Scallop is 4 now and loves to spend time on his “mini computer.” If I didn’t set limits for him, there’s a good chance he’d be on it for most of the day. That being said, I try to pick apps that are educational so that his brain is at least working while he’s vegging.
Here are the apps Scallop is loving right now:
Thinkrolls
Available on: Apple, Android
Cost: $3.99, $2.99
Scallop loves this game! It has a crazy amount of levels, and two modes (easy/hard). There’s a lot of trial and error in this logic game and kids need to use reasoning and problem solving to move the cute characters along the maze path. Scallop does get stuck on some levels (especially now that he beat all the easy levels and insists on playing the hard ones) but he’s always trying different things to continue on.
Thinkrolls 2
Available on: Apple, Android
Cost: $3.99, $2.99
Scallop loves this one too! More levels, more characters, more logic puzzles! Hooray!!
Toca Kitchen 2
Available on: Apple, Android
Cost: $2.99
Notes: There’s not a whole lot educational about this one – but it is cute. Choose between a monster, a girl, and a boy to feed them different foods. You can cook the foods in different ways (blending, frying, etc.) and the character reacts in different ways depending on what s/he likes or dislikes. Scallop obviously loves the monster and tries to make the most disgusting combinations in order to get the best reaction. Maybe I’ll fool myself into thinking that it’ll lead him to cook for me someday soon (although not if he makes a bread and ketchup milkshake….)
Pettson’s Inventions Deluxe
Available on: Apple, Android
Cost: $3.99, $3.48
This game has 66 levels of inventions that kiddos have to solve and complete. This is probably one of the more complex puzzle games that Scallop plays that he never gets frustrated with (that says A LOT!). Some of these are even tricky for me to figure out – but he calmly sits and works them until he gets there.
Pango Blocks
Available on: Apple, Android
Cost: $2.99, $2.49
This is the first puzzle game the piqued Scallop’s interest, and also the one that he finished the most quickly. Using blocks, you must help Pango get from one side of the screen to the item he needs on the other side. It’s a good problem solving game and has simple enough instructions, but he did finish it fairly quickly.
Inventioneers
Available on: Apple, Android
Cost: $2.99, Free
This is another great inventing/puzzle solving game. It’s probably one of the more difficult of the bunch of games I’ve listed for Scallop though, and he tends to get frustrated with the harder levels. They are great challenges and do lead to some great deep thinking moments though! Scallop has found that he particularly likes the Create-Your-Own levels, where he’s able to free-play and create his own inventions.
What apps are your kids into these days?
grapefruit / 4923 posts
thanks for the suggestions! i’m going to bookmark this for later (my LO is 3.5, and i’m not sure he could do any of these right now)!
persimmon / 1345 posts
Awesome thanks! We have a 14 hour plane ride coming up and my LO is 4!
pomelo / 5866 posts
LO has loved Thinkrolls since turning 4 as well!
guest
@edelweiss – give Thinkrolls a shot! You might be surprised. My 3.5 year old started playing that at 3. The first few times I did it with her so she could get the gameplay, but now she can do it on her own. She sometimes needs help when new obstacles are introduced to understand how to work around them, but once I show her she can continue herself. Occasionally I get involved if she gets stuck, but she does pretty well.
cherry / 175 posts
@edelweiss: I agree. Give thinkrolls a try. You will be so amazed! My son was playing it at 5 and loving it. When my 3 year old wanted to play I thought for sure I’d have to help her a ton – and she totally figured it out. I had to help here and there – but was in shock at her logic skills!