OJO’s favourite apps
Old MacDonald - Duck Duck Moose
Price: free
Old MacDonald from the Duck Duck Moose Nursery Rhyme range has a wealth of interactive imagery to engage your child’s cognitive and language development. You can listen in Spanish, German, Italian or French if you wish or record your own singing! These apps are a personal Mrs Havercroft favourite - we’ve bought many of these apps so are delighted they’re now free!
Mr Thorne Does Phonics
Price: £1.49
Although this is now a relatively ‘old’ app, it does what it says in the tin. Christopher Thorne is a primary teacher who initially brought ‘how to’ videos to YouTube, to help those who struggle with the pronunciation of letter sounds. The app developed from this, and mirrors best classroom practice. The app is fun, simple and easy to use.
Phonics 1: Hip Hop Hen
Price: £2.99
One of 4 letter sounds apps developed by UK teachers, designed to help children develop early reading skills. Hip Hop Hen boasts lovely illustrations with 30 CVC (Consonant Vowel Consonant) words and 30 animated sentences to build and read. Great fun!
Edu Guru Maths
Price: free (lite version)
Edu Guru is aimed at 3 -5 year olds to support learning early maths concepts. It includes 8 fun games that help counting and number recognition, addition and subtraction, shapes, measure and more. Fantastic value and sits very comfortably alongside the national curriculum.
Pocket Phonics
Price: free (lite version)
This app has been around a while, but the fact that it’s still here shows just how fab it is. Pocket Phonics not only teaches the letter sounds but also gives practice in letter formation. It follows the same methods as outlined in the national curriculum. Simple but good.
Moo, Baa, La, La, La
Price: £2.99
This digital book by bestselling author Sandra Boynton is a delight, and a personal favourite of 2-year-old Grandson, Jacob. It contains lots of interesting sounds and interactivity, with dancing pigs, a seemingly endless stream of ducks and much, much more.
Math Tales - The Jungle
Price: £2.29
An interactive, rhyming story which will help 3–5 year olds improve numeracy skills. Its 9 chapters which allow you to tackle visual perception, logic, number and colour recognition, addition and subtraction, and more.
Squeebles Spelling Test
Price: £2.99
This best-selling spelling app is not as dull as it sounds. In fact, it’s spelling testing at its most fun. The Spelling Snake has taken Squeebles hostage and will only let them go once the spelling test has been completed. Set up is very straightforward, and it’s perfect for ages 5+.
Moose Math
Price: free
Moose Math helps with counting, addition, subtraction, shapes, colour sorting and more. 5 mini games to help practice these basic mathematical skills. 6 levels of difficulty for each game, with lots of rewards.
Franklin Frog
Price: £3.99
This digital book follows the lifecycle of a lovable frog. With clear simple graphics and word tracking text that lights up as it’s being read aloud, it’s a fantastic choice to aid reading development.
Nighty Night
Price: £2.49
If you’re struggling with bedtime, Nighty Night is worth a try - and even if you aren’t, it’s well worth adding to your library. Help the animals go to sleep as you turn out all the lights. Beautifully illustrated and animated.
The Human Body by Tinybop
Price: £2.99
Look inside the human body and see how it works with this fantastic Human Body app. Zoom into the body’s different systems - watch a heart beating, blood cells travelling round and a stomach digesting food, all with amazing sound effects!
Lego Juniors - Create and Cruise
Price: free
Lego Juniors has several great free apps that bring your Lego to life. This one, chosen because my Grandson loves it, is fun and easy to use. Lots of bright colourful graphic and two game-play styles. And no matter what age, we all love a bit of Lego!
