Gone are the days when families would play games or sing a song to pass the time during Labor Day road trips. But not all electronic entertainment is created equal. To avoid the dreaded question, “Are we there yet?,” check out these fun, creativity-inspiring and educational apps your kids will love. And let the countdown ’til school occupies their days again begin.
1. Myles & Ayesha Black Inventors Match Game by Uplift Inc. / Leshell Hatley
iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Android
$0.99
This app challenges memory skills through the match-game component. Children receive detailed information about each invention (inventor, patent number, date of patent) with an option to continue reading more.
2. Pianist by MooCowMusic Ltd.
iPhone, iPad, iPod touch
$3.99
A virtual piano for your mobile device, this musical scratchpad allows kids to easily navigate the 88-key piano keyboard to learn about music, create songs and record performances.
3. iStoryTime Storybook Library by Zuuka Inc.
iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Android
Free
The iStoryTime library app includes four free books—The Giant Smurf, Madagascar, Ice Age and Robin Hood —and can access a wide selection of other narrated storybooks from popular favorite films, TV shows and classic stories.
4. Riding With Rosa Parks: LAZ Reader by Language Technologies Inc.
iPhone, iPad, iPod touch
Free
Children will improve reading comprehension, speed and enjoyment while learning about a period in American history when segregation laws denied African Americans equal rights.
5. ABCmouse.com Zoo Set 1 by Age of Learning Inc.
iPhone, iPad, iPod touch
Free
This zoo app allows children to explore animal exhibits, learn fun animal facts and test their knowledge with quizzes.
6. Stack the States by Freecloud Design Inc.
iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Android
$0.99
As children learn state shapes, capitals and abbreviations, they must stack the states to reach the finish line and pass to the next level, eventually creating a full map of the United States.
7. African American Pride by In Business Solutions LLC
iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Android
$0.99
Kids will learn about influential African-American leaders, their contributions and achievements through a collection of historical figures, pictures and events.
8. Petting Zoo by Fox & Sheep GmbH
iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Android
$2.99
With 21 animals for children to poke, touch and play with, the app constantly surprises users with morphing images and interactive illustrations.
9. ColAR Mix by Puteko Limited
iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Android
Free
Kids can print, color and see their drawings come to life in a hand-animated 3D world.
10. Meme Me by Cilberto
Android
Free
This app allows users to choose images from its library or from a large collection of meme photos, and add text and colors to generate their own memes for publication.
11. Marvel Comics by Marvel Entertainment
iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Android
Free
Kids can download hundreds of comic books featuring their favorite characters and stories. They have a choice of a guided view or the ability to use regular device controls to zoom in or pan their way through pages of comic book artwork.
12. PicsArt for Kids by PicsArt
iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Android
$0.99
This app encourages children to color cartoon dinosaurs, fish, cars and princesses; to draw on an empty canvas; and learn the best practices for learning to draw and create pictures.
13. Ansel and Clair: Green Island by Cognitive Kid Inc.
iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Android
$1.99
This app combines creativity and problem solving with virtual experience. Children can create their own island and learn how environmental changes affect their world.
14. Awesome Black History Facts by FrogWerkz LLC
iPhone, iPad, iPod touch
$0.99
Kids can learn about interesting black history facts and share on various social media platforms with this app.
15. Mad Libs by Penguin Group USA
iPhone, iPad, iPod touch
Free
The app encourages kids to use their imagination to learn important parts of speech. They will have fun coming up with their own adjectives, nouns, exclamations or whatever else is required to complete a story template.