. And that's why iPad learning makes sense—not only do you have the “cool” factor of the technology and vibrant images, you have a truly multimedia and interactive learning tool, the type that can engage even the very young in ways conventional teaching can't.
If you're interested in iPad education for your preschooler, start with these popular and award-winning apps:
Math Bingo – this hugely popular app combines the simple game of bingo with some basic math concepts, like addition and subtraction. Fun cartoon avatars keep the game interesting, while three different difficulty levels mean this app can grow with your child.
Stack the States – if your child is learning about the states and state capitals, this is the app for you. Cartoony state shapes playfully bounce around in a wide variety of interesting and challenging games, like matching up capitals with states or learning about bordering states.
Wheels on the Bus – here's a special app that definitely presents a bonding opportunity with your little one. Children can interactively explore the bus of the title, but the real fun comes with singing along to the nursery rhyme. Different instruments can be used during the song, and there are five languages to listen to—not exactly a way to learn another language, but the exposure is in itself valuable. This app is made by Duck Duck Moose. Check them out for more great apps.
Shape-O ABC's – Learning your ABC's is a gimme for our earliest learners, but Shape-O ABC's puts a new twist on things by combining ABC's with a large amount of shape puzzles kids can put together on the screen. So along with ABC's, toddlers will learn motor coordination and shapes.
Abby Monkey – Like Duck Duck Moose, 22Learn.com is another leading educational app maker. Their Abby Monkey series of apps features fun ways for kids to learn first words, like animals, colors, and fruits. And the animations for this series are really top-notch; they're so precious, you want to eat them up!
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