Anyone on the hunt for fantastic iPad apps for 6 year olds? This topic came up recently in our Out Tech Your Kids Facebook Group, and yay, our members shared their tried and true favorites, both educational and just for fun. So whether you’re just looking to freshen up your line-up or you’re prepping for a long road trip to Grandma’s this Christmas, we’ve got you covered.
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Toca Boca
It’s no surprise that Toca Boca was a top recommendation from many parents. Our own kids are huge fans of their apps, from cutting hair in Toca Hair or healing sick pets in Toca Pet Doctor. And they have some new offerings like Toca Kitchen Sushi and Toca Mystery House that we think kids would love to explore. ($3.99 each)
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Word Cookies
This app features countless word jumble puzzles for kids to unscramble, making it ideal for kids learning to read and spell. Plus, it’s free, although our group members recommend paying to have the ads removed if your kids decide they really love it. (Free with in-app purchases)
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Teach Me
If you’re trying to keep screen time educational, this app is a great way to do it. While this app’s lesson plan is customized for first graders, you can also buy Teach Me apps for preschool up to 3rd grade, all of which cover a wide range of subjects. Plus, it lets kids earn coins that they can redeem for rewards around TeachTown. ($1.99)
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Wizard School
Our editor Kate raved about this app a few years ago (when it was still going by the name WonderBox), and our group members are still finding it helpful today. It comes from one of our most trusted, favorite app developers, Duck Duck Moose, and features thousands of educational videos, plus creative and tech challenges that help kids put their knowledge into practice. (Free)
Secret Code
I reviewed the Secret Code app, which recently launched to complement the awesome Secret Code kid’s book, and it’s one of my absolute favorites. It teaches kids the very basics of coding by letting them build and program their own robot. It doesn’t get as complex as some of the other coding apps we’ve reviewed, but it’s a perfect introduction for a younger kiddo. (Free)
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Issa’s Edible Adventures
We’ve reviewed the Issa’s Edible Adventures app on Cool Mom Eats and determined that it’s an awesome way for kids to learn about how food gets on the table. Each interactive episode has kids explore the world to find the ingredient they need so they can come home and get cooking. If you’re looking for a not-so-messy on-ramp to get kids excited about cooking, this is it. (Free with in-app purchases)
Dr. Panda Town
Dr. Panda is another favorite app among our group members. It’s similar to Toca Boca, in that it lets kids pretend to be grown-ups and visit different destinations around town. Dr. Panda also offers tons of similar apps, in case your kids want to take a vacation, operate a restaurant, or shop at the mall — virtually, that is.
Top image: Patricia Prudente via Unsplash
Great list Caroline! I have a 5 year old and 7 year old, and we tried all of these. My sons showed most interest in Dr. Panda Town together with more pretend play apps by developers at Pepi Play (Pepi Tales, Pepi Hospital) and My Playhome. Thanks again! I’ve found this quite useful for our trips:)