5 Apps For Toddlers To Keep Them Busy

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* ABC Mouse

ABCmouse, an educational app with a subscription-based service, gets our vote for the best overall app for toddlers. Although it isn’t free, it certainly goes the distance if you’re looking for a great educational app for kids. It begins in a virtual classroom where your kids can select from a number of different adventures. There are many lessons to choose from that teach reading, math, coloring, counting, and music skills. ABCmouse allows you to add your child's age in the settings so it can create a customized experience for kids from as young as two all the way through second grade!

Do you have lots of little ones? Add up to three siblings to your subscription for the same monthly fee. It’s easy to switch between users so all your kids can get in on the learning action. The content gets more difficult as your child enters school and progresses through the early elementary grades. ABCmouse has lots of fun rewards, too.

* PBS Kids

Who doesn’t love PBS? It’s been a staple in child entertainment for decades now, from Sesame Street to Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood and it’s still going strong today. With the free PBS Kids Video and PBS Kids Games apps, your kids can play games and watch videos based on today’s most popular PBS shows like Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood and Cat in the Hat. Suitable for kids as young as two years old, the PBS Kids apps have something for everyone, teaching early science and math skills in fun and full-color games.

* Busy Shapes 2

Sadly, you can’t assume that your toddler’s favorite app will work the same way when you aren't connected to WiFi. That’s why it’s a good idea to download some apps that work in airplane mode before hopping on a plane with your toddler. Our pick for best airplane app for toddlers is Busy Shapes 2!

This updated offering from one of the most popular toddler apps is a fully functional app, even in airplane mode. Here, your toddler will learn shapes by dragging and dropping shapes into matching holes. The activity is brought to life by stunning visuals and beautiful, calming background music your kids will love. The shapes are made of real-life objects like fruit, helping your kids to associate shapes that are part of their daily lives.

* Monkey Preschool Lunchbox

Your toddler won’t even realize she’s learning when you download the fun toddler app, Monkey Preschool Lunchbox. She’ll learn colors, shapes, and counting in an effortlessly fun interface led by the adorably loveable monkey, Milo. Each activity that’s successfully completed comes with an immediate reward where your toddler will get to choose a sticker to add to her collection.

* Toca Boca

The Toca Boca suite of apps has become one of the most popular brands out there. Through fun, engaging apps full of bright colors and great sounds, Toca brings to life a host of activities like cooking, taking care of pets and sick patients, hairstyling, and even chemistry. For the youngest set, try a role-playing app like Toca Doctor (more on this one below) or a simple app like hairstyling (kids can’t get enough of the hair dryer). And as they grow, your kids can design and build their own city with the Toca Life apps.