We are a geeky household to say the least. Hubby is a software engineer and, well, I’m a blogger (among other things)! There is no shortage of technological devices in our house. We are big advocates for teaching kids to use awesome devices such as the iPad or iPod. We do limit her screen time on the iPad but we have found it to be a fantastic learning tool. 

There are a lot of awful, ad-filled apps for toddlers out there but I’m here to help you find worthwhile apps for toddlers. Miss O will be three in June and these are a few of her favourites. All links will take you to the AppStore and prices are from Apple in Canadian dollars. Most of the apps are paid but I find that paid apps are of a much higher quality. These are all apps that we have paid for and I have not regretted purchasing for one moment. The free ones listed here are also mostly ad-free.

Although links are not provided, I have also mentioned if these apps are available for Android.

 

Endless Reader

Price: Free (in-app purchases available)

The Endless apps as a whole are awesome. They are free to download and try out but the full packages can get pretty pricey. They are totally worth it though. Miss O learned her alphabet from Endless Alphabet. There is also Numbers and Wordplay. You will not regret purchasing these apps. Reader, Alphabet and Numbers are also available for Android.

 

Daniel Tiger’s Grr-iffic Feelings

Price: $3.49

If your toddler is a fan of Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood then they are going to love this app. Miss O plays this one the most. There are songs, activities and more all about different feelings. There are two other Daniel Tiger apps available as well. Individually they are $3.49 but you can purchase a bundle for $6.99. Also available on Android.

 

Sago Mini Friends

Price: $3.49

We have a lot of Sago apps. They are so incredibly well-made and Miss O loves each and every one of them. This one makes her laugh out loud. This one makes her think outside the box which I really appreciate. One of the mini-games includes inflating balloons. She likes to use her nose to inflate them – it’s hilarious to watch! Sago games are not available on Android.

 

Preschool Edupaint

Price: $3.99

This is yet another app from a big collection by Cubic Frog. They are all fantastic but this is Miss O’s favourite. Filled with mini games, this app encourages children to follow simple instructions as they learn all about colours, shapes, numbers, letters and more. They are filled with bright colours and definitely keep the kids entertained. She loves colouring and showing me her completed artwork with this app. Available on Android.

 

LumiKids Park

Price: Free!

This app with little mini-games is a lot like Sago Mini apps. This is an excellent app that helps hone fine motor skills and helps with attention span. It’s from the makers of Lumosity. Bonus: it’s free. No ads either! You will need to sign into the app first and confirm you are the parent. You’re not forced to sign up with your email address though which is more awesome news. Not available on Android.

 

Potty Time with Elmo

Price: $3.49

If you’re getting ready to start potty training then you need to download this app. It’s very interactive and gets kids really interested in potty training. You can also track their progress. If you’ve got an Elmo fan then this is definitely worth the money. Miss O is now potty trained yet still loves to play with this app. Not available on Android (although they do have other Sesame Street apps).

 

Sago Mini Monsters

Price: Free!

Can you tell that Miss O just can’t get enough of the Sago apps? She has been playing this one for a long time and still loves it. This one is all about creativity. Kids get to make their own monster with fun accessories. It’s very simple to use with lots of fun colours and entertaining noises. Around Halloween, Miss O got very scared of many things to do with the holiday. This app has helped her to see that monsters are not scary at all, especially if you give them a funny hat! Not available on Android.

 

Balloonimals Babies

Price: $2.29

This is another fun app. It is a great way to introduce the idea of touching the screen to produce results. It is a very tactile app. To blow up the animals, they have to blow into the phone! Miss O likes to tell me how cute the animals are and she laughs hysterically when they pop. This is a great app to keep on your phone to entertain the kids in a pinch. Not available on Android.

 

Looking for more? Check out 10 more awesome apps as tested and loved by Miss O!