Why is it that kids take to the iPhone’s multitouch user interface like they do their other toys?  And how is it that they know how to use the interface and find exactly what they are looking for, or want to play. I do not know one child who doesn’t love to play on the iPhone or iPad, mine being one of them.  It seems that the interface is easy and appealing for a child, and they just seem to instantly know what to do.  I really think the iPhone and iPad will create a new cultural phenomenon in the lives of our children.

Why?

Well for parents, it is an electronic babysitter so that they can drive in the car, or make dinner/clean the house.  The parents are able to select the applications they would like their children to be playing with, and with the array of education applications and games/movies you are never at a loss of choices.

Children are tech savvy and instantly know how to work the iPad, they easily can navigate around the device to find what games or movies they would like to play.  They can change from a movie to a game with a finger motion, and they love the iPad!  It is interactive and keeps their attention.

I watch Mr. Toddler play on the iPad or my iPhone daily, and I am amazed at how well he navigates the screens.  What I am more amazed about is that these games are truly educational.  I much rather him playing on the iPad then watching TV.  For example, he is learning his ABC’s, 123′s, and colors from the little games.  He has learned how to match two objects, and how to do simple puzzles.  He loves to color in the “virtual coloring books,” and have the virtual stories read to him.  He also loves the fact that he is playing with his favorite TV characters in the games on the iPad. He just really loves to “learn” on the iPad, although he just thinks it is FUN!

I only see the iPad market continuing to grow, it seems that there are new games being created daily, and I think that the multi-touch user interface is going to be with our children for years to come!

Some of My Favorite iPad applications:

Super Why:  I love this application!  It focuses on sentence completion, rhyming, spelling and a letter hunt.

Cookie Doodle allows kids to bake and decorate cookies, and pretend to eat them too!

Fish School HD: The fish swim into place to display letters and numbers.

Toy Story Read-Along: A great read along book with the Toy Story gang.

Monkey Preschool Lunchbox: presents the alphabet in fun learning activities.

What are your children’s favorite applications for the iPad or iPhone?