Back to top

Carissa's App Picks for Kids

High-quality apps you can feel good about using with your child.

Click here to learn more about using apps with kids.

View videos of Carissa's Top Five Picks for Apps in various categories.

Featured App

Reviewed on 7/31/23

With all of the hype about the recent Barbie movie, why not try out a Barbie coloring app?  In the free version of this app, users can color a limited number of Barbie illustrations (including a Barbie with an artificial leg and vitiligo). There's a wide variety of colors, tints and shades as...

Read the full review
Reviewed on 10/30/14

Parents old enough to remember old-school Electric Company will find something very familiar about this app.  It's got a great catchy tune and fun graphics that give kids a chance to learn about letter blends.  Choose one of the two-letter blends on the first page, learn four words that use that...

Read the full review
Age group: Preschool
Reviewed on 10/30/14

If you don’t know this app already and if you DO know a child, go get this immediately. It teaches letter names, letter sounds, spelling and vocabulary words with the most charming and hilarious monster illustrations and animations. I especially love that the vocabulary words they choose to...

Read the full review
Age group: Preschool
Reviewed on 10/30/14

Endless Alphabet has developed a sequel that is (if possible) even better than the first.  Or at least an excellent successor.  Endless Reader incorporates both spelling simple words (letter-by-letter) and then building sight-word skills by reconstructing a sentence that the wacky monsters have...

Read the full review
Age group: Preschool, Grades K-2
Reviewed on 10/30/14

Hilarious little animations surprise and delight both you and your baby (or toddler or preschooler) as you explore this app together.  Swipe up, down, left and right or tap the screen to see the different reactions.  A great way to reinforce cause and effect with no time limits, no plot, just...

Read the full review
Age group: Baby/toddler
Reviewed on 10/30/14

A unique app from the creators of Sesame Street.  This app suggests "off-screen" games for you to play with your child.  It starts by asking a few simple questions (what kind of play do you want (move your body? calm down?) where you are (kitchen? bathroom? in a video chat?), how many kids are...

Read the full review

Pages