5 great apps for early years education

Here at Early Learning HQ we always try to create high quality resources which are both educational and visually stimulating, so that you can get the most out of what we offer. We have recently decided to begin creating a series of iPhone and iPad games and we want them to fit in with our philosophy, to not only entertain but also to teach and inspire. We would really like to create something which can be useful to all teachers in some way and which can be easily used by children and adults alike, over and over again.

If you have any ideas for an iPad app or game which you think would help you to improve your teaching or help you to further educate your child at home, then please get in touch, we would love to hear from you.

Below I have listed a few of the best iPad apps on the market to give you some ideas and to show you what we aspire to! If you’d like to give a mention to any others then just leave a comment below.

1. Barefoot World App

This is a great app for your little explorers, as it helps them navigate all the countries of the world and learn about each one as they go. They will discover the native animals of the region and the famous landmarks, as well as how history has shaped these countries and the people who live there. This technicolour 3D game will enthral children and adults alike with its vivid images and fascinating facts.

You can buy this app from the iTunes store here:

5. 2. Around the Clock

This time telling game is very simple, but very effective. The app aims to help children learn how to read the time on a conventional clock face by splitting it up into 12. There are then 24 games relating to activities that happen at each time, like brushing your teeth or going to school, that help children to remember what each time looks like on the clock. This is quite a good app, but I’m not entirely sure what activities happen when everyone is asleep (unless we pop over to the other side of the world and see what they’re up to!).

You can buy this app from the iTunes store here.

3. Funimal Phonics

This is quick fire flashcard game to help children remember how to pronounce different letters and words phonetically. This app is perfect for cementing what children have learnt that day in the Letters and Sounds or Jolly Phonics programme, but doesn’t have a particularly long life.

You can buy this app from the iTunes store here.

2. 4. Cooper’s Pack: London Children’s Travel Guide

I like this app a lot because it combines fun, interactive characters with history and acts as a great educational distraction. What better way to teach your children about the history of London’s landmarks than with a talking dog called Cooper? So far Cooper hasn’t travelled around much of Europe, but hopefully bounds over here soon as I think he is a brilliant travel companion.

You can buy this app from the iTunes store here.

2. 5. Your Fantastic Elastic Brain
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This fun iPad app aims to teach children how the brain works, whilst trying out their brains with memory games and other tasks at the same time. This game makes learning about the human body fun and gives their minds a work out at the same time. I really like this app because it is very simple to use and has some great teaching points in it.

You can buy this app from the iTunes store here.