As of late, my husband Shawn has been building the kids a train track each morning using our ever-growing collection of wooden tracks. Son1 and I grade the track each day. Son1 always grades it 100%, but I'm much more discerning. It's usually around 90-95%. Here's a particularly good one I rewarded a 97.
.JPG) |
| Aerial track view with Son1 |
So, the apps are the purpose of this blog... Son1, being 4, is most into the apps that allow him to "create" trains and drive them around the track. Son2, 20 months, likes to tap things (often I show him where to tap) and see animals or other animated surprises appear (that is when he's not doing his favorite iPad activity: pushing the Home button, causing us to leave the app entirely).
There's not a category for "trains" in the app store, so I've scoured it best I could to find the winners. And there were lots that didn't make the cut. First, here's my list of top train apps (mildly in order starting with my personal favorite) for various interests and levels, ages 2-5. My research assistants (ages 4 and 1.5) are less discerning however, so I'll mention some of their favorites after mine. They like mine too, but have some less mommy-friendly additions.
My criteria for choosing these are educational, easy to use, creative, nice graphics and sounds, keep attention for 10+ minutes, keep kids coming back
Hell yeah, a FREE kids' app that's worth a damn! That's why it's first in the list. First the kids build their Lego train, picking a few trains cars for their train. Then they drive around a track, stopping to do little activities like pick up freight, drop off Lego passengers, or fill up with gas. It took a little working together for Son1 to get the hang of the controls, but as parents, we really should be playing the apps with the kids rather than using technology as a babysitter, right? Or at least some mix of the both :)
FREE for iPhone and iPad in the app store
There's just something about animals+trains that gets the kids excited. This app has 5 mini-games revolving around trains: puzzles, music, spelling, train building, and track building. While I wouldn't say it's hours of fun, it's certainly minutes of fun. And those minutes add up after playing a few times. It's a visually pleasing quickie with quality sounds and is easy to use for even the little ones.
$1.99 for iPhone and iPad in the app store
Each car on the train has a different animal. Tap the car to see a cute animal animation and hear the name of the animal. Great graphics and easy to use for the littlest ones because they can tap anywhere on the screen to go forward.
Warning there are some frustrations in this app. My older one found it a little frustrating because there's no way to replay on of the animals and you can only move forward in the train, not go back to one of the animals he liked. Tip: the Menu button is hidden between one of clouds.
$2.99 for iPhone and iPad in the app store
Lite version also available, with limited number of trains
Freight Train
I really wish they had an iPad version so we could experience the artwork from the original book by Donald Crews on a larger screen. This interactive book lets kids learn about the different train cars while playing train-themed music in the background (really nice harmonica style music with lovely vocals). Limited in functionality - it takes about as long to play as it would to read the book. Definitely worth a buck.
$0.99 for iPhone only/no iPad version in the app store
Thomas & Friends Apps
There are too many to list, but you can't go wrong with the Thomas apps. They tend to cost $2-5, so I couldn't possibly download them all. The ones we have tried have good visuals and are easy for kids to use on their own (except as previously noted, I always monitor them). Most of the apps are some combination of puzzles, matching, moving train supplies this way and that, coloring activities, and a story. They also have quite a few Thomas interactive book apps. There's even one iPad app (Steam Team) that goes with a play set you have to buy, and it tells the kids to do different physical activities. Sounds cool but the play set is like $30 so maybe we'll try it for a birthday gift?
Our favorite of the Thomas apps is the Thomas Game Pack $2.99 for iPhone and iPad in the app store
Working on the Railroad
You get a lot for $2 with this one. There are several games - puzzles, build a train, learning shapes/letters to build the word "Train", a train scene to explore, and a sing-a-long (of course to "working on the railroad", and a pretty decent rendition at that). The graphics, animations, and game play are ok - nothing outstanding, but a solid app on the whole.
$1.99 for iPhone and iPad in the app store
Lite version also available, with limited content
Clicky Sticky
This app is a good one for preschoolers. They pick the cars to go on their train, then drive it through the zoo (see what I mean - again with the animals+trains combo!) They can control the speed of the train, which is a actually a pointless control - what kid doesn't just want to crank it up as fast as it can go? Anyway, Son1 loves to make different configurations of trains and drive them full throttle. It took a little help from Mom and Dad to figure it out at first.
$1.99 for iPhone and iPad in the app store
Animal Train
Free, with in-app purchase for full content (this is not my favorite model because you feel kind of gypped when you're excited to download a free app then find out you have to pay for anything cool). You get 2 trains to start with, then get the other 4 unlocked for something like $2.99 (I can't remember how much for certain, but I did shell it over).
Still, this app is simple and fun for the kids to explore. Each train car has different animals on it. Tap each one to see what they do. The music is nice. Definitely a good one for the under 3 crowd. My 4 year old likes it too, although it's not as challenging and creative as some of the apps geared more towards his age.
Free for iPhone and iPad in the app store, but in-app purchase to unlock all content
Build a Train Apps
This suite of apps work together, but each one stands alone as well.
Design a Train
You can choose which cars you want and paint each one of them. Not too fancy, but you can import the designs into the other two apps.
$1.99 for iPhone and iPad in the app store, plus in-app purchases for additional trains
Lite version, with even less trains
Build a Train
Select the cars to put on your train, then pick a track to drive it (a few are free, a lot are for purchase). Son1 always wants to get in-app purchases like this, which can be maddening, but I've used it as an opportunity to teach him about saving and spending money. Rather than just buying him a track, he has to earn it by doing chores.
$2.99 with in app purchases for iPhone and iPad in the app store
Lite version, with even less tracks
Build a Train Puzzles
Pretty standard puzzle app, but the cool part is you can import the trains you've created in the other 2 apps.
$1.99 for iPhone and iPad in the app store, plus in-app purchases
KIDS' PICKS
Not my picks per se, but the kids love them so I can't complain.
Whopping Trains
Train videos. Enough said. The user interface is miserable, but for kids who like to watch videos of real trains, this is a goldmine. They have lots of 1-2 minute clips of trains going over bridges, through the woods, etc, etc.
FREE for iPhone and iPad in the app store, with in-app purchase for more videos/less advertising
Let's Play With the Trains
This one is actually pretty fun. Use your finger to draw a line on the screen, and a train will follow it like a track. Draw multiple lines and multiple trains appear. Son1 likes to draw lines with lots of curves and swirls, so the trains get kind of twisted up. But he's 4, so I try not to dwell long on these things and just let him have fun.
FREE for iPhone and iPad in the app store, with $4.99 in-app purchase to disable ads
NOTABLE MENTIONS
These ones aren't so bad either...
Toca Train
People seem to rave about this one because it's from Toca Boca, who admittedly do a lot of awesome apps. I don't quite get the draw outside of that because the 3D is kind of kludgy. But hey, go for it.
$2.99 for iPhone and iPad in the app store
Railroad Train
A puzzle game that's geared more towards older kids. My kids like to watch mommy and daddy play it.
FREE for iPhone and iPad in the app store
ABC train
Again with the unstoppable animals+train combo, plus letters to boot. The graphics aren't great, but it's a decent way to learn letters. The ads are a big drawback though.
FREE for iPhone and iPad in the app store, with ads
Abby train
As with all the Abby apps, the voices on this annoy me and the graphics are kind of cheesy, but the games and content are pretty educational and fun. Just for clarity, the full name for this one is actually Animal Train Preschool Adventure First Word Learning Games for Toddler Loves Farm and Zoo Animals by Monkey Abby. A little naming overkill perhaps?
$1.99 for iPhone and iPad in the app store
Leave me a comment if I missed a good one. There are others I purposefully didn't mentioned because they're no good :)
$2.99 for iPhone and iPad in the app store
Lite version also available, with limited number of trains
I really wish they had an iPad version so we could experience the artwork from the original book by Donald Crews on a larger screen. This interactive book lets kids learn about the different train cars while playing train-themed music in the background (really nice harmonica style music with lovely vocals). Limited in functionality - it takes about as long to play as it would to read the book. Definitely worth a buck.
$0.99 for iPhone only/no iPad version in the app store
There are too many to list, but you can't go wrong with the Thomas apps. They tend to cost $2-5, so I couldn't possibly download them all. The ones we have tried have good visuals and are easy for kids to use on their own (except as previously noted, I always monitor them). Most of the apps are some combination of puzzles, matching, moving train supplies this way and that, coloring activities, and a story. They also have quite a few Thomas interactive book apps. There's even one iPad app (Steam Team) that goes with a play set you have to buy, and it tells the kids to do different physical activities. Sounds cool but the play set is like $30 so maybe we'll try it for a birthday gift?
Our favorite of the Thomas apps is the Thomas Game Pack $2.99 for iPhone and iPad in the app store
You get a lot for $2 with this one. There are several games - puzzles, build a train, learning shapes/letters to build the word "Train", a train scene to explore, and a sing-a-long (of course to "working on the railroad", and a pretty decent rendition at that). The graphics, animations, and game play are ok - nothing outstanding, but a solid app on the whole.
$1.99 for iPhone and iPad in the app store
Lite version also available, with limited content
This app is a good one for preschoolers. They pick the cars to go on their train, then drive it through the zoo (see what I mean - again with the animals+trains combo!) They can control the speed of the train, which is a actually a pointless control - what kid doesn't just want to crank it up as fast as it can go? Anyway, Son1 loves to make different configurations of trains and drive them full throttle. It took a little help from Mom and Dad to figure it out at first.
$1.99 for iPhone and iPad in the app store
Free, with in-app purchase for full content (this is not my favorite model because you feel kind of gypped when you're excited to download a free app then find out you have to pay for anything cool). You get 2 trains to start with, then get the other 4 unlocked for something like $2.99 (I can't remember how much for certain, but I did shell it over).
Still, this app is simple and fun for the kids to explore. Each train car has different animals on it. Tap each one to see what they do. The music is nice. Definitely a good one for the under 3 crowd. My 4 year old likes it too, although it's not as challenging and creative as some of the apps geared more towards his age.
Free for iPhone and iPad in the app store, but in-app purchase to unlock all content
This suite of apps work together, but each one stands alone as well.
Design a Train
You can choose which cars you want and paint each one of them. Not too fancy, but you can import the designs into the other two apps.
$1.99 for iPhone and iPad in the app store, plus in-app purchases for additional trains
Lite version, with even less trains
Build a Train
Select the cars to put on your train, then pick a track to drive it (a few are free, a lot are for purchase). Son1 always wants to get in-app purchases like this, which can be maddening, but I've used it as an opportunity to teach him about saving and spending money. Rather than just buying him a track, he has to earn it by doing chores.
$2.99 with in app purchases for iPhone and iPad in the app store
Lite version, with even less tracks
Build a Train Puzzles
Pretty standard puzzle app, but the cool part is you can import the trains you've created in the other 2 apps.
$1.99 for iPhone and iPad in the app store, plus in-app purchases
KIDS' PICKS
Not my picks per se, but the kids love them so I can't complain.
Whopping Trains
Train videos. Enough said. The user interface is miserable, but for kids who like to watch videos of real trains, this is a goldmine. They have lots of 1-2 minute clips of trains going over bridges, through the woods, etc, etc.
FREE for iPhone and iPad in the app store, with in-app purchase for more videos/less advertising
Let's Play With the Trains
This one is actually pretty fun. Use your finger to draw a line on the screen, and a train will follow it like a track. Draw multiple lines and multiple trains appear. Son1 likes to draw lines with lots of curves and swirls, so the trains get kind of twisted up. But he's 4, so I try not to dwell long on these things and just let him have fun.
FREE for iPhone and iPad in the app store, with $4.99 in-app purchase to disable ads
NOTABLE MENTIONS
These ones aren't so bad either...
Toca Train
People seem to rave about this one because it's from Toca Boca, who admittedly do a lot of awesome apps. I don't quite get the draw outside of that because the 3D is kind of kludgy. But hey, go for it.
$2.99 for iPhone and iPad in the app store
A puzzle game that's geared more towards older kids. My kids like to watch mommy and daddy play it.
FREE for iPhone and iPad in the app store
Again with the unstoppable animals+train combo, plus letters to boot. The graphics aren't great, but it's a decent way to learn letters. The ads are a big drawback though.
FREE for iPhone and iPad in the app store, with ads
Abby train
As with all the Abby apps, the voices on this annoy me and the graphics are kind of cheesy, but the games and content are pretty educational and fun. Just for clarity, the full name for this one is actually Animal Train Preschool Adventure First Word Learning Games for Toddler Loves Farm and Zoo Animals by Monkey Abby. A little naming overkill perhaps?
$1.99 for iPhone and iPad in the app store
Leave me a comment if I missed a good one. There are others I purposefully didn't mentioned because they're no good :)
