Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Recommended Resources iPad apps loved by you and yours?

Hi all,
I'm driven to ask about iPad apps because I let DS5 spend some time with those angry birds today, which I've been avoiding for months becuase I'd rather he not be obsessed with the iPad. But, he had a great time with it, took breaks when frustrated, and figured out how to move up levels quickly. Now I'm thinking It might be time to find entrancing apps for him to use some times.
Searching the threads for ipad didn't bring up too much, even in the ultimate games thread. I did come across a recommendation for the google earth app, which I just downloaded and used a bit. I think my son will love that. I'm particularly interested in apps that would expose him to science, nature, arts, music, but I'd love to hear about any that you and your kids love.
thanks!

We've only played this on a laptop, but Virulent (http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/virulent/id438485177?mt=8) is a free iPad app. It's a fun learning game where you get to be a virus attacking a cell.

[Edited because I can't spell this early in the morning.]

Cross fingers is the rage in my house right now. You can go quite a ways before you have to cough up the $0.99 for the full version (just gets you more puzzles).

ETA now that I turned on the ipad: Crazy Copy (the old Simon game), Sudoku Daily is another free one that my DS5 plays daily. I also plan to download NASA's new ipad app (the other one was a dud.) We also play with iSeismometer a lot, which takes advantage of the pad's accelerometer, and of course, Google Earth.

Stack the states and stack the countries. My kids went from knowing not a whole lot about geography to a TON! My daughter who just turned 7 can identify every country in South America and Asia.

The Brainpop app posts a new educational video every day and has a related quiz.

We like angry birds too! :-)

Thank you for these great ideas! I will start checking them out. I just downloaded the free ibird and it looks amazing. I've come across elements before and am saving that one for a special occasion buy-I think dh, ds and I will all like that one.

Cricket, if you could go on (and on!) with suggestions that would be much appreciated. Cruising app recommendations on the internets at large hasn't led to finding apps of interest.

I might play with the iseismometer for the rest of the day, just the free iPhone app...

I have a similar question about the iMac. Is there important educational software for it that does not have Windows equivalents? We have Windows PCs, and I could pretend that an iMac purchase is "for the children" .

Some scientists use the iMac because it has a Unix operating system, and there is much open-source scientific and programming software for Unix (including Linux). Elementary school children are more interested in games and multimedia software.

We just got an iPad last week. Our current favorites (games, toys, tools):

Toy Physics
Fractile Plus
Molecules
Kakuro Lite

Thanks to all who've posted in this thread! I've already installed several great apps recommended here.

ETA: forgot Quick Graph, which ds prefers to his graphing calculator or Geometer's Sketchpad when graphing for Algebra 2 / Trig.

Love these kinds of threads!

DS 5 loves (in no particular order):
Interactive books - not advanced but super fun
Cosmos
Bartlebys book of buttons

Games
Despicable Me - we didn't see the movie but the app is a hoot, I really enjoy it
World of goo - although DH and DS are stuck on a level maybe I should post it!!
Touch physics
Tiny tower (be aware this one has in app purchases, need to turn that off)
Doodle Jump
Moron test

Creative
Toontastic
Create a car
Make a Martian
I write words

Science
Elementals
SciFriday

My list for our next trip
Roxie doors
Cut the rope
Mushroom age�
Goofy mad libs
Slice it
Montessori crosswords

The iPad really nicely addresses asynchrony - he can do super science stuff and then make a car with crazy parts!

Can't wait to check out what we don't have yet.

DeHe

thanks everyone!!! I am so looking forward to checking out all these apps! Anyone else with an iPad want to share apps?

Bostonian, I don't know the answer about Mac vs PC for kids software. however, since you brought it up, I think you should get one! The children need one! We are a long time Mac family. We make the argument to family members that the Mac may cost more than a similar PC, but it will last at least 3x as long, won't be dragged down by viruses, and pretty much every thing you load onto it or connect to it will work right the first time you try to use it. The grandmother in our family who has the Mac is always able to use her computer and camera to video chat with DS5, for example, whereas the grandmother who has the the PC has computer problems making her unavailable for 50% of chat times.

Sorry ,posted that but wasnt quite done. Just wanted to say that I realized I'm practicing my persuasion skills for convincing the other grandmother to switch to Mac so we can talk to her more easily! Thanks for listening to my spiel!