Festive holiday helper apps

Already starting to feel the stress from the upcoming holiday season? Take some time with the family to enjoy these fun, festive holiday helper apps!

There are several advent calendar apps on the market, but this one’s our favourite. We love its chic images, cheery songs and animation. The calendar runs from December 1 to December 25, and you can reprogram the date for use year after year. Every day, just open a door and a surprise awaits…!
 

Where to Buy? iTunes.ca, $0.99

Look no further: This app is the total Christmas package! It counts down how many days are left until Santa arrives, while supplying fun Christmas jigsaw puzzles, Christmas emoticons, holiday ringtones and even download Christmas wallpaper backgrounds.
Where to Buy? iTunes.com, Free

Kids can receive a personalized video message from Magic Santa. He'll greet them by name and ask his magic machine to show him whether each child has been naughty or nice. The video is also customized to include a toy, the child’s photo, hometown, something the child achieved in the past year and a challenge for the upcoming months.
Where to Buy? iTunes.com, Free

Take your gift-giving organization system to the next level with iGive Gifts.

With this handy holiday app you can keep track of gift ideas, holiday events, gifts you’ve received and gifts you’ve given, and set budgets for your own events. You can also store your friends' sizes and gift history and take photos of your gift ideas. Great for the holidays and throughout the year.

Where to Buy? iTunes.ca, $0.99

Forget the lyrics? Don’t despair! This app’s got all the words to your traditional faces, and you don’t need to connect to Wi-Fi to use it. As a bonus, this app also offers 20 Classical Colour Postcards to help you make your own cards or enjoy different holiday wallpapers.

Where to Buy?  
iTunes.ca, FREE
 
Android users, check out the equivalent Christmas Carol Android app.

There are lots of wonderful food apps on the market, but this one is all about the holidays. This delicious app offers holiday baking recipes with 8 ingredients or less. All the recipes are accompanied by beautiful photos. What’s more? If you don’t know what to bake, let the app choose for you by simply giving your iPhone or iPod Touch a shake.
 
iTunes.ca, $3.99

Whether you’re away from home or just can’t remember what number candle you’re on or what blessing to sing, iMenorah’s got the info you need ― presented in a fun and colourful way. Kids will enjoy iMenorah too because they can drag the candle to the menorah with the touch of their little fingers. They can also watch the candle slowly melt and sing along with the Hebrew blessings.

Where to Buy?  iTunes.ca, $2.99
 Android users, check out the Android Menorah app.

Making and sending a card is literally at your fingertips with this new app. Take a pic, swipe, tap, add some text and send anywhere in the world for just $4.99 per card (includes postage). It may be pricy for bulk card sending, but so convenient for thank-you cards, invitations and smaller numbers of greeting cards.

Where to Buy? iTunes.ca, Free

Travelling over the holidays? With the unpredictable winter weather, it definitely helps to have an app with live flight status updates. And this is one of the best out there — with attractive maps you can zoom in on, gate info, delays, real-time departure times, available alternate flights, cancellations and more.

Where to Buy? iTunes.ca, $4.99

Also compatible with Android and BlackBerry.

With so much going on over the holidays, it’s easy to get in a tizzy if you’re also preparing to travel. This highly acclaimed app is exactly what holiday travellers need to stay on top of things ― and remember their toothpaste! This handy “packing assistant” allows you to create lists of items, to-dos, etc., tally your items, show you what you’ve packed or not packed, email your packing list, and more.

Where to Buy? iTunes.ca, $0.99

Not just a fun game for Santa’s little fans, the Santa Claus Tracker not only tracks Santa’s whereabouts on a map to your home (which, of course, the kids can enjoy), but also helps you keep track of your friends' wish lists, gift ideas and purchases. A simple and fun app that’ll help you get all the gifts you need while entertaining the kids.

Where to Buy? iTunes.ca, $1.99

Get organized this season with this supreme list manager. It lets you set budgets, collect photos of your gift ideas, keep track of where to buy them and more. But it's not just a list manager. It also lets you email customized holiday cards and count down to next Christmas.

Where to Buy? iTunes.ca, $0.99

Ho! Ho! Ho! This funny app may be a parent's best pre-holiday secret weapon. It lets you create your own messages from Santa ― and hopefully inspire your kids to get on the “nice” list! Once you record your message, a voice modulator makes you sound like Santa when you play it for your children. You can even hear the sounds of Santa’s elves working hard in the background. Ha!

Where to Buy? iTunes.ca, $1.99

Looking for the perfect gift? We can help with our very own Today’s Parent gift finder app. Here you’ll find the perfect, parent-approved gift for kids of all ages. The app allows you to search for gifts by age, preferences, price range and more! You can also create shareable wish lists, save your gift ideas and get special coupons and promotions from our partners. Who knew gift-giving could be this simple?

Where to Buy? iTunes.ca, FREE

Visit our Holiday Guide for more great holiday help!

Or check out these easy holiday gifts that kids can make!