After a breakfast of homemade banana pancakes yesterday (Levi helped stir!), we all stayed in our pajamas and hung out in the basement. Part of our lazy Sunday morning included playing toddler-appropriate games we downloaded on the iPad last month to keep Levi entertained on our flights. Of the handful of apps we found for Levi, Feed the Animals and Animals for Toddlers were the biggest hits.
I’d imagine that Levi’s attention span is like that of most almost-18 month olds — practically non-existent. The toddler games on the iPad are intuitive enough that Levi can usually figure out where on the screen to touch (except for The Moogies; he has no idea what to do with that game). However, he seems to think it’s more fun to repeatedly press a game’s menu button or the iPad’s home button over and over and over again.
JB’s iPad is secured in an OtterBox
Several months ago, we bought a Fisher-Price Laugh and Learn Apptivity Case
For now, my best recommendation for a toddler-proof iPad case would be this OtterBox. Yes, it’s heavy, but it’s not too heavy that Levi can’t pick it up — and drop it. So far, the case has done its job of protecting the iPad…and Levi’s dropped it plenty of times!
Do you let your toddler play with an iPad? If so, how do you keep it protected? And what are some of your child’s favorite apps? Please share in the comment section below!
The iPad has built in toddler proofing. Just set up guided access. Works great with my daughter. http://osxdaily.com/2012/09/25/enable-guided-access-ios/
Really?? I had no idea! Thanks for the tip, Emily!
We use the Speck Guy case and ours had been dropped many times :). It doesn’t cover the home button but T is at an age now where we want h to be able to navigate everything on his own – we converted one iPad to a toddler only iPad. Love it so far – much better than any toddler LeapPad or tablet!
My daughter Julie is 18 months, and loves to talk on Skype. Her favorite thing to do while talking on Skype is to press the home button, and I showed her which button is the Skype button, so she presses the Skype icon on the home screen to bring back the person’s face. It’s a little “peek-a-boo” game that cracks her up over and over. So, yes, the home button is her favorite thing on the iPad, like Levi! I haven’t tried any apps or games with her, but will definitely give the ones you suggested a try. Thanks!
My 2-year-old has a lot of experience with the iPad (and iPod), so now the home button isn’t an issue. Right now, he has to sit at his play table to play with the iPad, so I’m not too worried about protecting it…. yet. I’m in the market!
His favorite iPad apps: Zoo Train, AlphaBeast, Interactive Alphabet by Piikea St and MakeMeMusic. They have bought me more than a few minutes of peace on really long days.
I will have to check those apps out. We’ll be taking our first flight with little man next month. He’s only 14 months so sometimes he isn’t interested in these things at all. I’m am stressing about this flight though so anything that could *potentially* be helpful IS helpful. 🙂
The Fisher Price apps are still a hit around here. As is “Toca Band.” Although that one definitely won’t be helpful on a plane… unless we can get the kiddo to agree to headphones. (doubtful)
Our son loves playing this animal app called MiniPlaces on our iPad http://goo.gl/iXY6so. Games like these helped to stimulate his interests in animals and going to the zoo as he got older.