One of the reasons I decided to take the plunge and buy an iPad was because I knew I would be flying with a toddler, and I was hoping it would help entertain my child on our regular transatlantic flights. It has been a real lifesaver, but there is a sea of apps to choose from, many of them not cheap. Here are the ones we have had the most success with:
Itsy Bitsy Spider and Old McDonald by Duck Duck Moose – These two apps are great, because they have so many different things for your little one to do. Even without the sound, our toddler can play these for 20 minute blocks and still enjoy them.
Elmo’s ABC’s – There really is something about Elmo. We don’t have Sesame Street where we live, but having seen Elmo once, our toddler LOVES this game. Kids have to draw the letters, then they can watch a video and match objects. The videos are classic Sesame Street clips.
Pat the Bunny – I love this book, so I was interested in trying the app. I don’t think the app comes anywhere close to the book, which is truly interactive, but the app is a great way to entertain a toddler. There are some drawing activities, and you make bunny do things like go sledding or break a piñata.
Whale Trail – This game is made for an older audience, but the colors and background make it easily enjoyable for the younger set. They can manipulate the whale across the screen while rainbows shoot out of it. A fun and entertaining game, but not very educational.
Baby Aquarium - This is a great free app which helps kids learn their colors. Children touch the fish and the name of the color pops across the screen. This app is colorful and entertaining for very little ones.
Baby’s First Words Flash Cards – This is a wonderful way to entertain a toddler with pictures of animals, toys, and other common objects. We have two sets of these, one with sound one without, and they are always useful in a pinch.
When traveling with a toddler, it is best to be prepared to use the iPad with them rather than expect to just hand it over. I haven’t tried to use a pair of headphones, but instead I read the stories or sing the songs with my kids. Part of the entertainment value for young kids is the attention from mom or dad. Show them how it works or talk to them about what is going on.
