I need app ideas for an itouch for a 12yo

[Janna]

 

Dh and I got our dd an itouch for Christmas. I wanted to have it all charged up with her songs and ready to use when she opens it. I was wondering if there were any cool apps that I could download for her. She's only 12yo and is pretty naive. She's not a gaming person (we don't own any gaming systems), but that doesn't mean she wouldn't enjoy a game. She likes music and fashion, and loves cooking. She has her own email, so I don't know if there's a way to have a one-touch email opener? She doesn't use facebook.

 

Free would be ideal of course, but a small amount of money is OK, I suppose.

 

Thanks for your help!

 

 

[Caroline]

Here are ones my kids like: Kindle, Angry Birds, Scrabble, random facts, boxed in, Pandora radio, weather bug, lightsaber, and light. Yes, you can do one touch email.

[Sun]

Another vote for Angry Birds over here! I'd also suggest Cut the Rope. It's another fun game that's a good for killing time occasionally.

[Ray]

iTune gift card and let her have at it, good app hunting.

[tadah]

Bejeweled is a casual game that everyone seems to like. And let's just not talk about how much time I've spent playing Boggle, OK? Word Warp is another fun word game.

 

Please let us know how it goes with the 12-year-old and the iPod touch... we will be facing this eventually. My main concerns are unfiltered internet access (there are probably filters, I just haven't looked into it yet) and the fact that even with just a few games and such it could become quite a time sink.

 

I just have this strong feeling of an approaching slippery slope, probably the one called "adolescence."

[Mrs Mungo]

The touch has an email function, you don't need an additional app for that.

 

Angry birds-a fun puzzle game (my kids play, I play, my mom plays)

Today Basic-a basic to-do list, it's free

Pandora-internet radio

Epicurious-a cooking app

Do you do Latin? LatinWord is a word of the day app

StarWalk-This is an amazing app, check out the site.

 

Check out apps for stores that she likes. My almost-15 year old has a Sephora app, for example.

 

You might see what sort of local apps you have. For example, I have a local news app, a local radio station app, a local traffic app and a surf report app.

[ChristusG]

They have the game called Cooking Mama as an app. I've heard it is lots of fun but I don't own it. Some neat games are....

 

Angry Birds

Cut The Rope

Word Warp

Bounce On

Bookworm

Tetris

 

I bet your dd will love having it charged, loaded, and ready to go. We got our two dd's iTouches for Christmas last year. We had them charged and loaded with TV shows, a movie, home videos, kid songs, games, and family photos. It was their favorite gift ever!

[Sandwich in Wi]

My kids have been fighting over Cookie Doodle (and the new Candy Kitchen). They are 99 cents, but amusing for a while.

 

How Stuff Works has an app if she is interested in brief articles about ...How Stuff Works. I love the Stuff You Missed in History Class podcasts. You can read the articles or listen to the podcasts. Free (not every bit of content is appropriate for a 12 yo, but most of it is)

 

The Kindle app is free and there are many free books available (be sure she knows not to purchase books w/o permission. You need an account set up in order to get the free books, but this also enables 1-touch purchasing for $$ books)

 

My 15 yo loves The Moron Test. It's tricky!

 

EA Games has their games on sale through the end of the year. This includes Tetris, Scrabble, Monopoly and more. They are 99 cents, I think.

 

In addition to Kindle, you can get iBooks and the Nook app. Free books are available through each one.

 

Olive Tree has a free Bible reader and some versions of the Bible are free.

 

iPeriod has a free app for keeping track of your cycle (when she needs that)

 

HTH,

 

Blessings,

Sandwich

[Mrs Mungo]

Oh! Another good one is the brainpop app, it features a different video each day.

[Janna]

Thanks everyone! These suggestions were very helpful! I decided on only the free ones for now. I chose 4 in a row, cut the rope, Dictionary.com, Olive Tree Bible Reader and Cooks Illustrated.

 

I only chose to do a few so she could personalize and decide what she wants too. She can pay for any that are $. :)

 

I think she's really going to enjoy it! Thanks again.

[Janna]

 

Please let us know how it goes with the 12-year-old and the iPod touch... we will be facing this eventually. My main concerns are unfiltered internet access (there are probably filters, I just haven't looked into it yet) and the fact that even with just a few games and such it could become quite a time sink.

 

I just have this strong feeling of an approaching slippery slope, probably the one called "adolescence."

 

I understand completely what you're saying. My dd is extremely responsible, self disciplined, and doesn't seem to have an addictive personality. I have no qualms at this point with her having this iTouch. My ds, however? He's the one that I worry about the "approaching slippery slope" and it becoming "quite a time sink". He will not be getting one of these any time soon, no matter how much he begs and whines for one.