Kids' apps we love 2016

Coding is the language we’ll all need to survive in our increasingly tech-centric world—and Apple’s Swift Playgrounds app is the perfect way to get kids interested in learning to code. In this iPad app, kids guide characters through an immersive graphical world, solving puzzles and mastering challenges—all by working with Swift, the programming language from Apple that’s used by app developers around the world. Free, AGES 7+, itunes.ca

Your tot will love watching over five toddlers, exploring interactive rooms and finding treasures. $4, itunes.ca

Owie Owie fever has turned some bugs into an evil army. Help George escape by climbing trees and collecting power-ups. Free, play.google.com

There’s a monster on the loose! Help Artie save the day by matching dots, tracing shapes and getting creative. $4, itunes.ca

Watch over 1,000 videos—from animated originals to kid-hosted shows—on Toca Boca’s new interactive video platform. $6 subscription, itunes.ca

Kids can time their brushing time (and earn trophies!) with a dentist-approved Wiggles song and music video. Free, play.google.com

Play fast-paced rounds matching cute Disney emojis. Unlock characters, power up and play missions to boost your score. Free, itunes.ca

Storytime just got a whole lot more exciting. Epic! is an all-you-can-read e-book subscription service that offers unlimited access to more than 10,000 books on iOS, Android or Kindle tablets, featuring classics like Goodnight Moon and newer titles such as Disney’s Frozen. The best part is you can set up profiles for up to four kids and personalize them according to their ages, interests and reading levels. $7 per month, itunes.ca

Form a dance troupe, chorograph some moves and record a music video in this groovy game. $4, itunes.ca

Kids can build their own train track with all their favourite characters from the original game, Dumb Ways to Die. $3, itunes.ca

Explore the solar system, visit planets and discover stars and constellations with Jet and his friends. Free, play.google.com

Have your preschooler sound out letters and words alongside cute animal friends. $14, itunes.ca

Make learning to print less intimidating for little scribblers with these easy-to-follow practice exercises. $4, itunes.ca

Sing along, solve puzzles and colour favourite characters. Free, itunes.ca

Kids in grades one to five can learn more than 40 math skills in different monster worlds. Free, itunes.ca

Race, throw water bombs and win trophies with six cool drivers in this multi-player game. $4, play.google.com

Problem solve and complete physics-based puzzles to rescue Zeg’s lost dinosaur eggs. $4, itunes.ca

Your kid can create his own monsters, have battles, explore spooky rooms or take selfies with his creations. $4, itunes.ca

Let kids play interactive stories and games with all their favourite PBS Kids characters. Free, play.google.com

Kids can be their own architects and explore the many ways to build with blocks in this cool game. $4, itunes.ca

Preschoolers can practise their vocabulary with Cookie Monster in this goofy game. $4, itunes.ca

Bonjour! Hola! Marhaba! Introduce your kid to new languages with this engaging, educational app. Free, play.google.com

What makes our bodies tick? Kids can investigate, and learn about the heart, guts, lungs, eyes, skin and more. $6, itunes.ca

Tour an animated version of Goosebumps author R.L. Stine’s house and encounter spooky monsters. Free, play.google.com

A chubby little worm and a cute snowflake make learning to write letters both fun and easy in this interactive tracing game. $6, itunes.ca

Read more: 13 best spelling apps for kids 10 fun typing games for kids 7 cool STEM apps for kids