Tips to Take the Stress out of Traveling With Children
Spring break is here and many of our families are dashing down south to soak up some sun and fun on the beaches of the Florida Gulf Coast and other getaways. But getting there and back with kids can be harried and stressful.
Apps aren't a replacement for traditional non-digital travel entertainment for children – watching the scenery, reading books, making polite conversation, defining your side of the back seat – but they can be a useful Plan B when the normal distractions have been exhausted and you’re beginning to run short on patience or ideas.
With that in mind, here are some of the apps we’ve turned to in our own family travels, with an emphasis on those available for both Android and iOS and a sprinkling of iOS-only apps that were too good not to mention. We’ve organized our recommendations into two age ranges: four and under; five and older.
For Ages Birth to 4
Sago Mini Planes
Kids choose a plane, load their passengers and take flight in this never-ending fantasy game. Ideal for toddlers and preschoolers, there are no rules or time pressures; allowing kids to explore to their hearts’ content.
Duckie Deck Giggle Glass
The main screen of this app is made to look like a magnifying glass. Children can choose to explore their world through ten interchangeable lens filters and the ability to adjust the intensity of each effect through a slider. It’s a clever way to get kids exploring their surroundings.
LadyBird Baby Touch
Baby Touch is a bright and interactive peekaboo game. It’s the perfect answer to holding the attention of that little tyke who, when not asleep, is looking for the next thing to touch or chew on.
Paint Sparkles Draw – My First Coloring Book
Your little Picasso will love to play and draw with the world famous, Paint Sparkle Draw Coloring Book app features 20 plus vibrant crayons, glittery gorgeous coloring pages, a whimsical magic coloring tool and other fabulous features.
For Ages Five and Older
The Fairytale of Luna
Studies that the best time to learn a foreign language is between the ages of birth and seven-years-old. The Fairytale of Luna is designed to facilitate the language learning process through the fascination of story. Choose from one of seven languages and explore the fairytale.
Toca Mini
Toca Mini is a wonderfully open-ended app from publisher Toca Boca. Children create their own characters using colors, stamps and tactile touchscreen controls. Parents can even set creative challenges for children to complete.
Minecraft – Pocket Edition
Your kids may already be well acquainted with Steve and the world of Minecraft where they can create their own virtual worlds. The Minecraft app allows you to bring the fun with you and enjoy hours of entertainment.
How to Draw – step by step Drawing Lessons and Coloring pages
As the name implies, this instructional app is perfect for your budding Picasso to develop mad drawing skills. The app includes step-by-step lessons for drawing more than 200 images and a freehand feature that lets children create original masterpieces.
Have a safe and exciting Spring break and when you come back,
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