Interactive Alphabet
© 2016 Piikea Street
It's always nice to see a solid app get better with time. We looked at the first edition back in 2010. The 2016 edition now has five activities, plus the ability to individualize the app with your own words and pictures. You can even choose between American and British versions of English. The five options include guided A to Z exploration with a baby mode that can lock a child into each letter; Explore with a set of letter toys; Sing with letterbots, which includes a complete alphabet song; Type (match letter keys to type a word); and Trace (trace letters and words, using a trail of dots as a clue). Each activity is high in child control and is easy to get out of, ensuring that a child will never be trapped in something that is too easy or too hard. The letter discover activity is the original part of the app -- it follows a simple, tried-and-true technique. As children touch the screen the letter and associated image unfolds. For F, you see a fan, along with the words "F is for Fan." You can then explore the screen -- touching the F sounds out the letter. Touching the fan itself turns it on, blowing the letters off the screen. A second touch turns it off. The music can be turned on/off from the main menu, and all of the art and routines are original (no clip art). We liked how most items are meaningful to children. This was an excellent first app for a child. It still is excellent in 2016.
$2.99, iPhone, iPad
Teaches: reading, alphabet
CTR Rating: 96%