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With summer holidays upon us, now is the time to brush up on your kids apps - since children love our touch screen devices almost as much as we do. These five healthy apps have all been tried and tested, are either free or reasonably priced, and will give your little ones hours of fun - and maybe even teach them a little thing or two at the same time.
1. ME BOOKS: SNUGGLE UP WITH A GOOD BOOK
THE APP: A bookstore and reader app for digital classic picture book.
FOR AGES: 2 - 8 years
THEY'LL LOVE: The app lets children turn the pages and listen to narration, as well as added extras by clicking on the illustrations. They can also record their own dialogue and sound.
GET IT: On the App store for iPhone and iPad
2. PEEK-A-ZOO: A TRIP TO THE ZOO
THE APP: A virtual petting zoo for toddlers.
FOR AGES: 6 months - 3 years
THEY'LL LOVE: The colorfully animated pictures and butterfly guide is sure to pique infants’ curiosity about animals.
GET IT: On the App store for iPhone and iPad
3. MIBBLIO: THE STORYBOOK THAT SINGS
THE APP: A "musically interactive storybook" - each story has its own cute soundtrack.
FOR AGES: 4 - 7 years
THEY'LL LOVE: Playing along to the song by tapping on virtual instruments - including a rainbow keyboard and an acoustic guitar - and reading along, too.
GET IT: On the App store for iPad
4. TOCA KITCHEN MONSTERS: COOKING UP A STORM
THE APP: The Toca Kitchen apps allow toddlers to learn about preparing meals and cooking food, without having to touch a knife or an oven.
FOR AGES: 3 and up
THEY'LL LOVE: Choosing what to cook and how to cook it, in totally a safe environment.
GET IT: On the App store for iPhone and iPad
5. THE MOMA ART LAB: CULTURE FOR KIDS
THE APP: Produced by the iconic New York gallery, this app lets kids explore lines, shapes and colors, and create their own artworks.
FOR AGES: 7 and up
THEY'LL LOVE: Using virtual scissors to cut out shapes, shaking digital scraps of paper across the screen, covering rooms in colorful line designs, and creating a sound composition based on art - all based on the works of Henri Matisse, Jean (Hans) Arp, Jim Lambie and Elizabeth Murray respectively.
GET IT: On the App store for iPad
