14 DAY TRIAL // Back when you were a kid, the best games were played outside. Video games were just a way to get by hard winter days. Now the wheel has turned and some of the best activities for the young ones are related to computers. Better yet, since the iPad and iPhone came out, they would rather stay indoors and play on the touch screen.
As a parent, sometimes there is no way to convince your kids to go out and play, so if you have to give them iOS apps and games, at least choose the best ones. To make it even easier, the AppStore editors have selected some awesome tools and have divided them in lists for corresponding ages: "5 and Under," "Ages 6-8," and "Ages 9-11." All of these are now on one list - Create & Play.
One good thing about these apps is that most of them do not ask the user to pay for additional features via in-app purchases. However, even if that happens, the parents have options to restrict the kids' access to new features.
When it comes to apps for kids younger than 5 years, the first one chosen by the AppStore editors is Drawing Together!
For only $1.99 (€1.49), the junior gets a great collection of tools to help them draw, talk and bond with other kids their age. They can paint, color or draw on a shared page and have a live voice call in the same time or just play hangman and tic-tac-toe. This app is not only designed for kids. Parents that are away from their children can interact with them as well and have fun for a few hours.
The Mickey Mouse: Mash-up is the Disney Cartoon of the future. Not only you can see the beloved characters, but you can also record your own voice and have them speak, play games with them and create your own animations.
The little girls have their favorite toys on the touch screen, too. Barbie Fashionistas is available for free, but you can get some cool pieces of clothing and backgrounds via in-app purchases. Sure, this will not replace the real barbie dolls, but it's much cheaper and your little girl will get days of fun out of it.
The young adolescents can try Bloxy World. This free game is like a touch-screen Lego. You can use the colored blocks to build spaceships, factories and all sorts of scenes from the movies you love.
Check out all the games and apps in the Create & Play selection.