Lots of currently free apps from Toca Boca, Boca, Tiggly and Swiggles November 6, 2015

Source: Tiggly Doctor: Check up on your verbs in this fun spelling game on the App Store

Source: Tiggly Story Maker: Build Words and Record Your Own Tales on the App Store

Source: Tiggly Submarine: Preschool ABC Game on the App Store

Source: Bamba Surprise on the App Store

Source: Toca Hair Salon on the App Store

Source: Swiggles – A fun and simple game for toddlers on the App Store

Source: Swiggles Colors on the App Store

These apps are currently free, but I don’t know how long they will last. The Tiggly apps are aimed at early learning skills. The ones I linked are best for ages 3 to 6. They introduce spelling, phonemic awareness and vocabulary. Tiggly has designed these apps to interact with Tiggly toys, but you can play using the touch screen option. There are other Tiggly apps that are also free like Tiggly Chef, Tiggly Safari, Tiggly Draw, Tiggley Addventure, Tiggly Cardtoons and Tiggly Stamp which focus of early math skills.

Bamba is another maker of early learning apps which are aimed at a slightly younger age range at 2 and up. The one I linked is aimed more at preschoolers while their other pretend play apps like Bamba Burger, Bamba Ice Cream, Bamba Pizza and Bamba Post Office are fun for younger kids.

Toca Hair Salon is just fun playful app for ages 3 to 6. Toca Boca develops some of the best apps on the market for this age group. They should be scooped up when they are free. These are must have apps. Younger kids can also play with Toca Boca apps as tapping and swiping will always do something on the screen.

Swiggles is a decent app for very young kids in the toddler age range. It will flip through the silly monster faces with a peekaboo effect with one type of app motion like swiping, tapping, and shaking. The second one names the colors as the faces rotate through. It’s fine for a free app, but I wouldn’t actually pay money for this one.

Other app makers that I like for the younger set (ages 2 to 5) which may or may not be free right now are Tizzy, Wonderkind (makes the uber fun Seek and Find and Tiny apps), Fairlady Media, Gazilli, Dr. Panda, Duck Duck Goose, Tropisounds (wooden puzzles), Wombi puzzle, Tribal Nova, Little Bit Studio (math), Build A Word by @Reks, Playsmart-Kids, Bugsy, Klicktock (hidden pictures), Innovative Mobile, Fisher Price, Lego Duplo, Lakeshore Learning Materials, Tappi Bear (just for fun) apps. Older kids also still love to play these apps as well though they may not want to admit it. There are plenty more out there that I didn’t list on here.

For toddlers and preschoolers, hands down the best app bargain is the Teach Me series of apps which go from toddler to 3rd grade which you can read about here: http://wp.me/p1M41l-fU

L@WS

 

Fireworks Lab – currently free

Source: Fireworks Lab on the App Store

Fun app for toddlers and preschoolers to play with fireworks. This app is normally $1.99. Design your own displays and tap to make them explode across a starry night sky.

Recommended for toddlers and pre-K. Older kids may still enjoy this, but this game play is very simple which makes it perfect for the younger set.
L@WS

Ticket to Ride Pocket – currently free

Source: Ticket to Ride Pocket on the App Store

Source: Ticket to Ride Europe Pocket on the App Store

This is one of my all time favorite German style board games to play. The mobile pocket versions is totally free right now. This is an award winning app. This is perfect to whiling away time on your holiday travels for yourself or the kids. I love that you can opt to play locally over wi-fi or bluetooth so that you can play with whoever you are hanging out with.

I love that Ticket to Ride engages you in thinking strategically since you are not building routes in isolation.

Recommended ages 8 and up.

L@WS

ETA: Be sure you are looking at iPhone apps on your device.