15 Fun and Educational iPad Apps for Toddlers

Other than going through the normative developmental milestones, the learning curve of a child is a lot faster in the first few years. Science and technology have made it easier for parents to understand their little one’s mind, and usher them into the world of education and learning in a fun way. A handy tool such as an iPad can not only be used to keep your children amused but also to open their little minds to new ideas and concepts with the help of various applications designed especially for toddlers.

Best iPad Apps for Toddlers

Though there are close to a thousand applications for children up to five years of age, here is a list of some of the top learning apps that you can help with your child’s learning abilities.

1. PBS Kids Games

Features

PBS Kids Games is one of the best iPad apps for preschoolers. It bundles up educational shows and learning games for toddlers. All the shows have PBS characters like The Cat in the Hat, Daniel Tiger, Pinkalicious and Peterrific, Sesame Street, etc., as protagonists. It has various topic-based iPad games for toddlers – fun topics like Dress Up Games, Colouring Games, and Rhyming Games; along with educational games such as Math Games, Science Games, and Engineering Games.

Rating

4

Type

Games

iOS Compatibility 

This app is compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch with iOS 8.0 and above.

2. The Petting Zoo

Features

This interactive picture book is based on the famous illustrator Christoph Neimann’s book of the same name. It is common knowledge that children have a natural affinity for pets. This digital book not only has 21 quirky hand-drawn animals that your tot will be able to identify but also, playful musical sounds along with surprising animations like a bathing elephant and a dog that can breakdance.

Rating

4.6

Type

Educational

iOS Compatibility

Requires iOS 9.0 and above and is compatible with iPad and iPhone.

3. Press Here

Features

A digital form of Herve Tullet’s beloved picture book ‘Press Here’, this interactive and colourful app tests your toddler’s instincts and reflexes. The playful and brightly coloured dots that change their size, direction, and multiply on touch make these games and activities exhilarating for the young ones.

Rating

3.5

Type

Educational

iOS Compatibility

Requires iOS 3.2 or above and is compatible with iPad only.

4. Cut the Rope

Features

Multiple award-winning app (including a BAFTA), Cut the Rope is one of the best-rated iPad puzzles for toddlers. It has 425 levels of candy eating adorable monster named Om Nom with hidden prizes and gold stars that can help in the overall cognitive development of your child.

Rating

4.8

Type

Games

iOS Compatibility

Requires iOS 8.0 or above and is compatible with iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch.

5. Elmo Loves ABCs

Features

This award-winning app is one of the most recommended educational iPad apps. The app has a new alphabet song and colourful letters which when your little one slides, swipes, touches, or traces reveals more than eighty Sesame Street characters, numerous colouring pages, and ways to play hide and seek – what a fun way to learn the English alphabet.

Rating

3.6

Type

Educational

iOS Compatibility

Requires iOS 8.0 or above. Compatible with iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch.

6. YouTube Kids

Features

YouTube Kids is a separate world of creative content on sports, crafts, animals, etc., based on different categories for children. It has features like Parental Controls and Limit Screen Time which help you in guiding your little ones through the ‘Approved Content’ and keep them from overexposure to electronics. Parents can create multiple profiles and customise them according to age groups of ‘preschool’, ‘younger’, and ‘older’.

Rating

4.7

Type

Entertainment

iOS Compatibility

It requires iOS 9.0 or above and is compatible with iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch.

7. Highlights Monster Day

Features

Aimed at developing soft skills and creating emotional acceptance of the diverse society that we live in, Monster Day also tries to remove the fear of fictitious monsters among toddlers. Kids can choose from a range of cute monster avatars as their buddies and the game puts the onus on the children caring for their buddies, creating a sense of responsibility and independence among them.

Rating

4

Type

Educational

iOS Compatibility

Requires iOS 10.0 and above and is compatible with iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch.

8. Farm 123

Features

This application helps toddlers and preschoolers in learning how to count in a fun and exciting way. This digital book has features of a real book – digital pages than can be turned and pop-up illustrations that kids can experience from every angle. Coupled with sound effects and a musical score with interactive animal actions, Farm 123 makes counting a fun process for kids of that age.

Rating

4.3

Type

Games

iOS Compatibility

Requires iOS 8.0 or above. Compatible with iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch.

9. Baby’s Musical Hands

Features

This app is based on the theory that music plays an important role in a child’s overall cognitive development. It has boxes of three different colours produce sounds of a piano, drums, and a guitar whenever they are touched. As a visual treat, stars spark out on the screen when your child taps on these boxes.

Rating

4.1

Type

Games

iOS Compatibility

This app is compatible with iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch with iOS 8.0 or above.

10. Artie’s Magic Pencil

Features

This fun interactive app helps develop the building blocks of an artist in your toddler. They can bring to life different structures by joining the dots on the screen – shapes and objects which are a part of the adventurous story of Artie.

Rating

4.6

Type

Education

iOS Compatibility

Requires iOS 7.0 or above and is compatible with iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch.

11. Dr Seuss’s ABC

Features

A bestselling classic, this digital version of the book is full of interactive ways of learning consonant sounds, words, and recognising upper and lower case letters. You can either read out the highlighted text on the screen to your little one or play the audio, either way, it is an excellent app for your child to learn English.

Rating

4.5

Type

Books

iOS Compatibility

Requires iOS 8.0 or above. Compatible with iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch.

12. Peekaboo Barn

Features

A pioneer among the applications for toddlers, Peekaboo Barn helps your child in identifying barn animals that pop out on screen on opening the barn door along with their sounds. There are different narrations available in different languages making it a great app for learning different languages.

Rating

3.9

Type

Education

iOS Compatibility

It requires iOS 5.1.1 or above and is compatible with iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch.

13. Pat the Bunny

Features

Based on the beloved toddler book by Dorothy Kunhardt, children can play with the interactive bunny in 14 different scenes available in the app. They can pop bubbles, feed the bunny, catch butterflies, and much more.

Rating

4.2

Type

Books

iOS Compatibility

Requires iOS 5.1.1 or above and is compatible with iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch.

14. Nighty Night!

Features

Awarded ‘App of the Year’ by App Store, this is one of the most used iPad apps for 2 years old and above, during sleep time. 2 seasons, 13 interactive animals, sweet lullaby music, and great narration will help put your bundle of energy to a peaceful sleep. A bonus is an illustration done by the Oscar-nominated artist Heidi Wittlinger.

Rating

4.6

Type

Books

iOS Compatibility

Requires iOS 8.0 or above and is compatible with iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch.

15. Drawing Pad

Features

The features on this app fully justify the name – from crayons to pencil colours and sketch pens – all are available for your child to explore and create her/his artwork with realistic finished work. It has blenders, gradient brushes, construction paper, and numerous other such tools that are fun and educational at the same time for the inner artist in your tot. No wonder this app won the ‘App of the Week’ in 12 countries, and numerous other awards over the years.

Rating

4.4

Type

Entertainment

iOS Compatibility

Requires iOS 12.0 or above and is compatible with iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch.

We hope this list helps you in selecting appropriate content for your toddler to learn and stay engaged positively.

Also Read:

Tips To Teach Your Toddler New Words
How to Develop Literacy Skills in Toddlers
Five Approaches to Learning for Toddlers