Whether we like it or not, technology is everywhere, including in places your child can reach. Young children are apt to copy your behavior, so if you hold your phone or tablet a lot, there’s a chance they’ll play on it too.
Fortunately, you can make the most of their time online by choosing apps that are designed to keep your toddler entertained while sharpening cognitive skills. Let’s take a look at some of the best Android apps for toddlers.
1. Baby games for 1+ toddlers
If your kids are new to technology, it’s important to choose apps that will benefit and teach them, rather than just entertain them. There are expert-approved apps and games for children under five out there, so it’s important that you choose the right ones.
If you found some coloring websites to entertain your kids, apps can add much more value to your kids because they are not just static pages but interactive tools designed to help them learn.
The Baby Games app is designed for very young children. Your kids will probably need a little help getting started. The app is dedicated to early age education because it covers the basics of learning. Toddlers are inspired by the game designs and the friendly voice that tells them what to do, step by step.
There are games for learning to recycle, choosing between healthy food and junk food, as well as identifying animals. From various games to choose from, the app lets you play the free sections first, and then wait for the levels to unlock over a few days.
If you don’t want to wait for the levels to unlock, there is also an option to buy all the games for $4.99.
Download: Baby games for 1+ toddlers (free, in-app purchases available)
2. Baby games: 2+ children, toddlers
Part of the same collection of apps, this one features learning games for kids ages two and up. With a motto like “play and learn”, your kids can do both. It’s easy to get started, they just need to press the play button and select the figures marked ‘free’.
In the free section, your kids can tackle spatial recognition exercises, coloring games and other fun activities designed to teach them through play. There are many games to choose from and the designs are easy on the eyes and fun to watch move.
Just like in the previous app, some games automatically unlock new levels after a few days, but if you don’t want to wait, you can unlock all ten for $4.99. Before you buy, you can preview the “locked” games to see if you want to buy them.
The Baby Games 2+ app is part of a collection of apps such as Bebi Academy, Baby Coloring, Baby Games 3 and many others suitable for the toddler age.
Download: Baby Games 2+ (free, in-app purchases available)
3. Shapes and colors Children’s game
If your kids are crazy about colors, there are plenty of coloring book apps out there for them. If your kids love to sort out shapes, this Shapes and Colors Kids Games app is perfect for them. It’s easy to set up and you can start playing right away.
It is designed to help children learn geometric shapes, sizes and colors while playing. Children are presented with various shapes on the screen which they then have to fit into the outline of an empty figure.
These types of exercises test children’s spatial recognition skills. In the same way as games at an early age, the activities facilitate a smooth entry into the world of mathematics. The app is accompanied by music and voice instructions.
While the app is free to play, to get the full version and to be able to unlock all the levels, you have to pay $3.99 for the full experience.
Download: Shapes and Colors Kids Games (free, in-app purchases available)
4. Balloon Pop Kids learning game
The balloon pop game is an interactive adventure game where children get to experience the world of learning. While exploring different locations like the jungle, underwater world, landscape, Dino world and many more, kids have to pop the balloons that appear on the screen but also put letters and numbers. Each time they press a letter, the voice sounds to them.
By distinguishing between balloons to pop and balloons containing real-world objects (letters and numbers), they learn and play at the same time. With a clean and colorful interface, the activities to choose from are both simple and educational.
The app has free games available with levels that unlock over time, but if you want to unlock all the levels you have to make a purchase.
Download: Balloon Pop Kids Learning Game (Free, In-App Purchases Available)
5. Talking
The Yummies app is interactive from the start. A carrot welcomes you and lets you choose a game. You can choose from food selection games, fun math activities like cutting a pizza into fractions (while choosing your favorite toppings), rearranging foods to match, and much more.
The themes are all centered around food, so that the children can also learn about the culinary world. The background music and instructional voice are easy to follow and keep children fully engaged, especially with headphones.
However, there are ads, but you can opt out of them with an in-app purchase to eliminate them. A parent or guardian must enter their date of birth on the website to launch the app.
Download: Yummies (free, with in-app purchases)
Look for apps that are educational for toddlers
With so many to choose from, it can be difficult to find a selection of apps for toddlers that are not only fun, but also educational. Choosing visually interesting games with background music and friendly instructional voices is one way to engage them.
Learning through apps should be an interactive experience that kids enjoy so much that they don’t even know they’re learning. It’s easy to pick a few, then test them on your toddler to see which ones they like best.
