Kids apps for quality downtime

This is one of several of the Toca apps. Toca Life: Vacation lets children determine how the story should evolve.

Offering highly interactive open worlds, players investigate different holiday locations. From picking different forms of travel to all sorts of holiday activities Toca Life: Vacation will spark young children’s imagination like no other app.

Age: 4+
Cost: £3.99
Available on Android and iOS

Kids can play games and sing along with their favourite characters and Sesame Street friends. They can dess-up with furry, funny character filters, masks and dress-up costumes.

Age: 4+
Cost: Free
Available on iOS

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Osmo is a range of educational apps for the iPad. Each one requires a set of physical pieces to interact with and uses a special mirror to cast the gaze of the iPad’s camera down to the desk and the pieces laid on it.

This creates simple spelling, maths and coding games that are intuitive and educational. It’s the simplicity of the app that makes it great for families. There’s even some multiplayer modes for parents and children to play competitively or cooperatively.

Age:  6+
Cost: From £39 for the external attachment
Available on iOS

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It’s easy to dismiss Minecraft as a game children have already played extensively. However, if your family hasn’t tried the pocket edition it’s well worth a look. Not only does it include all the latest updates but offers a simple way to create new worlds on the go.

Play this with your child to take turns building and exploring and it can create a unique way to enjoy time together. We’ve often created vast family projects in the virtual wildlands of Minecraft. It’s worth noting if playing online children can communicate with other players. This can be avoided by playing alone or playing with an adult present.

Age:  9+
Cost: £6.99
Available on Android and iOS

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The premise of this endless-runner app is simple: ski down an infinite mountain to catch your escaped Llamas. The beautiful graphics and super-simple controls make this ideal for children of all ages. Simply tap the screen to jump over obstacles and hold your finger down longer to pull of tricks.

As you play, the mountain landscape changes from day to night and from sun to rain. Take turns in the family to compete for the high score and unlock new characters. You will often find your children doing considerably better than yourself, which is great for their confidence.

Age:  9+
Cost: Free
Available on Android and iOS

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This is a simple puzzle game about matching and manipulating different boxes to clear each screen. With beautiful visuals and great sound effects, players will enjoy progressing through the levels.

What they don’t realise is that this gently teaches algebra from the very basics to advanced simultaneous equations. The genius is that does this with pictures and sounds and kids don’t even notice they’re learning.

Age:  6+
Cost: £4.99
Available on Android and iOS

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This unusual game is like no other. Up to four players are each presented with a spaceship’s control panel on their separate devices. They must then communicate to tell each other which buttons, levers, and sliders need adjusting before the time runs out. As the clock ticks down it turns into a frantic game of communication and quick reactions. Play this with the family over the summer and you’ll discover just how good (or bad) you are at working as a team — and have a lot of fun and laughs along the way.

Age:  9+
Cost: Free
Available on Android and iOS

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‘Internet Matters’ is our app designed to help parents talk about online safety issues with their children, and to ensure that they make smart choices to stay safe online.

The split-screen collaborative app helps them think about what they would do if they were faced with different situations online; from cyberbullying to sharing content with someone they don’t know

Age:  8+
Cost: Free
Available on Android and iOS

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The app of the moment is worth considering for summertime fun with the family. Like other Pokemon games, you must find and capture a variety of fantasy creatures. Unlike other games, this is achieved not on the screen but in the real world. Using your GPS location the app tells you when Pokemon are nearby when you use your phone camera to catch them.

Like geocaching it offers a perfect excuse for getting on summer walks. Play the game together and you can compete to collect the most Pokemon. You can also visit special Gym battle locations to take on other Pokemon players in your city. Playing it together as a family also reduces the risk of your children wandering into locations you’d rather they avoid.

Age:  11+
Cost: Free
Available on Android and iOS

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This is an exceptional adventure game for tablets and smart phones. Beautiful graphics and an orchestral score offer an adventure experience.

Taking a cue from games like Zelda on Nintendo systems you will explore a variety of worlds developing your skills and resources. Dungeons offer more of a puzzle challenge all the while a compelling story calls you forward. Play the game together as a family and discover what monsters are lurking under the seas.

Age:  11+
Cost: £7.99
Available on Android and iOS

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Heads Up! is a great party game for families and friends that combines video games and games we love to play in the real world. The app offers a range of options and addtional in-app purchases for great add-ons.

The goal of the game is to guess the answers and give hints for them. You can also watch your friends and family make hints by making actions which adds another element of fun.

Age:  11+
Cost: £0.99
Available on Android and iOS

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This unusual adventure game is for the older children in the family and offers an intriguing and unique experience. Presented with a single button that lights a fire, the game is presented entirely in text.

This may sound old fashioned but what incrementally develops from that single button press is a sprawling adventure with surprise enemies and a huge map to explore Pokemon style exploration, resource management and real time battles. It’s like a truly interactive story time where parents can engage directly with their children.

Age:  12+
Cost: £1.99
Available on Android and iOS

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Dancing game for two players, with choreography by the Dutch National Ballet. Twist and twirl elegantly, or get entangled with a friend.

Holding either end of a device, you tilt the device around a virtual sphere following a path of rings. You swing your arms and twist your body, and before you know it, you are already dancing.

Age:  14+
Cost: £2.99
Available on Android and iOS

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