Kids Games/Apps?

[maverickfan22]

My sister-in-law is thinking about getting a Google Nexus 7 for her five year-old. She is pretty smart and would be able to handle browsing and games.

Are there many games/apps available compared to Apple's App store? She is trying to decide on getting this now or waiting for the "Ipad Mini".

Thanks in advance!

 

[anon(847090)]

There are tons!!! Google play store has the same no of apps like Apple app store.
So apps are never a problem!!!

like this for education https://forums.androidcentral.com/e...EDUCATION?feature=category-nav&token=2LVAXkQi

or this

https://forums.androidcentral.com/e...com/store/search?q=kids&c=apps&token=fMk6M5go

 

[Eduardo06sp]

Other than that, search Kid Mode and click the application suggestion. It locks your kid inside a set of applications, so he can't get out!

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Android Central Forums

 

[dsuppa]

Toddler Lock is a good one that locks them into a screen that only allows drawing and plays music.

 

[dextorboot]

Kid Mode is an awesome app. I highly recommend it on Android. The iPhone version sucks though. Just side load Flash for her and it's great. My 5 and 3 year olds like playing any of the Angry Birds or Where's My Water variants. Jetpack Joyride and Grabatron have been in heavy rotation lately too. Doodle Jump or its clones are good games too.There's also a ton of coloring and connect the dot type apps that they like.

 

[mills2533]

If you're looking to entertain your kids with some children's videos, check out TykesTube. It doesn't have ads and doesn't use the YouTube player so they can't find inappropriate content!

 

[android4life007]

I highly recommend "Clouds and Sheep" but make sure you have the In-App purchases option password locked so the child cannot make purchases!

Also, Androidify is always fun

 

[dralezero]

You can also add the Amazon App store onto the Nexus 7 and get a free app each day. Sometimes they have free kids games, stories, or drawing, etc.

 

[niura]

Hi, we are now at the end of September, and iPad mini hasn't been released yet... Is there still a reason to wait? Google Play and Amazon are loaded with apps, and there are indeed tons of apps for kids. you just need to be careful to select those that would be worth the money

 

[tabletnovice]

there are indeed tons of apps for kids. you just need to be careful to select those that would be worth the money

You're absolutely right about this. I've been looking for apps for my grandchildren to play on my Nexus 7. I can believe how many have to do with blowing up, knocking down, shooting at, and other violent actions. Thank goodness most of them have a video, so you can get an idea of the content before you download it. The majority of the free children's apps have constant ads and nag screens to buy this and that. I've found only a few games that I consider suitable and/or non-nagging for my young grandchildren.

 

[niura]

The majority of the free children's apps have constant ads and nag screens to buy this and that. I've found only a few games that I consider suitable and/or non-nagging for my young grandchildren.

Hi TabletNovice!

Which ones would you recommend?

 

[tabletnovice]

Hi TabletNovice!

Which ones would you recommend?

It's almost impossible to find games without some type of nag screen. Some are very annoying and in-your-face, though they seem to bother an adult more than a child.

As others pointed out, look for parental controls to prevent children from buying additional stuff. These ads are so integrated into some programs that a young child would probably not realize they were purchasing something. Some ads are shameless, like dangling candy in front of a child's face, and not giving it to them unless they paid me. Some educational apps may require a monthly subscription to get a higher level of information.

Even apps you pay for may tempt you to buy other components in order to use the program more fully.

Anyway, I've been downloading some games and programs for the children. I will not be with them for a couple of weeks so I've screened the programs the best I can for now. I will watch closely when we are together.

Read the user reviews, especially those three stars and below. Comments can give you an idea about the amount of ads, and help you determine how much you'll let your children/grandchildren stomach.

Here are some I installed for my five year old grand daughter.

The "Maker Games" eg. Cake Maker, Popcorn Maker
Picsart Kids
Dress up apps (virtual paper dolls)
Puca
Picasso
Dr Seuss books
Jumpstart

For my grandson, who is 9:

WaterBalloons
Cogs
Bike Race
Ski Safari

Miscellanous apps:

Be a Martian
Hubble Space Center
Math Pro
Clouds and Sheep
TrueSculpt (virtual clay modeling)

The links someone provided above show a good selection of games for children. You just have to sort through them. Look at the Videos before buying. The provide a good idea of the content (though not the nag screens and ads).

 

[johnwccres]

Set a password on Google Play to stop unintended buying of stuff.

My daughter - who is a bit older at 11 - has liked The Sims, Cut the Rope, Temple Run, World of Goo, Flick Golf - nothing unsuitable in any of those I don't think.

 

[tmaze]

Paper Camera, which does fun photo effects easily and Skitch, which let's you draw and write on photos would also be good for kids.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Android Central Forums

 

[anoojshah]

Thanks for the detailed list!

If you want to manage how much time your child spends playing games without creating a scene, check out Kytephone - free download from Google Play. You install it and enable all the apps you want your kids to use, including setting time limits. It works on tablets and smartphones. You can even see your child's favorite game based on how much time he/she spends playing it from the Kytephone Parent Dashboard.

Note Kytephone blocks ads in the apps, so even if your child taps them by accident, they will not get access to the browser or Google Play.

 

[Natasha Woods]

Try
https://forums.androidcentral.com/e...s/details?id=com.playphone.pro&token=AGxcMTAG

 

[B. Diddy]

Kids Place is a good kid-friendly launcher that can prevent your child from accidentally exiting to the main Android homescreen (which was always a problem with the Acer A100's idiotic and useless hard home key) by essentially locking it out. In order to exit the launcher, you have to enter a PIN that you choose. You can also block usage of calling/texting as well as app downloads. Best of all, it's free!

 

[carrigda]

So depressed. We got the ipad air and the samsung Tab 3 for the kids for the holidays. They die for the ipad and simply are angry when one has ipad as the other is STUCK with the Samsung. I tried to find all the fun stuff on the Samsung that is not junk--good books (Monster at the End of the Book, Upside Down Bed Time) and Toca Boca and President Aliens and some math games but..... it really is a desert out there and the search engine, I mean, really, this is supposed to be google enabled but I can't search for an age range or a subject matter. Most of it is trying to sell me stuff (education on Khan Academy--great app IF you want to purchase the S pen, if not, SOL).

 

[B. Diddy]

Welcome to Android Central! I've found lots of good stuff.

A Charlie Brown Christmas
Alphabet Car
Any of the Dr. Panda games from TribePlay
Endless Alphabet
Any of the books from Oceanhouse Media
It's The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown
Lulu in the Amazon
Monkey Word School Adventure
Super Why
Anything from Toca Boca
Lots of stuff from Cupcake Digital, Inc. (Wubbzy, Yo Gabba Gabba, etc.)
Anything from Lego
Fox & Sheep also makes some nice stuff

Hopefully that's a good start for you.

 

[rxgadget]

Zoodles or Kids Play is what I use for my 5 yo and 10 yo. They have to figure out what DOB to type in to even exit out if the app. It comes with Parent Dashboard and you can set up multiple profiles per child and choose what apps they can use per child.

From Tapatalk Pro on my Nexus 7 (2012)