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  6. Best Apps for Preschoolers

Best Apps for Preschoolers

March 12, 2015
Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission.
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TeachMe: Kindergarten
Credit: Courtesy of iTunes

There's an overwhelming number of paid apps for kids to choose from, but which ones are worth shelling out for? Here are some fun and educational apps for 3- to 4-year-olds that'll give you the best bang for your buck -- and you won't feel guilty about letting your kid use them.

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AlphaTots Alphabet

AlphaTots Alphabet

Toddlers will love to learn the ABCs by "building" robots, "digging" for treasure, and "zapping" alien spaceships...along with 26 other action verbs that help guide them through letters and sounds. The app features 26 puzzles and mini-games all geared towards helping your child learn the alphabet, as well as fun activities, like alphabet sing-a-longs and an interactive tool that encourages kids to recite the ABCs on their own. ($2.99, iPhone, iPad; $2.99, Android)

● RELATED: Preschool Curriculum: What Your Child Will Learn

  • Download AlphaTots Alphabet on iTunes
  • Download AlphaTots Alphabet on Google Play

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Peg + Cat Big Gig

Peg Plus Cat Big Gig

Your kid will hardly know she's learning math when she sings and dances along with the characters Peg and Cat. Through singing, Peg and Cat will help your child identify numbers, count up and down by ones and twos, and repeat patterns. Kids are rewarded with a special show just for them. ($1.99; iPhone, iPad; $1.99; Android; $1.99; Amazon)

● RELATED: 10 Great Math Apps for Kids

  • Download Peg + Cat Big Gig on iTunes
  • Download Peg + Cat Big Gig on Google Play
  • Download Peg + Cat Big Gig on Amazon.com

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Animatch

Animatch
Credit: Courtesy of iTunes

This simple electronic matching game features around 30 farm and safari animal cards to flip and match just like an old-school memory game -- and you don't have to worry about losing any cards! When kids succeed at a match, they'll hear cool animal sounds and see the animals do a cute jiggle. This app is perfect for developing concentration, memorization, and cognitive skills. ($.99; iPhone, iPad)

  • Download Animatch on iTunes
  • Download Animatch on Google Play

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Monkey Preschool Lunchbox

Monkey Preschool Lunchbox
Credit: Courtesy of iTunes

Introduce your preschooler to letters, colors, shapes, counting, and pattern recognition. The goal of the game, through six different activities, is to fill a monkey's lunch box with fruit. Your child will have fun helping the monkey count fruit, match cards with fruit on them, and solve puzzles. When a few activities are won in a row, kids can choose a cartoon sticker and place it on a personalized virtual canvas board. ($1.99, iPhone, iPad; $1.99, Android)

● RELATED: 8 Toddler Learning Activities

  • Download Monkey Preschool Lunchbox on iTunes
  • Download Monkey Preschool Lunchbox on Google Play

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Wheels on the Bus

Wheels on the Bus
Credit: Courtesy of iTunes

Put your kid in the driver's seat and let her enjoy this interactive version of the classic nursery rhyme song. Kids can listen to the song in five different languages while reading the lyrics in English and touch different objects on the screen to open bus doors, make windshield wipers go "swish, swish, swish," and make bubbles pop. There's even a feature that records your little angel's voice. (Free, iPhone, iPad & Android)

  • Download Wheels on the Bus on iTunes
  • Download Wheels on the Bus on Google Play

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How to Choose an Electronic Educational Toy

Learning outside of the classroom can be a ton of fun, and technology has given parents a new set of options. Choose the best, age-appropriate electronic toys for your child to keep her entertained and engaged.

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Preschool Arcade

Preschool Arcade
Credit: Courtesy of iTunes

Your kids will feel like they're at the boardwalk arcade when playing this app's four educational games: ABC Invasion, Pinball 123, Claw-Crane Matching, and a Whack-a-Mole. The animation and real-life sound effects will captivate your kids while teaching them alphabet recognition (both uppercase and lowercase letters) and basic counting, and improving their cognitive development. ($0.99; iPhone, iPad)

  • Download Preschool Arcade on iTunes

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The Monster at the End of This Book

The Monster at the End of This Book
Credit: Courtesy of iTunes

If your child is a Sesame Street fan, she'll go crazy over this interactive rendition of the classic picture book from the 1970s. This 12-page book offers different activities on every single page. Grover's voice can be heard urging kids not to turn pages so they can stay far away from the monster at the end of the book. The app is hands-on, asking kids to untie ropes, touch a knot to make it unravel, knock down brick walls, and tickle Grover by tapping on his image. Plus, as the book's words appear on each page, various characters say them out loud and reveal hints that help kids interact with the book. If your child is struggling with fear and anxiety issues, this app offers a great way to open the door for conversations about emotions and monsters under the bed. ($4.99, iPhone, iPad; $2.24, Android)

● RELATED: The All-Time Best Books for Toddlers

  • Download The Monster at the End of This Book on iTunes
  • Download The Monster at the End of This Book on Google Play

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Daniel Tiger's Grr-ific Feelings

Daniel Tiger's Grr-ific Feelings

Use trolley games, sing-alongs, drawings, and a feelings booth -- all featuring PBS Kids character Daniel Tiger -- to help your child explore her feelings. Children using the app will be encouraged to: practice calming down by taking deep breaths, feel proud when helping Daniel clean up, help Daniel count to four when he feels mad, and laugh with Daniel when he performs his happy dance. ($2.99; iPad, Android)

  • Download Daniel Tiger's Grr-ific Feelings on iTunes
  • Download Daniel Tiger's Grr-ific Feelings on Google Play

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JumpStart Preschool Magic of Learning

JumpStart Preschool Magic of Learning
Credit: Courtesy of iTunes

Join Frankie the Dog on a magical learning adventure through four types of games (a total of 15 games). Bug Catcher focuses on color, shape, and number recognition; Present Search teaches children to listen closely and follow instructions; Matching Duckies develops memory by uncovering a picture; and Barnyard Fun helps kids identify uppercase and lowercase letters. The app will keep your preschooler busy while it teaches valuable math, reading, and critical thinking skills. ($1.99; iPhone, iPad; Free, Android).

● RELATED: 9 Best Books to Teach Listening

  • Download JumpStart Preschool Magic of Learning on iTunes
  • Download a Free Version of JumpStart Preschool 2 on Google Play

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Etch a Sketch IT!

Etch a Sketch HD for iPad
Credit: Courtesy of iTunes

Your kids can create and clear artwork on an iPad or iPhone just as you did on the classic toy as a youngster. Draw freehand with your fingers or use virtual knobs -- just make sure your child is careful when shaking the device to "erase" an image! You can upload personal photos; you can also have your kid draw on and then proudly post his creations to your Facebook page. (Free; iPad, iPhone)

● RELATED: Letter Perfect: Helping Kids Learn to Write

  • Download Etch a Sketch IT! on iTunes
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Shape Builder

Shape Builder
Credit: Courtesy of iTunes

If your child loves to sprawl out on the floor and solve puzzles, then he'll love this interactive touch- screen jigsaw puzzle. Shapes snap into place on top of silhouette puzzles (all of which have about 5 to 10 pieces) with outlines of musical instruments, the alphabet, fruits and veggies, animals, objects, and numbers. Your child can build his vocabulary, improve fine motor skills, and feel a sense of accomplishment. When a puzzle is finished and the real image is revealed, kids hear sound effects and a voice recording by a licensed speech therapist that says the object's name word. Shapebuilder Lite lets you test the app for free. ($2.99, iPhone, iPad; $3.99, Android)

  • Download Shape Builder on iTunes
  • Download Shape Builder on Google Play

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TeachMe: Kindergarten

TeachMe: Kindergarten
Credit: Courtesy of iTunes

Dip your child's toe into basic math, reading, and spelling concepts. Select subjects (sight words, numbers, addition, subtraction, letters, and spelling) and set different difficulty levels. Your kids will love this super-engaging app and the reward system that lets them earn coins for correct answers. The rewards can be used to buy virtual stickers to place onto fun backdrops or buy fish to create an aquarium. TeachMe: Toddler and TeachMe: First Grade apps are available for kids of all ages to practice important skills. ($1.99; iPhone, iPad)

  • Download TeachMe: Kindergarten on iTunes

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    1 of 13 AlphaTots Alphabet
    2 of 13 Peg + Cat Big Gig
    3 of 13 Animatch
    4 of 13 Monkey Preschool Lunchbox
    5 of 13 Wheels on the Bus
    6 of 13 How to Choose an Electronic Educational Toy
    7 of 13 Preschool Arcade
    8 of 13 The Monster at the End of This Book
    9 of 13 Daniel Tiger's Grr-ific Feelings
    10 of 13 JumpStart Preschool Magic of Learning
    11 of 13 Etch a Sketch IT!
    12 of 13 Shape Builder
    13 of 13 TeachMe: Kindergarten

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