Top 5 Kids Apps This Week

1. 1. Fire Station

   Ages 3-8
   Overall rating: 4.3 out of 5 stars

   Why we like it: This virtual field trip lets you explore community helpers -- especially a fire station -- by way a set of well-chosen videos embedded in the app. Testers liked the hand-drawn images and the background music which can be toggled on or off.

   Need to know: Note that this is a big app, weighing in at 400MB due to the embedded videos. It is a good app for any child (or adult) who wants some real-world information and experiences. See this video review.

   Ease of use: 10/10
   Educational: 9/10
   Entertaining: 9/10

   $2.99

   

2. 2. Hectic Harvest

   Ages 5-up
   Overall rating: 4.2 out of 5 stars

   Why we like it: Fun and fast, this timed farming game features characters from Fizzy's Lunch Lab from PBS Kids. You start with an empty garden that is divided into grids, and then start planting seeds. The better you weed, water and harvest, the more money you can make -- it's like Diner Dash with plants.

   Need to know: Warning -- this game is addicting, but can be frustrating for younger children. There's a bit of planning and higher-order thinking required, especially in the harder levels when you decide whether to buy things like fertilizer. For $1.99, this is a fun game, with indirect learning value. Watch the video review.

   Ease of use: 8/10
   Educational: 7/10
   Entertaining: 10/10

   $1.99

   

3. 3. Leo's Pad Appisode 1

   Ages 3-6
   Overall rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

   Why we like it: Featuring beautiful pixar-like 3D animation and an overly-chatty lead character, Leo's Pad is best described as an interactive movie, divided into "appisodes." After a short animated sequence, you participate in the story with activities.

   Need to know: The second in the series, Rocket to the Stars ($1.99), just launched. The story seems well-synced to the activities. It is easy to jump around within the app, thanks to a table of contents, and a parental dashboard tracks progress. This is definitely worth the first download.

   Ease of use: 9/10
   Educational: /10
   Entertaining: /10

   Free

   

4. 4. Sofia the First

   Ages 5-up
   Overall rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

   Why we like it: Featuring excellent graphics and narration, this is the story of a little girl who learns that being a princess isn't hard, but acting like one must come from the heart. A story theater lets you retell the story your way, with your narration.

   Need to know: Interactive elements are minimal. As with many princess/king/queen scenarios, there are inherent gender and cultural bias overtones in the story. The font is a non-conventional script that might bother some teachers.

   Ease of use: 9/10
   Educational: 9/10
   Entertaining: 9/10

   $3.99

   

5. 5. Tortoise & the Hare

   Ages 3-12
   Overall rating: 4.2 out of 5 stars

   Why we like it: In case you've been stuck in an elevator, the Living Books have been reborn on the iPad. The original mono-touch design has adapted to the modern multi-touch environment to enhance a child's feeling of control. You can quickly jump to any of the still-funny-after-all-these-years hot spots with a single tap, and the outstanding sound hasn't faded a bit. This includes Barbershop quartets, multi-language narration and a banjo that could've come right out of a bluegrass band. The real magic of the Living Books was, and will always be, the way the "living" features work to help tell an already good story.

   Need to know: Back in 1993, these were state of the art, but today the graphics don't compare well to today's offerings. The upside is that you get a "retro" look on the iPad.

   Ease of use: 10/10
   Educational: 7/10
   Entertaining: 9/10

   $4.99

   

Chris Crowell is a veteran kindergarten teacher and contributing editor to Children's Technology Review, a web-based archive of articles and reviews on apps, technology toys and video games. Download a free issue of CTR here.

This week's top apps are all about involvement. Using them, your kids will be gardening, jumping, going on field trips and starring in their own TV episodes — all from the comforts of home.

Our friends at Children's Technology Review shared with us these 5 top apps from their comprehensive monthly database of kid-tested reviews. The site covers everything from math and counting to reading and phonics.

Check back next week for more Top Kids Apps from Children's Technology Review.

Image courtesy of Flickr, flickingerbrad