As you’ll learn about me through my reviews, I’m fool when it comes to quality memory and matching games. I’m delighted to say that the educational game “Floating Memory” makes me a foolishly happy gal. In some ways, this application is no different than most standard memory games – you pair objects (in this game it’s sea creatures) and collect points to work your way through progressively difficult levels. What’s different about this game is that the pairs are in frenetic, floating bubbles that are in constant motion adding to the challenge… and the excitement. I can listen to my own iPod songs while I play, and I often find myself entranced in the meditative and addictive nature of this game. Floating Memory is best suited for skilled matching game enthusiasts, older kids, and adults, and it’s a fabulous way to focus your concentration and sharpen your memory while having a good time.

By Age Range, By App Feature, High School +, Just For Fun, Matching, Middle School, Primary School, Reviews

This math-based application joins arcade game fun with simple addition and subtraction problems. To play Math Bumpies, you pick your tropical superhero likeness, and then tilt the iPhone/iTouch to navigate your way through the ten destinations on Math Island. Along the way you’ll see math problems; when you see a choice of answers, tap on your character to jump and bump the correct answer to acquire points. The game can be played in three modes (easy, medium, and hard) and is geared for kids age six and up. It appears best suited to children who already have a working knowledge of addition and subtraction and are looking to improve their math proficiency. It truly offers adventure, with challenges including shark infested waters, snow storms, walls of fire, and quicksand. Of all the math apps I’ve experienced, Math Bumpies feels much more like a heart-pounding video game than a means for learning. It’s no doubt this game will appeal to a child’s desire to have fun… and a parent’s ambition to enrich their child’s intelligence.

By Age Range, By App Feature, High School +, Just For Fun, Math, Middle School, Primary School, Reviews

Dictionary.com is a reference application that includes a dictionary, thesaurus, and word-of-the-day option, and also keeps a log of the most recent word searches. Reference words are quickly and easily accessed directly from the app, which can potentially save the user time and frustration from dealing with an unreliable internet connection. The best feature of all – and what helps make this app superior to traditional book versions – is the audio pronunciation. Now, not only do I understand what I’m reading and writing, but I can impress my peers with profound, polysyllabic words without fear of butchering the pronunciation. One might argue this application is the best-of-its-kind, but there’s absolutely no doubt that Dictionary.com is a “must-have” for students and curious minds of all ages.

By Age Range, By App Feature, For Parents, High School +, Middle School, Phonics, Primary School, Reading, Reviews

Mathemagics is an application that teaches tricks and strategies for mental math calculation. It’s based on basic math skills and only requires understanding of simple math (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division). Users are guided step-by-step through each lesson to solve the problem, then there’s the opportunity to use acquired skills in the practice section. The math calculations steps are easy to follow and logically explained. I was stuck a few times while practicing but I found it easy enough to toggle back to the lesson section to refresh my understanding of the calculation. Seriously, I’m the kind of gal who whips out her iPhone calculator to figure out a restaurant tip – it’s staggering that I can do such complex math problems with such ease and enjoyment. This app would likely appeal to teenagers and adults preparing for the math section on standardized tests, or those looking for a geeky good time.

By Age Range, By App Feature, For Parents, High School +, Math, Middle School, Reviews

In this search-and-find application you must “find yourself” before the timer runs out. To begin, you define “who you are” from a choice of fourteen characters and then you select one of five different scenes. The time allowed for each challenge varies depending on the skill level chosen (from easy to hard). I found this game to be absorbing and challenging, requiring me to exercise my attention, concentration, memory, and strategizing skills. Younger/novice players may benefit from starting with the easy skill level but I found the “hard” level to be the most enjoyable. At this level, there is only one minute to find my character within the crowded and chaotic scene. I must pay close attention because my character might be crouched down, bent over or hiding from me! This app is great fun for all and helps to develop and strengthen a keen sense of observation.

By Age Range, By App Feature, High School +, Middle School, Preschool, Primary School, Puzzle, Reviews

Pediatric SymptomMD is a physician-endorsed reference tool that caregivers can use to identify and treat their children’s health problems. It has five main categories including a symptom identification index, a “seek help” telephone directory, a pediatric medication dosage table, an option to connect with your pediatrician’s phone number, and a section with special pediatric topics. I’m impressed by the intuitive design and wealth of information offered in this application. It thoroughly defines each health problem (sometimes including visual images), then prioritizes each symptom by advising when and what help might be needed. I’ve successfully used this application twice now – each time following the care advice given – and it worked beautifully! Of course, Pediatric SymptomMD can’t replace the guidance of your health professional, but it’s a helpful resource for overwhelmed caregivers struggling to decide “what do I do next?” It’s a small price to pay for such peace of mind.

By Age Range, By App Feature, For Parents, Health, High School +, Middle School, Reviews

Lola’s Flag Adventure is a memory game where you match tiles representing flags from around the world. After you’ve practiced the memory game feature, you can then take the quiz to test your knowledge and record your best scores. There’s also a scorekeeping component to the game and quiz so you can compete against yourself or with others. I’ll admit it…I’m a sucker when it comes to a good memory game and this adventure genuinely satisfies me. From a learning standpoint, this application helps to flex mental muscles by exercising concentration, focus, and retention skills; it also teaches the names of various countries and their respective flags. Lola’s Flag Adventure is the perfect union of learning and fun and I found it to be an enchanting and engrossing game that will certainly appeal to kids of all ages.

By Age Range, High School +, Matching, Middle School, Preschool, Primary School, Reviews

Skizzle is a game that allows you to make a puzzle from a picture in your photo library, Google images, or one taken on-the-spot. You can choose skill and mode settings from easy to hard, and there are timed options so you can compete against yourself or a friend. What’s super-special about this game is that you can send a mystery puzzle photo to a friend or family and they need to solve the puzzle to view the picture. What out-of-town relative wouldn’t want to unscramble the latest adorable pose of your little one? Anyone who enjoys puzzles will love this app and children will exercise important skills such as problem solving, flexible thinking, and deductive reasoning while having fun. I find the option to customize the puzzle by taking a meaningful image especially clever, appealing, and attractive. Send a puzzle picture to a loved one and they will have two great joys and discoveries in one – what a treasure!

Creativity, For Parents, High School +, Just For Fun, Middle School, Preschool, Primary School, Reviews, Toddlers

It’s Pickin’ Time! That means you need to choose your assigned veggie out of the garden patch without accidentally pickin’ the wrong piece of produce. That’s all, huh? Not so fast….this game falls into that simple-yet-brilliant category and just about everything about this app is beautifully crafted and executed. The graphics are colorful and vivid, the interface is easy to use, instructions are clear, prompts are easy to navigate and the twang of the bluegrass music is upbeat and cheerful. Have I yet mentioned how addictively fun it is to play? Beyond entertaining, this game also helps to hone memory and dexterity, as well as color and shape identification. This is the first app I’ve experienced from the developer Iconfactory and I can’t wait to load more. This is a quality buy and well worth every penny.

Counting, For Parents, High School +, Just For Fun, Middle School, Preschool, Primary School, Reviews, Shapes

The Family Matters app contains a variety of entertaining and thought provoking questions and activities that can be used to promote compelling conversations or to just entertain. Topics are tailored for use in different venues such as a restaurant, a doctor’s office and a car/road trip. This app helps to promote more than lively and entertaining discussions within families; the open-ended questions and activities can also help to facilitate creativity, imagination, critical thinking, and a better sense of understanding for all participants. It’s one of the few apps I’ve experienced that’s all inclusive – not just one or two players – and it’s appropriate for young and old alike. Not all of the questions or activities in Family Matters will resonate with every user, and there aren’t a lot of bells and whistles with the interface, but I’m certain most people will find value in what this simple yet brilliant app has to offer.

(As a side note, in December, Weiner Family Studios will be donating half of all proceeds from the sale of Family Matters to Ronald McDonald House Charities. Their goal is to support families who want to spend time with their sick children during the holidays.)

Creativity, For Parents, High School +, Just For Fun, Middle School, Preschool, Primary School, Reviews