To be disappointed by the lack of 'Apps' for a four year old?

[DueInSeptember]

I recently bought an android tablet. I was hoping to find some apps that would be suitable for my (recently turned) 4 year old daughter to play with.

The kind of thing I'm looking for is phonics (learning to blend/ finding words beginning with a particular sound etc) and basic maths (adding and subtracting with objects to help, simple sums with the answer under 10). I was hoping that she could practice this in a fun way.

I can see lots of apps for babies and lots of apps for older children but not much for those inbetween. There are a couple that she really likes (like stories and a lego game) but nothing much that fits the bill.

I was hoping there would be loads - perhaps I am not doing the correct searches?

[BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack]

I don'w know if you are being U or not to be honest

When DS was 4 I would have done this with him myself if I wanted him to learn out of pre-school....I wouldn't have been looking to a tablet thing to do it for me.

But then, techno wise, I am a bit of a dinosaur so feel free to ignore me :)

[BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack]

and why on earth would a baby need an app???????

[LadyStark]

My 4yo likes Monkey Math but tbh I'd suggest doing phonics and maths with a pencil, paper and a real book!

[slowgin]

pen..paper.. I don't know. Goodness sake yabu

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

Search play store for "intellijoy" they do a pile of different phonics stuff for different levels.

Also, YABU, I just searched "phonics" in the play store and there are about a million apps.

[TranceDaemon]

You need an iPad!

[Sparkleandshine]

I think you may be looking too 'formal' math bingo is great for 6+ for example.

I would go for things like postman pat and peppa pig as they all have numeric type games.

I have an ipad so can't comment on the android apps, but things like peppa pigs party time as a counting coins game and a feed the parrot game (give polly 2 red biscuits etc)

the thomas apps have read along stories - i would use something like phonics books www.amazon.co.uk/Jolly-Phonics-Workbooks-Books-1-7/dp/1870946502/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1355401346&sr=8-1&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21 for formal learning and then the apps for fun numeracy and reading

[TeamBacon]

Zoodles.

[Sparkleandshine]

jolly phonics

[DueInSeptember]

Brill, thanks for the suggestions! We do lots with books and just general game playing btw, I just thought that she could do some fun/ educational things with the tablet.

[DoesntTurkeyNSproutSoupDragOn]

I had lots on my iPad for my DD.

[Fakebook]

Yes there aren't many apps for 4 year olds. When DD gets bored of colouring and drawing, she likes playing on the computer and goes on //www.pbskids.org where there are loads of really good educational games from popular tv shows. She now knows which foods have particular vitamins thanks to one of the games. DD is 5 and has been playing these games once or twice a week for years now and never gets bored.

[DueInSeptember]

Thanks! Fakebook, that looks like a great site.

I'm hoping they will start to add more andriod apps as time goes on. I've just looked for Thomas/ Peppa/ Postman pat etc and there is nothing on the google play site. Perhaps I should have bought an ipad!

[HoHoHoHum]

There's two Peppa Pig android apps...

[Arithmeticulous]

Look for Lego - there are 3 free Duplo ones that keep mine occupied for hours ages. And:

Kids Learn to Write Lite
Kids ABC Phonics
Kids Math

Bascially type "kids" in the search box in Google Play. There's loads.

[PommePoire]

We love Squeebles I think some of their stuff e.g. maths bingo might be suitable for a four year old. My DDs have got on really well with the times tables app.

[RubixCube]

My daughter loves intellijoy Especially the shapes one and dot to dot

[ProtegeMoi]

Your child is 4, buy some educational toys, spend time with them teaching them phonics etc. Read with them, write with them and leave the expensive electronic gadgets for those they are aimed at.

What is the world coming to!

[TeamBacon]

Pfffft.

[Nixea]

When did "buy some educational toys, spend time with them teaching them phonics etc" and using technology become mutually exclusive?? Why on earth not do both! Like it or not technology is going to play a part in their childhood with school using various forms of tech from earlier ages. I can't see the problem with making sure children experience things from both sides of the debate.

[ProtegeMoi]

Yes Nixea but if you can't find the appropriate apps then just do it yourself, it's not a huge deal surely.

And there is learning about technology and giving a JUST TURNED 4 year old access to a tablet.

They are so little at that age.

[TeamBacon]

Ha, DS could navigate cbeebies on the iplayer app on my phone when he was just 3! Got us through a v early waking stage, that did :)

[BertieBotts]

The problem with phonics apps is a lot of them (all of them?) are American so the sounds are wrong - the American pronunciation of the "o" sound is more of a combination between a British "ah" or "uh", which can be interesting when they try to "read" "fox" and it comes out sounding more like "fucks"

There are a lot more for iPad.

The best ones I've found are intellijoy ones as mentioned, especially the dot to dot and card matching games, Preschool math (American but numbers rather than letters so it doesn't matter) and Picsart Kids (a drawing one).

The good thing about android is that there are usually "lite" or free versions of apps to try out and if you like them you can buy the full version.

Also if you have a low-spec tablet, you will find that some of the apps just aren't compatible with it, and they won't appear in the google play store if they're not compatible. This might be why you're having a problem searching?

[buttercrumble]

YABU, whats wrong with spending time with ds. Get books and crayons and drawing paper. Counting things around the house and outside, looking at objects and learning the letters that way. Rather than sticking the kids on the sofa with an app.