Android High Five
At 33 years of age, it's safe to say that I'm no longer a kid. As such I went above and beyond for this list and consulted my offspring who, at seven years of age, is better placed to spout the virtues of apps for children. Another few years and I expect she'll be doing my job for me, while I sit on the porch and stare into space. Having said that, I have wasted many hours on a few of the below.
This is thoroughly charming. Choose from six characters and cut, colour and style their hair to your hearts content. Tools like razors, straighteners and crimpers mean creating any style is hugely entertaining, and if you're unhappy with the results you can apply the hair growth potion and restart. When you're finished you can snap a picture to treasure for ever. Or to show the barber next time you fancy something new.
t's Minecraft. On your phone! It can be slightly more difficult to use than it's mouse-and-keyboard controlled older brother, but it soon becomes second nature. Building whatever you want in creative mode makes it like virtual Lego, and survival mode switches it up a gear by throwing monsters, the weather and the possibility of starvation at you. There's heaps of educational value built into this app. Built in! Brilliant.
Before its iOS launch in 2009, no one knew the unbridled joy that flinging birds at green pigs brings. Now everyone does, and the addition of versions set in space and the Star Wars universe only bring more feathered frivolity. It keeps my little one distracted for any length of time, encourages puzzle solving on the more advanced levels, and on Android it doesn't cost a thing. As Bernard Matthews used to say in regards to his own (more dead) birds: bootiful.
Yes, Let's. This is one for the creatively minded out there, letting you design and (virtually) throw your own pots and bowls. You can choose from a variety of materials and decorations to truly personalise your ceramic wonder and when you're done you can upload the image to allow others to vote on it. If you become especially attached, you can even get the thing 3D printed in a variety of sizes.
Ok, so I picked this one myself, but some of the best kids apps are the ones that let the adults stay in control! Essentially an app home screen, or launcher, with parental controls that mean the apple of your eye can only use what you authorise. Stop the little darlings downloading paid apps and making unwanted phone calls. Walled gardens are often the best.
