KinderTown Educational App Store For Parents
Derek Walter for RedOrbit.com
When parents purchase an iPhone or iPad they invariably will want to know what are the best apps to download for their children. While the App Store does some general organization of apps, it can be overwhelming for new users and not include all of the information that parents may be looking for.
KinderTown seeks to be a resource by providing a curated selection of the best apps.
The alternate app store recently expanded its focus age group from 3-6 year olds to include 7-and 8-year-olds as well.
KinderTown curates the kid-friendly apps and filters them by math, language, art, science, or social studies. Each of these categories has further organization. For example, the math category also breaks down into sections for geometry, measurement, number sense, or other areas.
Searches can be further customized by whether they work on iPhone/iPod touch, iPad, or both. There is also a breakdown for age groups. These certainly have an inherent level of subjectivity, so it may be worth it for parents to keep an open mind when exploring these categories. One app may cap the age range at five-year-olds, yet there is nothing to say that a six-year-old may not benefit from or enjoy playing with it as well.
Those who create an account with KinderTown can also keep track of the apps they have previously downloaded. Then connect with other parents by sharing favorite apps through Facebook, Twitter, or email.
The page for each app includes a KinderTown review and the ability to bookmark or indicate that you have already downloaded it. The recommended age group is listed, along with the price. Tapping the download button on any of the apps takes you directly to the App Store.
A mobile format of the KinderTown blog is listed under the News section. It profiles various apps that parents may find interesting, as well as an aggregate list of those with similar features or functions.
I did find that initially the content would need to be pinched in order to fit the iPhone screen size. Otherwise, some of the text would run off of the screen.
Given how overwhelming the App Store can be for new users, apps like KinderTown can be effective for helping sort through the clutter. Much like Chomp, KinderTown is part of a growing trend of helping iOS users find apps that are more to their liking.
The work at KinderTown goes beyond just the iOS app. It is part of a larger effort to help parents make good decisions about what kind of applications and content they have their children interact with on these mobile devices.
While there are plenty of games to kill time, KinderTown is instead focused on helping parents discover the best apps for learning. It is a worthwhile service and one to watch as the iOS apps ecosystem continues to expand.
