Do you have a Kindle or a Nook or some other tablet on an Android-based platform? If so, you may have experienced a little more difficulty in finding top-notch Educational Apps for your toddler to pre-k age children.
There are a plethora of sites that give their recommendation for top-ranked preschool or pre-k educational and game apps for iPad. I don’t have an iPad. I have a Kindle Fire and a Nook so I wanted to find android based apps that are available on both platforms.
After much searching, trial and error, I found 20 that I love. I narrowed the list down to a top 12 to share with you now. However, I have to admit that #12 comes as an (a.), (b.), (c.) option.
If you want to find out what the other 8 apps are, just contact me or comment at the end of this post, and I’ll be happy to let you know!
1.
ABCmouse.com – Early Learning Academy
Free App
(Subscription needed)
Product Description:
Ages 2-5
My Review:
As a homeschooling Mom, this is my go-to curriculum for my 4-year-old. My 2-year-old is enjoying it as well. While the app is free, you do have to have a membership to use this app; just log-in using the same sign on used on the computer. Right now, new members can take advantage of a First Month Free Subscription Offer
upon sign up to get their first month free (with future months billed at just $7.95/month).
2.
Endless Alphabet
$4.99
Product Description:
Ages 2-7
Set the stage for reading success with this delightfully interactive educational app. Kids will have a blast learning their ABC’s and building vocabulary with the adorable monsters in Endless Alphabet.
Each word features an interactive puzzle with talking letters and a short animation illustrating the definition. Before you know it, your child will be using words like gargantuan and cooperate!
Delightful animations teach children the definitions of the words in a fun and engaging way. Over 50 words to explore and learn. Words are continually added to the vocabulary base. There are no high scores, failures, limits or stress. Your child can interact with the app at their own pace.
My Review:
While the cost may seem prohibitive to some, if you are able to save up, this is well worth the money. It’s noteworthy that customers give it 4.7 out of 5 stars! It breaks the word down phonetically, explains and defines the word, then illustrates the word after the “sounding” letters are placed in correct order. It will quickly build their vocabulary and spelling with true understanding, to heights you wouldn’t believe at a young age.
3.
Starfall Learn To Read
$2.99
Product Description:
Ages 4-7
4.
Gus on the Go: Spanish for Kids
$2.99
Product Description:
Ages 2-6
Art Class with Dr. Panda
$0.99
Product Description:
Ages 2-7
Break out your scissors, paint, pens, clay and glue; it’s time for Art Class with Dr. Panda!
In Dr. Panda’s Art Class, there’s always something fun to make! Make your own kites and pinwheels and play with them when you’re done.
Start spinning that clay, and make a pot, vase, cup or whatever you can imagine. You can even use fruit and create your own little friends, exactly as you want!
With Dr. Panda, you can learn and play! Let those creative juices flow and customize everything exactly how you’d like it! You can even learn from the game and make your own crafts in real life!
Special Note:
- KID-SAFE
- NO THIRD PARTY ADS
- NO IN-APP PURCHASES
My Review:
I want my kids to be involved in art. At this stage though, every time we pull out the finger paints they end up using all of it to paint their body. 😉 This allows them a painting and crafting outlet without the mess. The only drawback is that it’s limited to 6 crafts.
6.
Monkey Preschool Lunchbox
$1.99
Product Description:
Ages 2-5
Short educational games teach kids about colors, letters, counting, shapes, differences, and matching. Lovable animated monkey provides encouragement during play. Lively sound effects and voice recordings create fun atmosphere.
There are six varieties of mini-games in total, and they all change with each play. As one ends another begins, providing a nonstop and entertaining learning environment.
My Review:
I like that this teaches skills a little outside of early fundamentals. It helps toddlers understand “smaller vs. bigger” and shapes beyond a circle, square or rectangle.
7.
Starfall All About Me
$1.99
Product Description:
Ages 3-7
Players learn essential vocabulary while making choices about everyday objects, body parts, pets, and household environments through a customizable character avatar, interactive books, and interactive vocabulary games & songs.
This app is excellent for emerging readers and English language learners.
Special Note:
- NO ADD-ON’S
- NO PERMISSIONS
- NO ADS
My Review:
My goal was to find a basic biology or introductory human anatomy app. This app fits the bill. Additionally, it helps build reading and vocabulary skills.
8.
Preschool All-In-One Learning – Magic Laptop
$1.99
Product Description:
Ages 18 months – 4
Preschool Magic Laptop is a colorful, educational experience for curious young minds; it teaches names and recognition of LETTERS, NUMBERS, SHAPES, COLORS, TOYS, ANIMALS, VEHICLES, FRUITS, VEGETABLES and more. Magic Laptop makes learning awesome for all TODDLERS and PRESCHOOLERS.
The application was developed by an award-winning education studio, 22learn, the creator of the best-selling Abby Basic Skills app in cooperation with educational experts to ensure the application is suitable for this very special age category.
Kids will love switching between categories to expand their knowledge. In addition, the Magic Laptop offers the following two engaging game modes. The ‘Let’s Play!’ mode is designed primarily for children unfamiliar with the objects included, or those who want to refresh and enhance their knowledge of the already acquired vocabulary. Tap on the buttons and explore what the pictures are called!
Don’t forget to try the ‘Let’s Learn!’ mode! After you tap on the ‘Let’s Learn’ button, enthusiastic Monkey Abby appears on the laptop monitor and gives tasks to a child. The task is always to select the picture of the correct item that she pronounced. Of course, after each correct answer, the cute monkey provides words of praise and encouragement!
My Review:
This is a well-rounded educational app. Because it has two game modes it is good for teaching toddlers as well as more advanced preschoolers, all in one app.
9.
123s ABCs Print Letters Kids Tracing Handwriting Fun
Free
Product Description:
This is a learning tool for practicing the proper Zaner-Bloser© Print Style handwriting method. Your child can:
- Trace letters, numbers, and shapes
- Listen to the letter or the number
- Choose the color of the tracing
- Trace the letter, hear the letter. Shake to erase & try again!
My Review:
First of all, it’s free. This app does not test for accuracy so it will require supervision to ensure that your child is learning to write letters and numbers correctly. I find this to be much the same as a public school environment in that a child is taught how to write, then told to practice, then their practice sheet is reviewed for accuracy. This does not replace learning to write with a pen or pencil, but it is a good way for a child to begin learning the concept of handwriting in a fun way. I appreciate that it includes uppercase, lowercase, numbers (0-9 ~ the foundation of all numbers), and basic shapes.
10.
LEGO® DUPLO® Train
Free
Product Description:
For ages 18 months – 5
If your toddler is fascinated by trains, this simple game will provide new inspiration for hours of creative play – with or without a LEGO® DUPLO® train set.
Your child will play the role of the train driver – choosing and loading wagons, building bridges, stopping at crossings, refueling and laying new tracks around pesky rocks.
A preschool building toy specifically designed for small hands and big imaginations! Preschoolers can learn about shapes and colors hands-on. When the chewing-the-bricks phase fades out, the building experience phase takes over, helping to stimulate and improve fine motor skills development.
- Bright, fun, and toddler-friendly animations and soundtrack
- Intuitive icons and navigation for easy game play
- Virtual building with LEGO® DUPLO® bricks
- NO IN-APP PURCHASES
- NO THIRD PARTY ADVERTISING
- NO LINKS TO WEBSITES
My Review:
It’s free! My girls enjoy this as much as any little boy. The graphics are really good, they capture and hold attention. It is a nice virtual way to stack and build without the painful legos underfoot. 🙂 It’s pretty cool how their creation animates once complete!
11.
Montessori Preschool Fun by Luzac Media 
$1.99
Product Description:
Each animated scene will give your child the ability to:
- See how to write a letter or number, hear and learn its name
- Practice writing and tracing a letter, number or the child’s name using colour pencils
- Learn to count
- Discover more complex concepts such as clock time, shapes, kaleidoscope…
- Solve puzzles
- Learn the basic of music with a keyboard and different musical instruments
My review:
The developer was quick to respond and correct a minor problem I had in going from the Lite (Free) version to the Full (Paid) version. Since then, I’m very happy with the diversity and hands-on manner in teaching core fundamentals as well as the arts.
12. (a)
My PlayHome
$2.99
Product Description:
My PlayHome is a doll house for the iGeneration.
Imagine a doll house where your child can use everything, even the closets, TV and shower. Where you can fry an egg, feed the family pizza, pour drinks, blow bubbles, and turn out the lights.
Imagine a doll house where the pieces are impossible to lose and never break. A doll house which grows over time and where new accessories and rooms are given to you for free.
Imagine if it was designed so that even a 2-year-old could use it, yet detailed enough to entertain an 8-year-old. Imagine a doll house that could excite and captivate your children for hours for less than the price of a cup of coffee…. Creative, open-ended play.
Special Note:
- NO ADVERTISEMENTS
- NO IN-APP PURCHASES
- NO SOCIAL NETWORKS, PUSH NOTIFICATIONS OR REGISTRATION
Awards:
- Featured in THE NEW YORK TIMES: Apps to Keep Children Happy
- TOP 10 BEST KIDS APPS OF THE YEAR – BestKidsApps.com
- BEST OF THE YEAR – AppAddict.net
- BEST APPS FOR KIDS OF THE YEAR – GOLD MEDAL – AppTudes.com
- READERS’ TOP 10 THE YEAR – SmartAppsForKids.com
- Editor’s Choice Award – Children’s Technology Review
My Review:
This is an app that you can’t pass up. My kids would play this for hours if I let them. I even enjoy playing around on it from time to time. It’s a great interactive doll house. The virtual families will do nearly anything you can think of, including jump on the furniture! 😉 It’s very detailed and easy to use.
and
12. (b)
My PlayHome Stores
$2.99
Product Description:
For ages 2-8+
From the creators of the award winning “My PlayHome” ~
“My PlayHome Stores” allows your child to explore an open play world and play store without making a mess of your house! Take a walk down the street and look around 4 beautifully hand illustrated stores.
Fancy a treat? Make yourself an ice cream and grab a slushie of your favorite color! Bored with your outfit? Choose a new one in the clothing store! Make yourself a juice drink at the fruit shop! Fill up a shopping cart in the supermarket and scan the items at the checkout!
“My PlayHome Stores” is also fully integrated with the original “My PlayHome” app so you can bring everything back home. Hours of imagination driven play.
Special Note:
- NO 3RD PARTY ADVERTISEMENTS
- NO IN-APP PURCHASES
- NO SOCIAL NETWORKS, PUSH NOTIFICATIONS OR REGISTRATION!
My Review:
This app is so closely linked with My PlayHome that you can’t have one without the other. My girls, ages 2 & 4 love this app. They have so much fun using their imagination in picking out groceries or clothes and bringing them home to add to their virtual pantry or closet. Imagination is a key component of learning, and this fuels their imagination. This is a game that I feel comfortable having them play with.
and
12. (c)
My PlayHome School
$2.99
Product Description:
(Source)
For ages 2-8+
NEW From the creators of the award-winning “My PlayHome” ~
“My PlayHome School” expands the PlayHome world into the classroom! Explore the school and play at being teacher, experiment in the science room, take lunch in the cafeteria or even mop the corridors! And now expand play into the playground.
“My PlayHome School” has no time limits, scores or power ups. Just free play that powers your child’s imagination.
“My PlayHome School” is also fully integrated with the original “My PlayHome” & “My PlayHome Stores” apps so you can bring everything back home!
Special Note:
- NO 3RD PARTY ADVERTISEMENTS
- NO IN-APP PURCHASES
- NO SOCIAL NETWORKS, PUSH NOTIFICATIONS OR REGISTRATION!
My Review:
This app is so closely linked with My PlayHome that again, you can’t have one without the other. My girls, ages 2 3 & 4 5 love this app. They’ve gotten more comfortable with school layout as well. And it integrates fully with the other two “My PlayHome” apps so that once all three apps are downloaded, all three can be played with from the original “My PlayHome”
