Category: Great Products

10 Books to Share with Someone Special

By Mariah Bruehl, 11th February 2015

As your children exchange little candy hearts that say “U R SWEET” and Minecraft Valentine cards, it’s the perfect time to reflect on love. What does it look like? What does it sound like? How do I show it? What does it feel like?

Whether it is love for humankind, a classmate, a parent, a child, an elderly neighbor, or even a mailbox, these books offer lots to ponder on the subject. Here is a list of books to enjoy with your child.

1. Plant a Kiss, written by Amy Krause Rosenthal and illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds

Using her spade, a young girl digs a hole in the ground and then bends down to “plant a kiss.” Like a tender gardener, she waters it, makes sure it gets plenty of sun, and patiently waits. Of course, when you plant a seed of love or kindness or generosity, it grows. The little girl wants to share it, but the other children worry she will run out. She doesn’t care. When she finally runs out, she goes back to discover her kiss has bloomed again.

The language is simple. Each page contains no more than a few words and the next page rhymes (think Sheep in a Jeep). The drawings are simple—people, some earth and props, plain white background. But the overall effect is magical.

2. The Boy Who Grew Flowers, written by Jen Wojtowicz and illustrated by Steve Adams

Every full moon, Rink Bowagon sprouts flowers all over his body. Needless to say, this makes him a little unpopular at school. One day, a new girl shows up, and Rink immediately likes her. Angelina is plain with one leg shorter than the other and a flower behind her ear. She does not understand why the children ignore Rink. One day, the teacher announces there will be a dance on Saturday. Rink invites Angelina, but realizes she can’t dance because of her legs. I will not give away the rest of the story, but it is a beautiful act of kindness and a celebration of all that makes us unique and wonderful.

3. Hair for Mama, written by Kelly A. Tinkham and illustrated by Amy June Bates

Eight-year-old Marcus’s mama has cancer and when she begins to lose her hair, he promises to get her more. As his mama undergoes chemotherapy, Marcus observes that she can no longer appreciate the fall colors like she usually does, and he thinks getting hair for her will make her better.

After several attempts to get hair for his mama, he ends up at the barber shop. I cried when I read this book. It beautifully captures the innocence of an eight-year-old boy who loves his mama and will do anything for her.

4. Wilfred Gordon McDonald Partridge, written by Mem Fox and illustrated by Julia Vivas

Wilfred lives next door to an “old people’s home.” The four year old takes a shine to Miss Nancy Alison Delacourt Cooper because she has four names just like him. When he learns that she has trouble remembering, he sets out to help her, even though he doesn’t quite know what that means. This is a sweet story about the love between young and old.

5. Hug Machine, written and illustrated by Scott Campbell

How do we show love? Well, sometimes we show it by hugging. And this little boy has a lot of love to share. This book reminds us that love is something that is inside of us and when we are filled with love, everyone and everything in our paths receives it. After reading this book, you will want to hug the first person (or mailbox) you see.

6. Papa, Do You Love Me? , written by Barbara M. Joosse and illustrated by Barbara Lavallee

After a visit to Kenyan and Ugandan schools, the author was moved by the Massai and the tenderness they showed their children. This book reflects the culture and reminds us that love is unconditional.

7. All the Things I Love About You, written and illustrated by LeUyen Pham

All the things I love about this book:

It’s about a mother’s love for her energetic, adventurous, messy son
The combination of pen, ink and digital art and the beautiful color palette
The little boy’s expressive face
The humor

8. Love is a Good Thing to Feel, written by Barbara Joosse and illustrated by Jennifer Plecas

This charming book is about a little girl’s affection for her stuffed rabbit, Squeezie. Using text and speech bubbles, the author expresses how love feels—“It makes a party in your heart.” Love “makes everything a little bit better” like “double-stomping in the rain.” But she also addresses sadness, fear, anger and jealousy. With love, we can handle all of these emotions.

9. The I Love You Book, written and illustrated by Todd Parr

With Parr’s signature bold primary colors the author conveys the unconditional love a parent feels for a child: sleeping sweetly or awake in the middle of the night; brave or afraid; stinky or clean.

10. An Awesome Book of Love!, written and illustrated by Dallas Clayton

Rather than an ode to love, this is a shout-it-from-the-rooftops proclamation of love. The illustrations and even the font are whimsical works of art. The author starts with different scenarios in which he doesn’t have his true love, but then he writes, “…I’m aglow with a smile on my face when I wonder what magic you’ll make of this place…” From this point on, the proclaiming begins.

* This post contains affiliate links.

Gifts That Inspire Writing

By Mariah Bruehl, 5th December 2014

Holidays, birthdays, and other gift-giving occasions are a wonderful time to reflect on the types of investments we want to make as parents. I do see gifts for children as investments. Not only are they investments of money, but investments of our time and in our children. What do we want to encourage? What do we hold valuable? How do we want our children to spend their time? What types of experiences do we want to share with our children?

I have received a lot of requests to recommend some gift ideas that will inspire the young writers in their lives.

Because everyone’s a writer, it’s just a matter of helping them find and bring forth their voice and share it with the world…

Starting a Writer’s Notebook

Keeping a writer’s notebook is where it all begins… Talking to children about their favorite authors and how they capture ideas for writing is a wonderful way to inspire budding young writers. Did you know that almost all authors keep their own writer’s notebooks? Writing does not need to be an overwhelming process, it can be fun, light, and all about capturing the magical moments in our lives.

If you are enrolled in the Family Writer’s Club and would like to put together a fun gift to complement the experience, I recommend starting with the materials below. In this workshop you will begin your writing journey by starting your own writer’s notebooks!

1. Post-it Arrow Flags – Add a fun dimension to capturing memories and writing down thoughts.

2. Japanese Washi Masking Tape – Fun tapes are a wonderful way to add mementos and for the decorating of your cover or pages.

3. Glassine Wax Paper Bags – These are great for taping into your notebook to inspire writing about found treasures.

4. Jumbo Paper Clips – Another great way to capture and save different memories.

5. Sticky Tab Markers – These come in handy if you want to create different sections in your notebook.

6. Blank Recycled Notebooks – We love using these blank notebooks. They offer a clean slate, so that children can make them their own.

7. Photo Corners – Wonderful for adding and writing about family memories and special events.

Create it and they will come… It’s almost like magic! If you would like to see your children writing for pleasure in their free time, then create an inviting space with engaging materials. Here are our tried and true favorites for creating a captivating writing center. What I love about these items is that they become household staples. We purchased many of the items on this list when the girls were young and we are still using and loving them!

8. Wall Organizer – This fabric magazine organizer is perfect for displaying a variety of interesting writing papers. We provide lots of interesting options in the workshop. You can also find a nice selection in the printables section of our book.

9. Acrylic Tote – I am a huge fan of creating caddies stocked with inviting supplies like pens, pencils, stamps, stickers, etc. They are easy to move from room to room and are great for taking your writing adventures outside.

10. Prismacolor Colored Pencils – Our all-time favorite colored pencils!

11. Highlighters – An inviting way to make writing fun.

12. Pencils – We are big fans of these triangular pencils, which help with encouraging proper pencil grip.

13. Alphabet Stickers – Fun no matter what age you are!

14. Sentiment Stamps – We love giving handmade cards for every occasion. Having these stamps handy has been very helpful throughout the years.

15. Paper Tray – Another wonderful way for organizing interesting writing papers.

16. Blank Books – The more of these you leave in your writing center, the more books you will see popping up around your house. Try it!

17. Watercolors – It is wonderful to combine art and writing and we love these watercolor paints. These are also perfect for combing with the post cards below.

18. Watercolor Postcards – Embrace the handwritten tradition of corresponding with loved ones with these lovely blank watercolor postcards.

Now that you have the basics in place, make sure that you keep the inspiration flowing…

19. Books about Writing – We have put together a list of our favorite books for inspiring young authors, here.

20. Writer’s Club Family Workshop – Set some time aside as a family to learn about and develop the craft of writing. Connect and learn together as you explore fun writing prompts and learn about helpful techniques.

21. Play Story Cubes – A fun family game that helps get the story-telling going.

22. Q&A A Day For Kids – This journal offers a great way for children to easily capture their day-to-day thoughts and memories.

23. Letters to My Future Self – Writing letters to your past, future, or present day selves can be a powerful writing experience. This creative book makes the process fun and easy.

24. Play Haikubes – A fun game that teaches the art of Haiku. If you enjoy haiku, you should also checkout or great lesson, here.

25. Magnetic Poetry Kit – Another fun way to explore poetry and work on using interesting language in your writing.

26. Rip the Page! Adventures in Creative Writing – This book is full of inspiring writing prompts for the whole family!

* This post contains affiliate links.

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Mindful Gifts for Children

By Mariah Bruehl, 3rd December 2014

As the girls get older and confront many new situations, I am finding that one of the most important things I can teach them, is how to find a sense of peace within themselves.

Whether it is a situation with peers, pressure from school, or scary things they hear about in the news, we want our children to know that they can handle and process anything that comes their way.

When our children were younger, we were able to be present with them more often, and could help them navigate these situations in the moment. Yet, as they grow and spend longer hours in school, outside activities, and with friends, it becomes imperative that they know they can depend on themselves to navigate any situation.

As an adult, I have turned to many of these techniques myself as a way of dealing with difficult situations. It does take practice… I often find that my initial reaction to life’s bigger challenges (sadness, anxiety, anger, critical inner voices) often lead to more upset, creating a cycle that is hard to break.

When families talk openly about how to process different life circumstances, and share in techniques that help us through, it creates a peaceful home environment and models essential life skills. Peace truly does begin at home.

In an effort to help our daughters, we have found that teaching (and practicing) simple techniques that they can use to: come back to the present moment, find peace within, and to accept rather than resist what is happening, has helped tremendously to lesson anxiety and empower them to know that they are capable of dealing with life’s ups and downs.

It is for this reason that we developed the Be a Peacemaker family workshop, to bring families together to explore these concepts and share experiences along the way. I thought it would be helpful to share some gift ideas that can help reinforce the important lessons we explore in the workshop. Many of the items below are meant to be enjoyed as a family. I love giving gifts that inherently include a meaningful experience and time well spent together…

1. Is Nothing Something? by Thich Nhat Hanh – A lovely book, filled with life’s big questions, answered from a mindful perspective. This book offers a wonderful way to start important family conversations.

2. Sitting Still Like a Frog by Eline Snel – This book is full of fun and simple techniques that help children handle emotions and come back to the present moment. My oldest daughter (who tends to worry) was flipping trough this book recently and said, “Mom, I want to do every activity in this book, they would be good for me.”

3. Take the Time by Maud Roegiers – A picture book that walks you through simple things children can do when they need help coming back to the present moment.

4. Silence by Lemniscates – A wonderful book that reminds us of the beauty we can discover within ourselves and the world when we quiet our minds.

5. A Handful of Quiet by Thich Nhat Hanh – Walks you through a few simple experiences that can be shared as a family.

6. Sun Art Paper – Taking time to appreciate the little things, like the veins on a leaf, helps us to clear our mind. Creating art that captures these moments can act as a reminder to us when we need it most.

7. KidSafe Calming the Child Essential Oil – We have found that empowering children to use (with parent guidance) safe, natural remedies, helps them to monitor their health, moods, and feelings. We love using essential oils for different situations that arise. This calming oil is the perfect way to nurture oneself when needed.

8. Hoberman Expanding Mini Sphere Toy – This intriguing toy is a wonderful way to practice mindful breathing.

9. DIY Mindfulness Boxes – I love the idea of having these mindful reminders around the house!

10. Yoga Pretzels Yoga Cards – These yoga cards have been a family favorite for years. They are a wonderful way to encourage children to tune into their bodies and discover the connection between self-care and having peace of mind.

11. The Yoga Garden Game – This game is a wonderful way to introduce young children to the calming affects of yoga.

12. Original Buddha Board – This is one of the most beloved toys I have purchased over the years. We love to practice writing Chinese characters. It can also be used to practice writing letters, numbers, or calming words and images. Using the water to create words and images, is a soothing activity that can be brought out when some quiet time is needed.

13. Zenergy Chime – Having physical cues that help bring us back to the present moment are helpful during charged situations. I love the idea of using a beautiful sound as a reminder to take a deep breath and get back to center. Just be ready for your kids to chime the bell for you at times!

14. Mindfulness Matters (AKA Be a Peacemaker) Family Workshop by Playful Learning – Come together with families around the world to learn specific techniques for finding peace within and making peace in the world. This workshop is wonderful for opening up dialogue as a family while developing a shared language that can be used for years to come.

15. Deluxe Zen Garden – Relaxing activities are helpful easing anxiety or other charged emotions. We love to add our own nature treasures to our constantly evolving Zen Garden. It’s a great addition to a nature table!

16. Boom Boom Cards Family Deck – I have found over the years that empowering children to help others, when they are feeling concerned about something, gives them the opportunity to learn firsthand about the power of our global community. This deck of cards offers inspiring suggestions for spreading kindness. You can track other people who are spreading the same acts on their website—fun!

*This post contains Amazon Affiliate Links.

8 Apps Your Child Will Love

By Mariah Bruehl, 26th August 2014

Nuria from the The Adventures Archive is here today to share some fun kid-tested and mama-approved apps.

Here you have 8 Apps that are both fun and educational. All tested and approved by my girls, age 5 and 8…

Monument Valley: Guide a silent princess through a fantastical breath-taking world. This is probably one of the most beautiful apps ever created. I can assure you that you will love exploring it as much as your kids.
Toca Builders: A super fun building game. Think Minecraft for younger kids.
Plants: TinyBop, the team behind the famous Human Body, is back with a new game, and this time is all about exploring Mother Nature. From pollination to the food chain, the amount of things children can learn with this app is just incredible. Tinybop games come with no instructions. They have a “show, don’t tell” approach which I find great for inquisitive kids.
Pepi Doctor A cute role-play game which is perfect for little kids who are afraid of doctors or dentist.
Wee-you-things: Let your children explore the concepts of tolerance and kindness with this adorable app that celebrates the little things that make each one of us different and special.
Daisy the dinosaur: This game introduces children to basic computer programming. It is fun and a perfect way to develop their logic, analytical thinking.
Sago Mini Doodlecast My girls favorite drawing app. Perfect to develop their imagination. I also love that they can record their voices as they doodle.
Toy mail: This app comes with a toy (a cute little animal). Relatives and friends can record a message to your child via the app and the toy will deliver it to him or her. Your child can then respond right from his toy. Perfect for parents who travel often or for distant grandparents.

A Booklist for Young Scientists

By Mariah Bruehl, 16th May 2014

At the moment my eldest son (aged 6) is so enthusiastically engaged in Science. He wants to read and watch and explore anything and everything science related.

Be it information about volcanoes, watching episodes about the Mariana Trench on You Tube, or devouring new concepts on the adorable free app Brain Pop. Watching the daily movie on Brain Pop has become a morning ritual while we prepare breakfast. If you asked me not that long ago if I allow my son to use the iPad before school, I certainly would have said no, but this app is beyond any information I could share with my son. As this morning activity go on, we have had discussions about building dams, both natural and man made, food chains, bullying, and the list goes on.

I have over the past few years been curating a collection of beautiful books both fiction and nonfiction for our home library.

There are a few topics which I can not keep up with so it is wonderful to have a local library which also stocks some wonderful titles.

Below are a few titles worth seeking if you have a little science child in your home needing provocations to continue to open their mind and to encourage the asking of questions.

1. Tiny The Invisible World of Microbes by Nicola Davies and Illustrated by Emily Sutton

2. A First Book of Nature by Nicola Davies. Actually put any book by the clever and creative Nicola Davies on your wishlist. Her books are insightful and thought provoking. She teaches children through her clever use of multimodal literacy, therefore leading to further discussion and more trips to the library.

3. The Real Wonders of the World by Lonely Planet. A perfect conversation starter. We love its bold colours and graphic novel styled presentation.

4. 30 Second Astronomy by Francois Fressin. This book is part of a larger collection covering topics such as the brain, philosophy, and economics. This one about astronomy is perfect for my night gazer.

5. The Amazing A to Z Thing by Bronwyn Bancroft. An alphabet book with a beautiful twist. It tells the story of an anteaters adventure though the bush talking to the different animals he encounters.

6. The Magic School Bus Series by J Cole. The unearthing of facts as the class heads off on another wild adventure with Frizz are engaging and my son has learned so much along the way.

7. The Body Book by J Maizels. This is a book which has been in our home for many years and it is perfect. Each time we open the cover new questions fall from their mouths and I gear up for a discussion about taste, babies, stomachs, or eyes. A wonderful conversation starter and perfectly multimodal with moving components.

Enjoy!

Dinosaur Books and Apps for Little Ones

By Mariah Bruehl, 5th March 2014

Rebecca from Thirteen Red Shoes is with us today to share some great app and book recommendations for the little dinosaur lovers in our lives…

Little ones usually go through phases of being mesmerized by a specific genre. In our household dinosaurs have come and gone numerous times. Over the last couple of years we have developed a lovely little dinosaur library, as well as a few dinosaur themed iPad apps.

Books:

1. How to be a Dinosaur | Lonely Planet This is filled with information worthy of an encyclopaedia. Lonely Plant do these books so very well. The comic book style illustrations are perfection.

2. Dinosaur A – Z | Sam Mugford This books is a all time favorite. Each page represents a different dinosaur and the pictures are bold and contain details, such as size comparisons to a human adult, as well as how to pronounce the tricky names! Once when we went on an extended holiday I photographed every page so we could still flick through the book on my phone. The Smart Kids books are all brilliant, as is the entire dinosaur range by Priddy Books

3. Yikes, Stinkysaurus! | Pamela Butchart and Sam Lloyd This is perfect for those littles that enjoy a little but of humor of the bathroom variety.

4. There’s a Dinosaur in my Bathtub | Catalina Echeverri A large dinosaur called Pierre found in your bathtub is ever so delightful, especially if he comes from France to visit for the summer.

5. Dinosaur Farm | Fran Preston Gannon Fran Preston Gannon is the recipient of the Sendak Fellowship and has created a delightful tale of being a very special kind of farmer.

6. Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs | Mo Willems I have a soft spot for Mo Willems in our house as my boys adore his quirky style. This books is a take on the traditional Goldilocks and the Three Bears.

Educational iPad applications also worth having a little look at if you have children who enjoy this format:

Ansel and Clair Cretaceous, Jurassic and Triassic

Britannica Kids Dinosaurs (These are three individual apps based on different dinosaur periods)

Enjoy!

11 Picture Books that Inspire Children to Explore Outside

By Mariah Bruehl, 11th October 2013

Seeing the natural world through the eyes of a child is an enlightening experience. Their innate appreciation and fascination for all living things is a quality that that can lead to many fulfilling learning experiences.

The universe provides parents with unlimited opportunities for connecting and growing with their children. Whether you are examining a grain of sand, veins on a leaf or the parts of a flower—all it takes is some time spent together in the great outdoors and an attitude of inquiry to make the world come alive with infinite possibilities for discovery.

Children are naturally curious. The goal for parents and teachers is to transform their questions into meaningful life lessons.

One of the best ways to entice children into exploring the great outdoors is by reading a good picture book. The goal is to pique their curiosity by asking questions as we read. Then invite the little scientists in our lives to grab a magnifying glass and seek the answers they are looking for. All while spending a lovely afternoon outside. What could be better?

Here is a list of the favorites we have discovered throughout the years…

Please do share your favorites as well!

How The World Works by Dorian & Young
How Things Work in the Yard by Lisa Campbell Ernst
In a Backyard by Jen Green
Linnea’s Almanac by Christina Bjork & Lena Anderson
Nicky The Nature Detective by Lena Anderson & Ulf Svedberg
One Small Square Backyard by Donald Silver
Outside Your Window by Nicola Davis
Step Gently Out by Helen Frost & Rick Lieder
The Great Kapok Tree by Lynne Cherry
You Can Be A Nature Detective by Peggy Kochanoff
Secrets of the Garden by Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld

10 Books That Inspire Kids to Write (+ writing paper printables)

By Mariah Bruehl, 9th September 2013

Writing is one of the most important skills for children to learn and feel confident about. Whatever passions, interests, or career paths they may choose, the ability to communicate through the written word will be at the center of all they do.

It is for this reason that our children should have plenty of positive experiences with writing outside of school. It should be a medium that they dabble in, experiment with, try on for size, and utilize as a creative outlet.

I love to use picture books as inspiration for writing activities. As children read they become so involved in the characters and the story that it creates a great entry point for introducing different types of writing.

Here are some of my favorite children’s books to use prompts for writing activities…

My Five Senses by Aliki – A great way to encourage children to use descriptive language, incorporating how objects and people in their writing look, smell, feel, sound, and taste.

Zoom by Itsvan Banyai – An amazing wordless book that exemplifies that there is always more to things than meets the eye. This book can be used to demonstrate to children that the more descriptive language they use in their writing the more vivid it becomes. Encourage the budding writers in your life to “Zoom-In” on their writing by adding, even the smallest, details.

Wallace’s Lists by Barbara Bottner & Gerald Kruglik – A wonderful book that inspires list writing of all kinds. Print out this list paper printable and have it handy after finishing the story. You will be amazed by the lists you see popping up around the house.

Oliver’s Must-Do List by Susan Taylor Brown – More list writing inspiration…

My Map Book by Sara Fanelli – A lovely book full of creative maps. Making a heart map is a great way to generate lots of ideas for topics to write about. The best writing comes when we write about the things we love most.

Wilfred Gordon McDonald Partridge by Mem Fox – A heartwarming book that captures the importance of storytelling from one generation to the next. Encourage your child to collect a box of mementos and use each item as a story-starter.

Questions, Questions by Marus Pfister – This book is the perfect inspiration for capturing and writing about all of our daily wonderings. Click here, for a video activity and printable that you can share with the young authors in your life.

The Boy Who Loved Words by Roni Schotter – Words are powerful, lyrical, and can make magic. The Boy Who Loved Words brings this notion to life for children in a fun and playful way. Make a list of you favorite words and incorporate them into your writing.

Nothing Ever Happens on 90th Street by Roni Schotter – Inspires children to remember that every day is filled with small moments that can be captured through writing and transformed into great stories.

The Best Story by Eileen Spinelli – A great reminder to children that their writing should come from the heart and be a medium for self-expression.

* This post contains affiliate links.

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Phonics Apps for Little Ones (Part Two)

By Mariah Bruehl, 2nd July 2013

Rebecca from Thirteen Red Shoes is with us today to share part II of her recommendations for phonics apps for the little ones…

After my initial post about phonics applications I set about searching for some more. I believe that applications are all about trial and error. Some suit some children perfectly and others not so much. My list here is a guide as to what is available in the area of phonics and sight words. As always, I would love to hear about phonics applications you may have experience with.

1. Tap the Cat Tap the Cat is by the clever team at Reading Eggs, which I have mentioned previously. Tap the Cat focuses on key literacy skills through touch, listening and speaking. It involves matching letters, creating words and learning about nouns. Reading Eggs also makes a spelling app for those who have mastered their sounds and are ready to move on. I cannot believe that my little one will one day be able to do this application, it is just amazing to think how much they develop.

2. Word Grab This app is a phonetic word game that involves matching the sound to the letter and making words beginning with that sound. For example: finding the letter “d” and then making the words duck, dog, and daisy. There is a focus on long and short vowel sounds as well as hard and soft sounds. There are two difficulty levels in both sections of this application. One is ABC words, and the other is Rhyme Time, featuring over 250 words to broaden vocabulary.

3. Eggy 100 Eggy 100 is a free app designed to introduce children to the first 100 sight words. There is a lot of repetition and a lot of positive reinforcement, which is beneficial at this stage of sight word development. This app along with the application below, contain words such as “the”, “was”, and “where.”

4. Eggy 250 Eggy 250 is also a free application, which focuses on 250 sight words. There is also a speed option, which allows you to differentiate between children, depending on their ability. Both of these Eggy Apps are free and at times can be a bit difficult to navigate, however, I think they are worth downloading as they are a great starting point.

5. Wee Alphas This app is just delightful and a favorite in our home, especially with my littlest (aged 2). It is a picture book styled application in which you read a story while searching for the letters hidden in the text and illustrations of each page. This application goes through each letter of the alphabet. You can have narration or read aloud to your littles yourself. On each page there is an extra motion to find as well, for example, touch the hidden letter in the animal it turns orange for all to see. Find the letter that your name begins with on the final page of the story and you can practice drawing your letter.

6. Gappy’s First Words This application has so many different levels from the initial sound of the letters of the alphabet, to sight words, and basic consonant vowel consonant words or CVC words. View a little video here of Gappy’s First Words in action.

12 Creative Apps for Kids

By Mariah Bruehl, 30th November 2012

I am thrilled to have Rebecca from ThirteenRedShoes back with us today. She has a great list of creative app recommendations for the budding young artists in our lives.

Although at first glance there seems to be an endless supply of creative applications, both artistic and musical, for children, I have really struggled in this area. I have found many applications that allow for creativity in design and making sounds, but real music lessons or even stories about famous artists or composers are hard to find. I set out to discover creative applications based on educational theory while being delivered in a joyous manner—here is a list of our favorites…

01. Toca Band

02. A Jazzy Day

03. Little Fox Music

The above applications allow a focus on tempo and creating your own individual sound (Toca Band), to joining in and singing well known songs (Little Fox Music), and learning about instruments by counting and exploring different stories ( A Jazzy Day). Toca Band also has an adorable app related learning experience, which can occur away from the screen. Their blog features some creative Toca Band goodies such as character cards, posters and coloring pages, which can all be downloaded here .

04. MoMA Art Lab is an amazing app. This is one of my favorites so far. Recently my Mum and sister spent some time in NYC and I urged them to visit MoMA, as I love this museum. The application has amazing links to videos of artists at work, as well as wonderful components that foster learning about some of the famous pieces of work on display in the museum. You can create sound compositions, draw with scissors, make line drawings (which was little R’s favorite, he really enjoyed watching Jim Lambie create his vinyl tape ZOBOP lines on the museum floor), create shape poems, and collaborate on a group piece of art. Almost the next best thing to visiting MoMA itself! Click here, to see some of little R’s creations!

05. Theater by the very clever people at Appracadabra is also very engaging. I love the idea of the little ones taking photos of themselves and creating a new character such as little R the muscle man and little F the mermaid!!

06. Plic Ploc Wiz is a very engaging application in which you can create your own images or work from a set template based on shape and color. The final products are adorable. This was actually one of the first applications that I downloaded last Christmas when we received our iPad and I still enjoy it for me. This application is free in app purchases, so just be aware that little ones may be able to click and purchase if you do not have your itunes account with the security setting of a password, or at least using an itunes account rather than direct to credit card!

07. The Faces I Make is the funniest app. You can make faces out of everyday objects such as light bulbs and bananas. Very quirky and very cool.

08. Pirate Scribble Kidoodle is adorable. Click on this link to see it is action.

09. We found Van Gogh and the Sunflowers when I wanted to expose the little ones to Van Gogh. We have been reading Camille and the Sunflowers by Laurence Anhot ,which is what the application is based upon. I have also put on hold a few Van Gogh books from the library. The makers of the app, Auryn, have not done any other books from this series, but I wish they had. I think i will introduce the boys to Picasso, Monet, da Vinci and Degas over the coming months and with crossed fingers some applications relating to these masters will emerge.

10. After a little app store searching, I found this free app, KaleidoDraw that little F can use to create adorable and colorful images. It is lovely to find this creative tool as an application. The Kaleidograph toy also has an online version however, on a desktop rather than as an iPad application. You can save the image to Facebook and Pinterest, however, I like having the option to save to your photo roll or email to family members, which you can do with the KaleidoDraw app only. Both are free, so see which option you prefer the most!

11. Phoster by Bucket Labs is also another great app that allows you to create text overlays to images you create. You can select your own image and then choose a text/poster layout and alter the text to your own liking. The colors and styles can all be tweaked. The final image can be shared and/or saved to your camera roll. This app is not really for little R, aged 5, at the moment, but in the future as he becomes a more confident writer, this would be an excellent provocation to encourage writing for others.

12. I love Arthur and Charles Create and Play almost more than Little R. We love making the little faces and emailing them to all the family! I also adore the graphics, very clever indeed. Don’t you just love our little creations?

More great app recommendations for children…