Parents always want to give their kids hours of listening, reading and playtime fun. These Gold-Award winning apps, software, video games and websites do just that.
By Allen Raush
Parents always want to give their kids hours of listening, reading and playtime fun. These Gold-Award winning apps, software, video games and websites do just that.
Pat the Bunny for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch
Random House; $4.99; rhskidsapps.com
Designed especially for toddlers and preschoolers, the appfeatures 14 fully interactive scenes your kids can tap, swipe, andexplore.Your kids will giggle with delight as they play hideand seek with Bunny, pop bubbles in the bathtub, make music in thekitchen, catch butterflies in the garden, and much more.
Random House added many improvements, including the ability forchildren to record themselves and a camera.
Reading Rainbow
Reading Rainbow; $9.99 a month or $29.99 for six months; rrkidz.com
Hosted by LeVar Burton, this unlimited reading subscriptionservice offers a trusted library of books customized to yourchild’s interests, plus exciting video field trips to visitfascinating people and places. New books and videos are added EVERYweek. The Reading Rainbow App is a completely re-imagined andinteractive experience reminiscent of the original TV series.
Toca Kitchen
Toca; $1.99; tocaboca.com
Ever wanted to play with your food? Now you can! Toca Kitchenlets you cook food for four hungry characters. Pick any ingredientand prepare it in your own way! Slice, boil, fry, cook, microwaveor blend? It’s up to you!
LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes
A new LEGO city to explore. Warner Bros. InteractiveEntertainment; $19.99-$59.99; dcuniversesuperheroes.lego.com
In this new game, the Dynamic Duo of Batman and Robin join otherfamous super heroes from the DC Universe to save Gotham City fromdestruction at the hands of the notorious villains Lex Luthor andthe Joker. Batman fans of all ages will enjoy a new and originalstory filled with classic LEGO videogame action and humor asplayers fight to put the villains back behind bars.
National Geographic Animal Jam
National Geographic; prices start at $5.95 per month; animaljam.com
A virtual world where kids can explore Jamaa with other kidsfrom around the world.National Geographic’s rich multimediawindow to the natural world has been combined with fun charactersand immersive gameplay to create the ultimate online destinationfor kids.
Skylanders Giants
Activision; $74.99; skylanders.com
In Skylanders Giants, the rich mythology of the Skylandscontinues, engaging audiences with new, super-sized Giants withsuper-sized powers, an all-new story, new puzzles to solve, and newdiscoveries that will fire the imagination.
