Wallop!

Iphone Apps for preschoolers #part01

20 May 2010

Since I got my Iphone, I must admit it has been a source of absolute delight. Mostly for myself but I have to say, for my children too. Spinning through my apps pages….and there are several…. a good 60% aren’t actually mine but have been downloaded to educate and entertain and allow me that oh so helpful extra 15 minutes of peace and quiet here and there.

The bulk of my work as an illustrator is for children’s products, both screen based and paper based and so it’s a natural progression for me and many others to now have the urge to create my own Iphone App. This week, to set the ball rolling, I have been doing a little research into what is out there and what I would be up against were I to create something…

SO. Today, I’ve started to look for Digital Flash Cards as they are an obvious choice for the pre-schooler – a new take on an age old game to get children familiar with the idea of numbers and letters and I can say from experience that flash cards are much more attractive for a 3 or 4 year old on screen, moving and making noises, than they are on cards , however tactile and beautiful an object the card versions maybe.

There are several currently available that do a good job and my own daughter enjoys, such as Animal Alphabets, Letters, A-Z, & ABC Phonics Flashcards. My favourite found so far, and the one likely to stay on my own phone the longest is Dex ABC , by Camdiloo media not because it does anything particularly fancy or better than any of the others – but it’s lovely to look at and has a beautiful simplicity in  it’s illustration and design style.

So… with this #part 01 of research into Iphone Apps for kids, I’m pleasantly surprised with the quality and quantity of Apps available and on the market at the moment, (I’m sure I could find dozens more if I had more time) and even more pleased with the knowledge that there is definitely room for more especially for those where high quality illustration and design is a priority…