"educational" iPad app?

[manhattansunset]

We broke down and finally got an iPad... Our kids (almost 5 and almost 3) love it.. I limit screen time to about an hour per day (including telly). It is a hell of a lot of screen time for someone who watched one programme A WEEK as a preschooler.

Well, we have "educational" apps (say learning a morning routine) and storytelling stuff like "Nighty Night" (which is almost book-like as far as app games go). I am still in two minds about whether this is really educational for kids.

So, if you are on the "yes to apps" camp, what do you let your kids play with and how long? Do you think educational or storytelling apps are ok?

hairy letters is a good educational app (phonics based). my almost 4 year old loves that and also puzzles (shape matching) and drawing and colouring apps. she does also play angry birds, but I dont see any wrong with games like that.

I dont limit her time on the ipad but she won't play on it for anything longer than 30-45 mins a day anyway, that is of her own choosing. if she wanted to play all the time, I might impose limits. I did find when she first discovered the ipad she played on it more as it was a novelty.