Apps for Littles: Bring Preschool Home on Your iPad

Why should big kids get all the fun? Here are some great smart device apps for the younger crowd that are fun to play and also reinforce what kids are learning in preschool. All are available through iTunes.

Pre-Reading

Endless Alphabet

Endless Alphabet ($6.99, ages 5 and under) and AlphaTots Alphabet ($2.99, ages 5 and under) provide a fun, animated experience with letters for even the littlest of littles. Endless Alphabet’s cuddly monsters will teach your kiddo big words like “gargantuan” and “cooperate” and we love how AlphaTots pairs action verbs with each letter for a great vocabulary builder!

AlphaTots

For a free option, check out ABC Alphabet Phonics, which allows you to add your own voice and pictures to go along with letters.

Endless Reader

When your child is ready, move on to the Endless Reading app (free with in-app purchases, ages 5 and under), which allows her to build site words and then watch them come alive to reflect their meaning. Consider purchasing the Endless Bundle ($32.99) so your child’s experience isn’t disrupted by requests for a password.

Writing

Writing Wizard

The Letter School ($4.99, ages 5 and under) and Writing Wizard ($2.99, ages 5 and under) apps are next-level letter tracing. Your finger is a fast car racing down the road as you write the B! Your D flashes purple and yellow as you form it! Lights, stars, and fireworks make writing like a party. Both apps are highly customizable and allow your child to practice recognizing and forming letters. The Letter School also lets you hear the sound each letter makes for some extra phonics practice.

Math

Moose Math

For math fun your kiddo can have on her own, check out Moose Math ($1.99, ages 5 and under), Agnitus Academy (free with in-app purchases, ages 5 and under), Elmo Loves 123 for iPad ($2.99, ages 5 and under), and Doodle Critter Math (Shapes and Numbers options, $2.99 each, ages 5 and under). These apps provide fun practice with early math concepts like counting, patterns, sorting, addition, and subtraction. Several of these options keep track of your child’s progress so you can see where he needs extra practice.

Elmo Loves 123s

Tonight, snuggle up and look at the Bedtime Math (free) app Each day, this app provides fun pictures and videos accompanying a short story. After reading it aloud, ask your child the math problem that’s appropriate for his age – Wee Ones, Little Kids, Big Kids, and The Sky’s the Limit (some of these may stump you!). Make math part of your child’s everyday life!

Articles You May Also Enjoy

• Best Educational Apps for Preschoolers
• Join the Pack: Backpacks and Lunchboxes for Back-to-School
• Getting Ready: How to Prepare for Preschool

Kristen Berthiaume is a clinical psychologist whose other day job is as mom to three willing product testers. Find her articles on all things child-wrangling at “Parenting with a Ph.D.” over on birminghammommy.com.