Christmas doesn’t just take over the town centers and television commercials it also appears in our games and apps and none more so than on smartphones.  Temple Run 2 has just announced a festive update allowing you to run around in a Santa suit collecting presents and candy canes as you escape the black beast behind you. Angry Birds Seasons also gets an update as additional Christmas themed levels are added to this hugely popular game.

But when it comes to Christmas apps there is always one I like to get, as it lights up the faces of my children like no other. PNP – Portable North Pole is fantastic as it allows you to create personalized messages from Father Christmas himself. Users can see these created videos staring the man himself as he talks to your Children by name, and armed with photos and a list of things they have done it really feels like he knows the child.

If you have a child of a certain age then you’ll do this every year as the video quality is excellent and you can make sure no two videos are the same by using the paid options. My Children’s messages are all ready to go and I can’t wait to see their faces when Santa talks to them through the computer.

If you haven’t heard of this one I would recommend it wholeheartedly as it not only has a free option but plenty of variations (for a price). It also has a range of games for the kids as well but it is the video that really makes it.

Download the app here:

itunes: https://itunes.apple.com/en/app/pnp-pere-noel-portable-2013/id742926049?mt=8

Google: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ugroupmedia.pnp2013&hl=en

The post My Favorite Christmas App: PNP – Portable North Pole appeared first on AppTrawler.

But not all apps are created equal. A large number of them are good for everyone from toddlers to teens, but many are inappropriate or blatantly unsafe for anyone but an adult. Whilst you can click here to check out the most popular apps that your child can use, ensure you review any app before your child downloads it so you know that it will entertain without harm.

Additionally, you can protect your children from potentially dangerous situations by installing mobile apps that can monitor what they’re downloading and where they’re going on the internet as well as around town.

Safe Apps

These particular mobile apps are fun for every age group and contain no violent scenes or inappropriate material.

● Angry Birds – Help the birds fly in the right direction to knock down various targets. This is an addicting game that actually helps kids learn a little bit of how arcs and angles work.
● Cut The Rope – Here’s another app that works a basic understanding of physics into the fun. To get Om Nom his candy, you have to know how to swing the rope just the right way to get past obstacles and have the treat land in his mouth.
● AniMatch – This is an electronic memory match game that kids as young as two or three really enjoy–with no cards to put away when done.
● Drawing Pad – With this app, kids pull out their virtual crayons and draw just as they would on paper. Budding artists can save their completed work and then share it using email, Facebook and Twitter.
● Where’s My Water – If you child doesn’t like getting clean, this mobile app may change that. The goal is to help Swampy the Alligator stay clean which makes for good, clean fun.

Just this small sample should give you an idea of all the wonderful, safe mobile apps that both you and your kids will be happy to own.

Mobile Apps To Avoid

It’s critical to know what apps your child, particularly your teen, should avoid. Don’t take your child’s word that the app is safe because “all my friends have downloaded it.” It could result in disaster.

Omegle and Kik are two prime examples. These social apps let you chat with people based on a profile you create. Users are required to be 18, but most kids are savvy enough to get past that rule. Unfortunately this had led to teens viewing (and sometimes sharing) “graphic” photos which compromised their safety and their reputation. Remember that what’s posted online stays there forever.

Other Important Child Safety Apps

Parents can’t be with their kids 24/7, but luckily there are safety apps that can.

The Mobile Spy app records both phone activities and the GPS location where your child has been. Phone Sheriff lets you block chosen activities from running on your child’s phone. Net Nanny for Android has an app manager that keeps new apps from downloading until reviewed and approved by a parent. You can work these from any web browser so your child won’t be aware of the surveillance.

Even after you take these precautions, remember that parents are walking, talking safety apps. Learn which apps could be trouble and talk with your kids about what can happen if they download any of these to their devices. They might not want you to know it, but they will be listening.

Software Developers India works with both large and small organizations to help them develop and market their mobile app ideas for both children and adults. Their developers are experts on a variety of platforms including Android, iOS and Windows.

The post How To Ensure Your Kids Use Safe Mobile Apps appeared first on AppTrawler.

When your son, daughter, niece, nephew, or grandchild comes home with his or her first finger paint, you do not need to worry about letting it piling on your fridge with ArtKive. Simply take a picture of the work of art, select the child, grade of the child, and date created from a pull down menus, then input the title of the piece before clicking the artkive button to store it.

Signing-up for ArtKive is fast and simple, requiring your name and email address.

After creating the account, the name of your children can be added. You can add as many children as you want.

There is also the option to add contacts to a shared circle that will allow you to share artwork with close friends and family. There are no limits with regards to how many people can be added to these circles.

Some may ask, besides allowing parents to take photos of their kids’ arts what’ exactly is the cool factor  of this app? Well, the key to this app is organization. Think of how many children get their paintings or drawings thrown out by their parents everyday.  ArtKive allows  parents to declutter their home  and keep their kids happy. It also keep childhood memories alive.

Let’s be honest, few parents keep their children’s drawings  two or three years after the fact. ArtKive not only allows you to do keep long lasting memories, but it also gives you the liberty to print out the photo of the paintings at any point in time which opens the door for T-Shirts, mugs, and other accessories inspired by your little Picasso or little Frida.

If you want to get creative, you don’t have to simply use  ArtKive to keep photos of  only your children’s art.  Perhaps users can use the app to  take snapshots with their children and other family members  and use the share feature of the app to share these photos only with those closest to the family. Like any app that allows users to integrate captured photographs, the only limit is imagination.

ArtKive is a very nifty app that provides a personal experience for parents who want to treasure their children’s achievements or artwork. But, it can also be useful for those who are looking for a personal way to share memories with close friends or family without the bothersome eye of social media.

Lovingly written by the editorial team at Fueled, NYC’s premier iPhone app design agency.

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The post Review: ArtKive | iOS | iPhone appeared first on AppTrawler.

It all started about three months ago whilst looking for a iPad game for my two year old daughter Lucy. Happy street looked harmless enough and had plenty to look at. The graphics are lush using a combination of simplistic stylized characters and an array of more detailed shops, houses, accessories and extras. The player starts with one house and one shop and only two villagers but through building additional houses as shops you earn money, increase the number of villagers, and when there is enough love in the air from happy visitors you can throw a fiesta. This loved up street party gives your shops a boost whilst elevating the general happiness around the village. Add to that a forest area that you can nip over to for wood, fish, plants and rare gemstones and you have a happy little Eco system.

This was supposed to be for my daughter so every so often we would dip into the game, restock the shops, chop down some trees and set the next timer to go. Like other town sims, players must wait for objects and building to be built. You can pay to have the buildings created instantly but as you can probably guess this costs a lot of virtual money (coins and flooze?). You do earn money throughout the game but for this kind if action you would need to purchase a ‘top up’ pack which costs real money.

Anyway…

Lucy and I would dip into the game and slowly but surely our village grew. I should have known I had a problem when I started checking it without her, and humming the happy little tunes that are the soundtrack to the game. Before I knew it, I was checking it daily and I had more a thriving town that a street that the name suggests. The game is great at drip feeding different houses and shops and add extras such as bus stops, arcade machine, park equipment and its regular updates means it changes with seasonsal celebrations. I have seen various themes come and go such as Chinese New Year and even St. Patrick’s day. All of which have their own ‘collectors items’ which you can add to your village.

This is a fantastic game which doesn’t push in app purchases on you all the time. Instead it lays out everything clearly so you can see what can be bought with virtual money and what needs real cash.

I think the game is slightly to old for my two year old but give it another year and she’ll be taking over my town or perhaps deleting and starting over. Either way this is a great game for both children and adults and I’m sure there is a few lessons about saving up and caring for other people in there. Which is never a bad thing.

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The post Game Review: Hooked on Happy Street appeared first on AppTrawler.

• Snow White and the seven dwarfs
• The Little Mermaid
• Little Red Riding Hood
• Goldilocks an the three bears
• The Princess and the Frog
• The princess and the Pea

You can test the water by downloading it for free but the adverts do get in the way and it will soon get annoying when your child keeps pressing it so I do recommend going for the paid option.

The graphics are sweet and simple and there is plenty for your son or daughter to tap. Some elements might bounce up and down, other switch entirely but each have instantly appealing sound effects. The female story teller is clear and crisp you can choose to have her read or read yourself (my daughter prefers the former).

The tales are long enough to entertain for about 5-10 each so if you find yourself in a queue or a waiting room, this is a great app to keep the little ones busy.

The stories themselves are generally pretty harmless but if you are strict about what they read then I would warn you that at the end of the little red riding hood tale the woodsmans cuts open the wolf and inside is grandma, safe and sound.

Sadly the app does still suggest other books you might want to download at the beginning but once your child figures out how to skip this then you are home free.

Overall this is a great app for little kids as its harmless, interactive and most importantly keeps them busy when you have things to do.

And to repeat the earlier point about adverts, you will have yourself a lot of hassle by getting the advert free version. Having you child constantly jumping to the app store gets very annoying very quickly.

The post Review: Little Tales – 6 in 1 fairy stories for Children appeared first on AppTrawler.

The game also features a rubber duck mode where it all goes a bit ‘Disco’ and the rising bubbles are replaced with, you guessed it, rubber ducks.

Although young gamers might enjoy this for a while, it’s not for older gamers and if I had to offer one constructive critism it would be to increase the font size of the text as it might be fine on iPad but on a smaller iPhone screen it is too small to read.

Overall, this is a sweet game but with limited appeal but if you have small children it is well worth downloading the free version to see of they like it. If so, you can remove the adverts for a minimal cost.

itunes link: https://itunes.apple.com/app/bathroom-popper-free/id582957479?mt=8

From the Developer:

BATHROOM POPPER FREE

Experience the ultimate bubble tapping experience in Bathroom Popper FREE! Endless gameplay in the hunt for the highest score. The game is filled with light-hearted humor and beautiful graphics with intuitive controls made for your iPhone.

This is the ultimate bubble popper for the iPhone!

GAMEPLAY

Tap the bubbles that rise from your bathtub. Don’t miss a bubble, for you will lose the game! In tight spots, shake your iPhone sideways to stop the bubbles for few seconds.

FEATURES

– Beautiful graphics!
– Bathroom songs from the mouth of a pro bathroom singer!
– Taptaptaptappititap!
– Languages in finnish and in english.
– Lots of easter eggs for you to discover!
– A possessed duck!
– Special mode, where you have to tap as many ducks as you can!
– Fun and entertaining gameplay for your whole family.
– Instructions.
– A great pickup and play game!

Discover the world of Bathroom Popper!

The post Bathroom Popper – Simple Game For Toddlers appeared first on AppTrawler.