Tag: apps

Monster Detector

Available from Itunes for £.59

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‘In addition to being a mum of a 3 year old, I used to be a former primary school teacher and I’ve been an ICT trainer for 10+ years (I do software/hardware training in schools). All apps that ‘we’ review are not only trialled by Madame but I’ve also had a good play with them.’

In the last few months Madame has developed a fear of monsters and has taken to sleeping with the light on. Apparently they come out of the mirror and go up the chimney, plus, there’s a little brown one that comes out of the toy box and runs over and pulls her hair. It took all my power of control not to giggle out loud when she told me.

For a laugh, I downloaded the Monster Detector App. I personally think it’s crap. There’s only one screen. You push the scan button a few lights flash and then it says ‘no monsters detected’. That’s it, no different screens or different results. Not that I wanted it to say there’s a monster in the room.

However, Madame loves it and she runs around checking all the rooms in the house. So, I guess it wasn’t a complete waste of money if it helps her sleep.

Here’s what we thought:
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Humf Iphone App

Available from Itunes for £1.79

In addition to being a mum of a 3 year old, I used to be a former primary school teacher and I’m now an ICT trainer (I do software/hardware training in schools). All apps that ‘we’ review are not only trialled by Madame but I’ve also had a good play with them.

I’ve never watched Humf. I have no attention span for children’s programming and put too much faith in the Children’s TV producers, but Madame loves it. We were given a copy of the Humf Iphone App to review. We both really like it. Madame is continually asking me to play it and I have to battle her to get the phone back.

It has 9 different solid activities which are not only fun, but they also have an educational element to them (counting, sorting, numbers, and colours), which makes mummy happy.

Here’s what we thought

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As you can see we highly recommend this app!

The only suggestion I have for the developers is to build in some sort of reward. Possibly children could collect stickers along the way and a ‘place’ to stick them. It would also be great if the instructions were ‘read’ to the children as they are unable to read them for themselves.

Do you have any that you would recommend or like me to review?

Iphone Apps for Pre-Schoolers (Books)

When I first bought my Iphone I never thought in a million years that I’d let my 3 year old play with it.  She absolutely flies around it, when my hubby wouldn’t be able to make a call on it.  I’ve downloaded so many apps, I’ve started organising them by subject (Literacy, Numeracy, etc).  This may stem from my former life as a primary school teacher.

I don’t tend to download games such as Paper Toss, Angry Birds etc as I’d like them to have some educational content but I haven’t gone as far as downloading flash cards.

I was looking for some classic books (Cinderella, Pinocchio, Snow White, etc), which I didn’t find but stumbled upon these books by Kidz Story.  I think they’re great and so does Madame.  You have the option for the story to be read to you or read it yourself plus there’s a bit on interactivity built in.  They’re not free but for 59p I think it’s a great bargain!  They would have cost a lot more than £3 for 5 books on the High Street.

Here’s what we thought:

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Do you have any apps that you would recommend for a 3 year old?

Which ones would you avoid?

The 12 Apps of Christmas (for kids)

To help get me through the Christmas Season I’ve just loaded my phone up with some new apps to keep Madame entertained.  I can’t wait till she rings Santa!


  1. Christmas Advent Calendar 2010 (free)  If you’re like me and didn’t get one in time.  The next best thing. (Note:  I just played with this one and to collect gifts you have option of going on the net.  I have removed it just in case).
  2. Sleeps to Christmas App (free)  How many sleeps left in days, minutes and seconds.
  3. Christmas for Kids – Call Santa (.59p) Ring Santa in the North Pole.
  4. Snow Globe (.59p) It does what it says on the tin!
  5. iChristmas Tree (.59p) Decorate your own tree on your iphone without having to hoover the needles
  6. The Smelly Sprout Lite (Free) this is half of the full version of the best-selling book.  It ends on a cliff-hanger
  7. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (£1.79) Rudolph comes to the rescue.
  8. Dr. Seuss Camera – The Grinch Edition (£1.19) Turn yourself into the Grinch.
  9. Kids Can Count – Christmas Gifts (.59p)  Count the decorations on the tree.
  10. Talking Christmas Santa Kid Tickle his tummy, pull his beard and wiggle his hat!
  11. Kids Song Machine Lite (Free) Festive Christmas Tune to get you in the spirit.
  12. Christmas Card Match (Free)  How quickly can you find the pairs?

Once you’ve survived Christmas here are a few other recommended apps for pre-school.

Top Ipad Apps for Kids

Following on from my first guest blog post – Travelling just got easier Part 01 – I thought I would follow up, as promised, with a more detailed iPad review of what exactly my boys like and what works and does work.

Lets start with the oldest, a 7 year old. I am not the kind of parent that throws technology at my kids and let them get on with it, while I sit back with a beer and the newspaper. Although, as I type that it does sound nice doesn’t it. The iPad adds to the experience.

However, there are times, especially when travelling that it comes in very handy. Sometimes traffic or a delayed flight, you need something to take away the boredom. And here are the top 3 things that save the day with a 7 year old.

  1. Angry birds. It is brilliant, fun and very addictive. I have known parents to get hooked. It is also being constantly updated, with recently a “Halloween” edition being launched. If you have an iPad and even an iPhone / iPod you need to get this.
  2. Lets Golf. Now there are 2 additions to this game, but both work great and if your kids are into sport type games, then they will love it. Very easier to play, very colourful and has great features to improve and challenge your golf skills.
  3. Now something to keep the teachers happy. And educational App – Mathsboard. My boy loves this and makes me feel good as a Dad. It looks like a blackboard in design and you go through a series of Maths problems and puzzles to test your skills. You can change the settings, to make it harder and easier, so it grows as the children’s knowledge and confidence grows.

And now on to the 2 year old, which is a different thing altogether. We mainly use the iPad as a replacement for the suitcase full of stuff you normally need to carry as hand luggage. So here are 3 things that will keep the 2 year old from going crazy on holiday.

  1. Game cards. We use ‘Flashcards’or 123 counting. Very simply a series of pictures or images that come up on the screen and you learn to explain colours, sounds, animals, and letters. Pretty much everything. Flashcards has everything. From Sharks to Cars, from the colour orange to the letter G. The added benefit to flashcards is that it comes in other languages. Although we are trying with English first before moving on to Spanish. One downside to these types of Apps is the noise. Remember to turn the volume button down. You have been warned.
  2. ColourPlay Lite is a great App. The Lite version is Free and maybe a little limited. However you can upgrade to the full version for £1.19 once you have exhausted all the drawings. To start with, you get a series of animal’s pictures, pigs, horses and a colour palette. With the touch of the finger you get to paint in the picture. Simple, but my boy loves it.
  3. Videos. The iPad is great for showing movies and TV shows. In the library we have Thomas, Peppa and an assortment of Disney classics. Brilliant. No discs, no DVD boxes. Simple and very useful. We also have a good selection of older stuff for the 7 year old. Football, Top Gear etc.

I hope that helps. I think with the introduction of iPad type technology, Travelling with children just got easier.

Matt Bigg

@mattbigg

matt@thecollectivedesign.co.uk