Educational ipad app/idea recommendations, please!

[Desert Rat]

I'm freaking out a little here. I always get this way Christmas night. I worry about the gifts I gave and the gifts we got. This year it's a bit worse. So, forgive me if this post sounds a bit weird.

 

My momma got both boys an ipad. That's each. I insisted on paying as much as I could towards the gift because I felt like it was too much. And honestly, our Christmas morning was a bit thin until she got here. And my little guy didn't get much on his list because he asked for bigger things that I normally would have gotten (at least one) if I didn't know an ipad was coming. But, she really wanted to get them for the kids because she felt that so many of their peers had them or access to them. And this is the first Christmas without my dad. And mom wanted to go a little big and I couldn't deny her after looking in her eyes. I just couldn't.

 

So, we have a desktop. We have a laptop, a wii. The boys each have a DS and some kind of mp3 player or shuffle. I have an itouch. This is just over the top and I'm freaking out about it. (Have I mentioned that I'm losing it a bit?!)

 

Please help me feel better about this. So far, they've played Angry Birds all day. I just bought Minecraft, only to find out that they can't play the full version on the ipads. Ds9 is playing the free, smaller version. I don't mind buying it because I had promised a few months ago that I would, but still.

 

What educational things can we do with ipads? What do you use your ipads for when schooling? Ideas?

 

And a few virtual pats on the back and "it's okay, reallys" would be nice.

 

I know it's just Christmas and an emotional one at that. The kids were super, duper excited about them. I'm excited for them. I realize I shouldn't overthink it. Just let it be. I'm working through it. But I would feel better if I had some "real" uses for these things other than another game contraption.

 

Thanks, Hive.

[Arcadia]

I have my boys worksheet (PDF format) loaded on their iPads for when we have long waiting times anywhere.

 

We have plenty of apps and there are plenty of threads in the forum on iPad educational apps recommendation. (I link a past thread in ETA)

 

My boys like Google Earth, Stack the States, SpellingCity, Pluto Piano, Nova Elements and many others. We also use their iPads for German and Chinese enrichment.

 

ETA: http://forums.welltrainedmind.com/topic/227979-ipad-apps-for-homeschooling/

[Alte Veste Academy]

Aw, you need hugs. :grouphug:

 

I got an iPad for Christmas and the first thing I put on it was the full version of Toontastic. It is pricey as far as apps go ($10) but very cool. The kids can illustrate and narrate their own cartoons, even add music. They recently played it at a friend's house and DD came home the first day (not so subtly) hinting that I should ask Santa for am iPad for Christmas. LOL Little did she know it was already wrapped and under the tree. I am all ears for more suggestions.

 

If there is one thing I am learning though, it is not to apologize to a group of (relative) strangers for my own personal choices and parenting decisions. You have nothing to feel guilty about, no need to explain...

 

I am so sorry about your dad. We lost DH's dad 12 years ago and still miss him like crazy. :grouphug:

[kwg]

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ninja-chicken-tiny-chicken/id503807084?mt=8

 

Interested in others as well. We just bought Season 1 of Horrible Histories off Amazon that I think you can watch on an Ipad (it is on Itunes as well but double the price).

[Farrar]

Breathe. Really, the iPad is a better and more intuitive tool for creating and learning than the wii, the ds, the ipod or even a computer.

 

Some things to get...

 

* A stylus for each one - go buy one from Best Buy or Target or Radio Shack or wherever - I like the Targus one, but there are others - this will let them write and draw on their iPads

 

* Notability - this app lets you mark up pdf documents, including any pdf curricula you use

 

* Pages - is a full word processing program and my kids find laying things out in it - like a visual report - much more intuitive than on the computer.

 

* Art apps - if your kids are artistic at all, then apps like Paper or Brushes are amazing tools that are near equivalents to big computer apps for a fraction of the cost.

 

* Creation Apps - I strongly second Toontastic. Your 12 yo might not get a ton out of it, but my 8 yos really love it. Start with the free version. Other ideas - Smoovie is a good stop motion movie maker. Scribble Press lets you make online "books." iMovie lets you make all kinds of movies (less good for stop motion though). If your kids are into photography, there are great photography editing tools too.

 

* Math apps - I especially like MathBoard for drills - and this is the list I made of the ones we like, but it's really just the tip of the iceberg because there's so much out there.

 

* Put Netflix on there if you have it and Brainpop and Khan Academy!

 

* There are some really cool science apps too - like Creatures of Light, Nova's Elements, LeafSnap...

 

This is all just the beginning. Really. It's a great thing to have. It won't be a waste. :)

[Desert Rat]

I have my boys worksheet (PDF format) loaded on their iPads for when we have long waiting times anywhere.

 

We have plenty of apps and there are plenty of threads in the forum on iPad educational apps recommendation. (I link a past thread in ETA)

 

My boys like Google Earth, Stack the States, SpellingCity, Pluto Piano, Nova Elements and many others. We also use their iPads for German and Chinese enrichment.

 

ETA: http://forums.welltr...-homeschooling/

 

 

Thanks for the link! I searched a couple different key words and couldn't find it. I have a hard time searching the boards sometimes.

 

And thank you for all for the hugs and suggestions. Keep 'em coming. :)