Free iPad Apps Parents Will Love Too

As my kids will tell you, I am a big fan of getting outside, being crafty and creative, and reading in the summertime. But spending some time on the iPad is fine, too, especially considering our upcoming 8 hour summer vacation drive! If my kids are going to be using electronics, though, I like to know that they have some great apps that are both educational and fun. And hey - being free doesn't hurt either, right?

Here are some of my favorite free apps for kids:

Funbrain Jr. (ages 2 & up)

Endless Alphabet (ages 3 & up)

Read Me Stories (ages 3 & up)

Sight Words for Reading HD (ages 4 & up)

PBS Kids Video (preschool and elementary)

Monster Squeeze (ages 5 & up)

Everyday Mathematics Addition Top It (ages 5 & up)

(Check out Everyday Mathematics on iTunes for a number of free

Imagination Playground 3D Builder (ages 6 & up)

Motion Math Zoom (ages 6 & up)

Sushi Monster (math, ages 7 & up)

News-O-Matic (ages 7 & up)

BrainPop Featured Movie (new movie each day, 8 & up)

My favorite go-to place to find free apps is the Smart Apps for Kids website. They post every day about new apps for preschool, elementary, and sometimes up to middle school level apps that they have reviewed. Many are temporarily free or discounted, so catch them while they are posted! On Free App Fridays, they usually have a big list of temporarily free apps! You can enter your email to be notified about their posts each day. It's how I filled my iPads with apps for free when I was in the first grade classroom!