I’m a little obsessed with downloading new applications to my iPod touch. I check the App Store every night in bed to see if there’s anything new and interesting. I especially love finding fun apps that entertain my 4-year old. There’s no easier thing than whipping out my iPod at the grocery store, in the car, or at a restaurant when she gets antsy! Unfortunately there’s not much out there for preschoolers. A company called Duck Duck Moose is seeking to change that.
The designers at Duck Duck Moose saw just how much fun their children had playing with their iPhones, how perfectly they fit in their little hands, and how the demand for fun, educational, and child-friendly apps wasn’t being met, and made it their mission to create an “educational toy box” for the iPhone and iPod touch. This is how Wheels on the Bus, their first ever iPhone/iPod touch application, came to be.
Wheels on the Bus is a fun, interactive musical book, based on the popular children’s song. It’s full of fun surprises that are found by touching the iPod’s screen. Honking the horn on the steering wheel, making a dog bark, and even moving the bus itself are just a few of the activities in store.
My favorite feature is that you can change the language of the song – to French, Spanish, Italian, or German – or choose an instrumental tune to sing along to. I happen to like the violin version, and Maya is a fan of the silly kazoo. If you’ve got an iPhone, you can even record your kids singing! I might be able to do that with my iPod touch if I had a microphone, but I’m not completely sure.
Available for immediate download from the iTunes App Store, Wheels on the Bus is rated “4+” but I think even younger children would enjoy it. Usually priced at $2.99, for a limited time it’s only 99 cents and at the moment is one of the top 3 educational apps sold in the App Store. My only complaint is that it’s too short! I’d gladly pay more for a collection of songs, and am looking forward to what Duck Duck Moose comes up with next.
Thanks to the Family Review Network for introducing me to this fantastic app!
