Mobile Apps for Kids

My twins, age 3, already know how to use my iPhone — which is part of the reason I put a lock on it. If they had full access, I’d never get it back. Mostly, they want to look at photos or videos of hamsters eating popcorn on a piano.

Or, sometimes they want to play the piano.

With that in mind, if you’re looking for a little interactivity with your kids — or just something to keep them quiet in the shopping cart, let me suggest these mobile apps for little ones.

Color Piano (99 cents) – This app is genius. Depending on the setting, the piano will either play notes (including chords, if struck correctly), or a soothing female voice will say the name of the color your child touches. Keep the volume down on this one.

BabyApps: Dial-a-phone (free) – Let your tyke pretend like they are dialing your phone (with the same, soothing female voice calling out numbers), without the danger of dialing Thailand. The only annoying feature: The # and * keys make the “chirp chirp” sound of a car’s autolock.

BubbleFREE (free, of course) – Do your kids love to pop bubble wrap? Of course they do. Now they can pop ever re-inflating bubbles as a timer ticks away. Completely addictive and fun, even for adults.

Angry Birds Free (free) … does not need any more press. This does not mean it’s not a ton of fun, even for kids who aren’t quite old enough. My kids haven’t mastered the sling-shot trajectory of the game and only the first two levels are available on the free edition, but it’s enough to get us down the canned soup aisle.

Patch also has its own iPhone app, which will connect you to local news, weather, events and business listings in your town.