15 great apps for grandkids

With the range of tablets for kids nowadays, apps are a must-have accessory. So we've put together a list of our picks for great apps to engage children of all ages.

From apps for the little ones just learning to count, to older kids, here are the best educational, creative, and purely fun apps for your grandchildren. And because kids shouldn't have all the fun, we've got some great apps for grown ups too.

Charlie and Lola Me Books
Fans of the popular television show will love this reading app that offers a set of downloadable Charlie and Lola books for £2.29 each. Perfect for road trips or avid readers, the app is easy to use and great for tablets due to the book-style layout. The ebooks themselves are easy enough for little ones to read on their own. Available in the iTunes Store.

Temple Run
Channel your inner Indiana Jones with Temple Run - a maze game where kids can steer the hero around obstacles to help him get away with the treasure. Free to download, the app offers the option to buy 'coins' which are also collected throughout the game'. Temple Run is available in the iTunes Store and on Google  Android. 

abc PocketPhonics: letter sounds and first words
The abc PocketPhonics series of apps feature different reading and writing comprehention skills, and letter sounds and first words will help grandchildren who are just learning to write and spell. They can trace their letters onto the screen to practice writing and interactive games allow them to practice the sounds that the letters make and gradually combine them into words. The entire PocketPhonics series is availble in the iTunes Store.

Lego Star Wars 
The hugely popular Lego Starwars video game can now be played on the go with this app version. Free to download, it's perfect for older grandchildren who don't want to leave their non-portable games behind. Lego Star Wars is available in the iTunes Store and on Google Android

Sesame Street Family Play
For £0.79, Sesame 150 games for families to play with children. Just tell the app where you are - at home, travelling, or at an appointment, and it will supply games designed to work within your environment. The games are educational but fun, involving numbers, counting, letters, and imaginative play, and the best part is that you're encouraged to play together. Available in the iTunes Store.

Eden - World Builder
Fans of the ever popular Minecraft will enjoy Eden World Builder. The premise is very similar with the player being encouraged to build world elements like houses, boats and waterfalls. The app is £0.79 to download and updates add new gameplay features. 

Music Sparkles - All in One Instrument Collection
Music Sparkles allows kids to 'play' 14 different musical instruments, each with its own variety of notes. As they play the app also creates different 'sparkle' effects that correspond to their playing. It's free to download Music Sparkles and additional 'insturments' can be purchased for £1.49 each. Available in the iTunes Store and on Amazon for Android.

Dr Driving
Dr Driving is a simulated driving game that will allow kids to control a realistic car and compete in races. Free to dowload, Dr Driving is available in the iTunes Store and on Google Android. 

Frozen Free Fall
Similar to the well-loved CandyCrush games, Frozen Free Fall features characters from the hit Disney film and simpler game play. Like it's candy-themed counterpart, it's gameplay will most likely prove addictively entertaining, and to play continuously, an adult will need to purchase 'lives'. Available in the iTunes Store and on Google Android.

Read Me Stories
Inspire a love of reading with this app that presents a new book each day that childen can either read themselves, or read along with the characters in the story. Children can touch the characters to get more from each story, and the easy to read text and pages will help them improve fluency. Specific books are available to purchase in the app for £1.49, and the app itself is free to download. 

Createrria
Createrria allows kids to design their own mini-games, upload, and share them with other players. They can also dowload games that others have made and play them as well. With full control over the look and characters, they're free to let their creativity run wild. Createrria is available in the iTunes store, and will soon be available on Google Android.

 

CBeebies Playtime
This is a great free app featuring free games for the little ones, all themed with their favourite characters from CBeebies programmes. From counting to colouring, the games are varied enough to keep children engaged no matter their interests, and the lack of in-app purchases means that parents and grandparents won't have to worry about paying for content. Available in the iTunes Store.
 

Toca Kitchen Monsters
Kids will love learning about how food is prepared as they do it themselves. With eight ingredients that can be mixed, boiled, fried, or sliced - and then served - to one of two hungry monsters, and an optional vegetarian mode, this app would make the perfect accompanyment to a cooking lesson. Available in the iTunes Store and on Android.

Kindle
Amazon's Kindle app will allow you to download Kindle eBooks for any device that has the app on it - so if you've got an iPad or iPhone, you can now turn it into a mini-Kindle, and dowload books that your grandchildren will love  - all without the hassle of buying another tablet. Available through Amazon for iPad, iPhone, and Android.

  

Kids Doodle - Movie Kids Colour and Draw
Draw and doodle in bright, neon, glow-in-the-dark colours with this absorbing little app. Children can draw and colour in a variety of simulated mediums, from crayon, to paint to oil brushes, then watch a movie of the drawing showing its creation stroke by stroke. The ad-free version is available for £0.79, while the version with advertisements is free. Availble in the iTunes Store and on Google Android. 

 Reader Bee and the Story Tree

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Apps for grandparents

Seven ways to entertain your grandchildren

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