It is never too early to begin learning!  MyFirstApp Ltd. is a team of 3 developers passionate about creating wonderful educational games for the youngest of learners.  The team is comprised of a computer engineer, a graphic designer and an educational psychologist.  They offer different series of apps varying on age from 1.5+ through 4.5+.  I figured what better way to introduce the company’s apps than by starting with a handful of apps for toddlers ages 1.5+!

7 Educational Apps for Toddlers:

Various studies have shown that babies can begin learning in the womb–as early as 37 to 40 weeks!   Once they’re born, the potential for learning is even greater.  “We may view their learning at this point as small, but for babies they are crucial steps in their learning process.  For example, when you’ve come home from the hospital and are settling back into life at home, a baby will be learning about the sounds, scents, and things he sees around him.”

Once they get to be around one year, they’ll be able to better interact with their surroundings and begin learning.  MyFirstApp Ltd. packed a whole world of knowledge into a series of apps.  In the apps made for toddlers, the toddlers will have fun exploring new sights, sounds, and new concepts.

1. Slide & Spin

Slide & Spin is an ideal app to get the little ones started using tablets.  It’s developed for toddlers aged 1.5+ to help them develop fine motor skills.  When using the app, they’ll practice four basic motions: sliding, spinning, turning, and pushing a button.

How to Play:

• Simply spin, slide, or push one of the four buttons to reveal the hidden surprise!

Skills developed:

• Cause and effect
• Fine motor skills

2. Match It Up 1

Match It Up 1 is designed for children 1.5+.  It is designed to help develop visual perception skills, categorization, and can even help with language skills with parental assistance (e.g. if they point to object and name it, state color, etc.)

See also: 

Match It Up 2 for ages 2+
Match It Up 3 for ages 2.5+

How to Play:

• Each board includes a central image with 7 related images, one of the images matching the central picture.
• The goal is to find the matching image and drag it to the center on top of the main image.

Skills developed:

• Visual perception skills
• Cognitive skills
• Fine motor skills
• Language skills (with parental assistance)

3. Find It

Did you know playing a “silly” game like peekaboo is essential for your baby’s learning?  It helps them practice object permanence (knowing that an object still exists, even if it is hidden).  Children (1.5+ years) playing Find It will practice these skills and much more.  They’ll have fun finding what is hidden in the various activities within this app.

How to Play:

• Look for signs of the hidden animals in each picture.
• Tap on them to reveal the animals.

Skills developed:

• Visual perception skills
• Fine motor skills
• Object permanence

4. Puzzle Me 1

If you’re wanting to get your child started on fun tablet puzzles, look no further than Puzzle Me 1!  It is a bright, colorful collection of square puzzles.  Puzzle Me 1 is designed for children 2+ and features a 2 by 2 square grid.  The second one Puzzle Me 2 is designed for children 3+ and has 9 pieces in a 3 by 3 grid.

How to Play:

• To assemble the puzzle, drag each part of the picture to the correct place.

Skills developed: 

• Hand-eye coordination
• Visual perception
• Spatial cognition
• Language skills with parental assistance

5. My House

Playing house is a favorite childhood activity for many.  My House offers your child the opportunity to virtually play house by designing and decorating their own home.  It is designed for children ages 2 and up.

How to Play:

• Each board features a background scene (each a part of a standard home, e.g. bedroom, bathroom, etc.)
• Press and drag the objects on the bottom of the page into the background.

Skills developed:

• Visual perception
• Creativity and imagination
• Fine motor skills

6. Sorting Game

The Sorting Game is designed for children ages 2 and up.  It helps teach children about sorting and arranging different items in different rooms.

How to Play:

• Select the area you’d like to organize
• Then drag each item into a blank space above

Skills developed:

• Conceptualization
• Visual perception
• Fine motor skills
• Language skills (with parental guidance)

7. First Sounds

As stated above, babies love exploring the world around them and touching everything within reach.  Voices and sounds are one of the first ways a baby begins learning.  First Sounds is an app that encompasses this idea and introduces the youngest of children to a world of new sounds.

How to Play:

• Simply tap on each object to explore its sound
• The app also offers voice recording abilities, so you’ll be able to name and record each object to enhance a child’s vocabulary

Skills developed:

• Different auditory skills
• Language skills (with voice recordings)

Click here to learn more about different apps from MyFirstApp Ltd.