I will be the first one to say that I try to limit the amount of screen time my 2 year old gets. When we are at home I would rather him learn through play than by watching television or sitting on a tablet all day long. However, there are times when he does watch a little TV and have some tablet time. When he is doing these things I try to make sure he is doing something educational. These are three apps he loves to do and I’m very OK with him doing (for a limited time of course).

The first app is called Swiggles. This is a fun, entertaining app, that teaches your toddler how to move through functions on the tablet by tapping, swiping, and shaking. You pick which one you want them to practice, (there is also an option for them to do all of them) and a colorful, fun face making a funny noise appears on the screen. Your child either has to tap, swipe, or shake to move to the next face.

Next is Animal Builder. Your toddler will get 6 different eggs. When they tap on each egg, a different “animal” is hatched. I put the word animal in quotations because they look more like fun creatures! Once your child picks the one they like it takes them to another screen where the animal takes up the entire screen. Your child is given boxes to open containing different types of eyes, noses, mouths, legs, ect. As they build their own animals (using as many parts as they want), the animal will talk to them, helping to explain what each part does. (Ex.- “Now I can see!” when you give them an eye.) Then they can take a picture of their one of a kind animal to save to the app, and another copy automatically saves in your camera roll (on the iPad at least).

Lastly, is I Hear Ewe. This app displays the pictures of all different kinds of animals, as well as a few transportation videos. When your child taps on a picture, it tells them what it is and what sounds it makes. The best part is you can change the language that is spoken! Have the animals or transportation vehicles introduced to your child in English, Spanish, Chinese, German, Japanese, or Korean!

Don’t feel guilty if sometimes you need to give them the tablet to keep them entertained while you get chores done or keep them quiet while you make an important phone call. If it helps you keep your sanity, it’s well worth it in my opinion.And if you have to do it, make it educational with these fun apps!