Preschool children are at such an exciting stage in their lives. Through education and play, they learn to build the foundation of skills they will use throughout their lives. These include motor skills, language skills, social skills, mathematical concepts and problem-solving, self-control, and learning to manage emotions.
An iPad Mini 6 Case is an excellent tool for integrating these skills. Through play, the iPad can boost and support what preschool kids learn from home and school. Which are the top apps to use? Let’s find out.
Moose Math
Moose Math is a math app where kids help a moose and his friends with various tasks. This app forms part of Khan Academy, a non-profit educational organization that offers online resources on more than 5,000 topics to help students learn and grow. There are five multi-level activities where kids decorate buildings and build their cities. These can include counting, finding hidden animals, and making smoothies. While having fun, kids learn the basics of addition, subtraction, shapes, and counting. Moose Math is great for preschool kids and allows parents to monitor and follow their progress. The app is free without in-app purchases.
Homer Reader
Homer was one of the world’s great poets and writers, and this reading app is a tribute to him. Homer Reader creates a personalized, comprehensive literacy curriculum based on your child’s likes and interests. Whether it is animals, folk tales, poetry, music, or any other subject, your preschool kid can tap into the content and learn. They can even record their voices and learn about phonics and pronunciation. Homer Reading gives context to help kids learn. So a lesson about the letter “A for alligator” takes them on a trip to the zoo where they also learn about alligators. Homer Reader claims that spending 15 minutes daily on the app increases early reading scores by 74 percent. The app does not have ads and costs $10 monthly after a 30-day trial.
Daniel Tiger’s Day and Night
If there is one thing that kids love, it is routine. A routine makes them feel safe and in control. Daniel Tiger’s Day and Night is all about teaching kids morning and evening routines. They learn to do everything from waking up and getting dressed, brushing their teeth, having breakfast, choosing pajamas, and having a bath at night. The app is also a great way to teach kids self-care and hygiene from a young age. It features eight games about morning and night-time routines, sing-along songs that make these fun, and a musical timer to keep everyone on track. The app is passed on the hit PBS KIDS series Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood and costs $2.99.
My PlayHome
Imaginary play is one of the main ways that young kids learn. My PlayHome encourages your kids to build a family by using their imagination. They can choose up to 15 characters with individual outfits, hairstyles, different skin tones, and looks to live in a virtual dollhouse. The play options are limitless – the imaginary family can play, go on the swings, cook or blow bubbles, for example. My PlayHome is available for $3.99.
Top Safety Tips
1. Monitor Your Child
Although finishing those chores when your child is on the iPad is convenient, please don’t do it. Take the time to sit with them and watch them navigate the apps’ games, puzzles, and riddles. Ask them questions and engage with them – make it an interactive experience where you spend quality time together.
2. Use the iPad’s Parental Control Settings
The iPad Mini has a great range of control settings that allow you to restrict settings for purchases and downloads, privacy, and explicit content. You can also prevent your kid from installing or deleting apps and making in-app purchases. The control settings also avoid playback of music with explicit content and movies or TV shows with specific ratings. Apps also have ratings that can be configured using content restrictions. The same goes for books, websites, movies, TV shows, and app clips. The iPad’s iOS controls give you complete peace of mind.
3. Check the App Reviews
Customer reviews are one of the ways to verify whether an app is age-appropriate for your preschool kid. High-quality apps go through a vetting process before being published on Google Play or the App Store. Respectable app developers always have a website with information about the company, developers, and games. Also, check out the customer reviews and ratings. The higher these are, the better. Read the comments to see if users flagged any particular issues – check the three and four-star ratings – it’s the sweet spot that highlights potential problems.
4. Invest in an iPad Case
An iPad case is one of the best things you can invest in, especially if your child is going to use the device. You need a robust ipad pro 11 inch case cover like those made by Zugu, which offers significant drop protection against a five-foot drop on concrete. The Zugu case iPad Mini cover folds back in a kickstand case with eight adjustable angles. There is no risk of the iPad slipping out of its setting thanks to the powerful magnets in each slot. You can use the iPad with your little one in bed, on the couch, or the kitchen table.
