What’s Your App IQ?

If a mother asks you to recommend a picture book for her three-year old who loves dinosaurs, you know just which titles to pull.  If a father asks about some appropriate websites for his elementary aged student to research the planets, you probably can point him to some sites you have bookmarked. But what happens if a parent asks your advice about good apps for kids?  Can you give a good answer?

Librarians on PUBYAC–a listserv for youth services librarians–are currently discussing apps and their place in children’s services.  Although I don’t think many NH children’s librarians have introduced apps in their programming–and I am not suggesting that they do right now–I do think that as information professionals, we have to become more educated about a popular technology product.  We need to offer parents and children the same expertise and attention about apps as we have for books or websites or magazines.

So, I did some research because I admit that I have no knowledge about this topic.  I have compiled a list of links to sites that suggest good apps for kids and some that offer more information, too.  I hope you will find this helpful, especially if you get an app question from one of your patrons!

• Darien Library is a trailblazer in its focus on early literacy apps for iPads.
• The ALSC Blog offers an entry with a discussion of children’s apps for iPads and smartphones.
• Written by a father and his nine-year old daughter, Boing Boing’s Apps for Kids reviews smartphone apps for kids and parents.
• Chappaqua Library offers a monthly list of apps for kids.  Click on the Recommended Apps for Children link in the center of the page to access the pdf.
• Morton Grove Public Library dedicates a page of its website to Early Literacy Apps with links to other apps for children, too.
• Parent’s Choice and Common Sense Media offer reviews of children’s apps for different ages.
• Kirkus reviews iPad book apps for kids.

As always, please share your thoughts and favorite links.