Very+First+Apps

Update July 5 -- Here's the resulting Gadgetwise posting: []

Thanks to everyone! I'm sorry that I didn't have more space. I've pasted everyone's suggestions below; keep in mind that this is a wikipage, so we can keep this list growing. One app that kept coming up on everyone's list: ShapeBuilder (see Jeremy's note, below). I've been told that an iPad version is in the works, according to Daren Murtha.

ARCHIVED --- Here are the suggestions for iPad apps so far! THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO HAS CONTRIBUTED.  Warren Buckleitner May 1, 2011 Dear Esteemed ECE-TECH List Serve Members --  I'm working on a roundup of apps for younger children -- babies and  toddlers, with a working title of "best apps for toddlers." I just counted  over 700 tagged, for better or for worse, for "toddlers." Staggering. We  are talking age 1.5 to 3 --- a "child's first app."

 DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE? To suggest an app, please reply directly to me  (warren@childrenstech.com), and not to the entire list; include your name  and title.

From Ruth A. Doran, Executive Director, The Guatemalan Maya Center

* Scribble (scribble lite is ok too) * Virtuoso * Recorder

From Kathleen Kremer, Fisher-Price

I think that some of the best apps for infants/toddlers were not made for infants/toddlers, so if you look at apps labeled as for "toddlers" <span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">or "infants", they won't come up. For instance, I think Magic Piano is great for infants/toddlers (and apparently some animals too) - nice <span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">cause-effect, big hot spots, very engaging. In fact, I suspect it holds infants/toddlers attention more than older kids. One of my favorites that we don't make is Peekaboo Barn. It builds off of an activity that infants/toddlers know (i.e., Peekaboo). Nice cause-effect, pacing, animal sounds, etc. Extremely well done (but some of the ones they did afterwards weren't quite as good). I do like our SeeN Say app a lot as well. It's a little older than the Peekaboo Barn, but again, it builds off of an activity that toddlers know. And you don't need to have manual dexterity to do (i.e., you can just swat the center to get the spinner to move). Again, animal sounds, facts, engaging videos, etc. <span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Some of the Zinc Roe stuff is very nice too - some is more for preschoolers curriculum-wise but others are for younger.

<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">From Jeremy Brueck (father of a very busy toddler)

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Hi Warren, A few of the apps my own toddler seems to enjoy. <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"> **Shape Builder** by Touch Screen Preschool Games was an early favorite of my son. He started on this app when he was about 27 months old and absolutely loved it. __ [] __. Here is a post with some video of him and the app. __ [] __

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"> **Wheels on the Bus** by Duck Duck Moose - __ [] __. Here's a review I wrote __ [] __

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"> **Sound Shaker** by Tickle Tap Apps is a fun little app, but basically a noise maker. When my son was really young, say 18-30 months, this was a simple app to use and it made noise, so he seemed to play with it a lot. Now he is approaching 4 and doesn't really seems to go back to it very often. __ [] __

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"> Almost any Kindergarten.com app. A lot are simple flashcards, but my toddler loves going through them. __All their apps are free during April!__ Some titles are higher level problem-solving types. **What Rhymes**, **Which Does Not Belong**, **Which Go Together** are all excellent.


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<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"> FROM Heidi Gilman Bennett, Early Childhood Publishing Consultant and Mother of 2 <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Greetings from Berkeley, CA! My almost 2yo daughter's favorites are: <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"> - Talking Baby Hippo -- OK, if I'm honest, we downloaded the free talking cat first, but I really dislike how kids can poke it so we switched to the hippo. She loves to talk to it (and shriek at it) and hear it talk back. <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"> - Uncolor for iPad -- Such a simple idea, and she loves it. Well designed so that even though she doesn't get all the black off the screen, she is successful. Love the artwork and the simple animated rewards and quiet music. <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"> - Elmo's Monster Maker -- I'm wary of anything character-based, but this one is a great use of video and sound. Again, love that she is successful with whatever she creates. It's very creative yet simple interface and the dancing at the end is just brilliant (and funny even for parents).

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<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"> - Itsy Bitsy Spider by Duck Duck Moose -- Was her first favorite, and it's stuck as a top choice. Loves the music, including mommy's voice version with her giggles in background. The simple animations engage her, and she's able to navigate very successfully. ======

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Dr. Jim Gray, father of 2 1 year old twins told me he has had great success with Tappy Tunes.[WB]