Meltdowns, Meet Your Match

Kids come with a lot of stuff these days and of course they don’t really need most of it. But as a mother of a toddler, the one thing I find I can’t live without is our iPad. I no longer fear waiting rooms, car rides, plane travel or restaurants.

I understand that many parents in Del Ray don’t allow their toddlers to watch TV, so they might not agree with my use of an iPad as a pacifier in public situations. I get that. I remember telling myself that I’d simply train my future child patience, that they would know how to behave and would fit neatly into my world.

Then I gave birth to a high-energy boy that literally bounces off walls and I had to get real.

I admit that I use it to let my 2-year-old watch an episode of "Bob The Builder" or "Elmo’s World," but he also uses it to play with educational apps that have helped build his vocabulary, dexterity and patience.

The iPad doesn’t guarantee you complete meltdown-free situations, but I promise it will curb many. You'll also have the added bonus of carrying around less stuff!

As with anything, moderation is key. We don’t use the iPad each day and we limit the amount of time he can spend on it to keep it feeling like a special treat.

These are some of my toddler's favorite apps. Many have a free trial version, but you can upgraded to the full if you like it:

• Learnl finger paint, $1.99 — Fingerpaint 20 animals that animate when shaken.
• PapaMama, $1.99 — Customize your own flash cards by adding your own images, text and voice.
• Go George Go!, $2.99 — Mix and match outfits to dress Curious George and help guide him through a simple maze.
• SoundTouch, $3.99, and Animal Fun, free — Libraries of hundreds of sounds with quality images of animals, vehicles, objects and more.
• Plic Ploc Wiz, free — Match color shape pieces over geometric drawings.
• AlphaBaby, $0.99 — Animated letters, shapes and colors appear at a touch.
• Parenting’s Birthday Party Playtime, $1.99 — Throw a virtual birthday party complete with clean-up at the end.

What are your feelings on the use of iPads with kids? Do you have additional apps to share that your kids really love?