Free Apps:

Barnyard Games for Kids 
This fun and educational game is for kids age 18 months and up. It starts free with 2 games and you can purchase the full app to unlock all 9 games. Games include a "Tap Farm" where kids can just tap different things in a barnyard scene with sound effects, "Alphabet Bounce" which helps teach letters in a fun way, "Animal Find" where a voice asks you where each animal is and the child chooses and much more! Free

Talking Tom Cat 2 
This app is fun for all ages! Simply talk and Tom Cat will imitate you in a high-pitched voice that will leave your toddler laughing. Plus, there are little extras. This game is a simple as they come, but my son never fails to belly laugh when Tom Cat repeats him or does something funny. There is a whole line of "Talking" apps now including Talking Gina the giraffe and Talking Ginger a little cat. (Warning: This game can get annoying after long periods, but it does keep them amused, so the choice is yours!) Free

Paint It Sparkle 
This top-selling app is a great free art application. The only annoying thing is that there are ads that you need to press the "x" to dismiss in the beginning. You simply touch your color choice and draw with your finger (or stylus) with music and a sparkly trail. There are also coloring book type pages to choose from, paper color choices, brush sizes, a magic wand button and much more! As far as free art apps go, this is one of the best out there for toddler age children. Free

Fruit Ninja Free 
This fun app is also great for all ages. Who doesn't love slicing fruit with the flick of their wrist as the fruit flies by wildly? My son has become disturbingly good at this game and laughs hysterically at the sounds and fruit carnage. Free

Paid Apps:

Angry Birds Space 
This app is obviously fun for the whole family. I never thought this would be a toddler-friendly app, but my son loves it! Especially the fact that he can slow the birds down as he launches them. Once kids get the hang of this, they will soon become better than you! $.99

Mail Truck/Dump Truck/Street Sweeper  
The folks at Good Glue have created some amazing apps for toddlers. If your kid is as obsessed with trucks as mine is, you will love these apps. They are simple, yet brilliant and the graphics are cute. Mail Truck has the player pick up mail, deliver mail, give dogs treats and so much more. The audio instructions and repetition get kids to learn how to handle the tasks at hand. Dump Truck has kids use other trucks to fill the dump trucks up and then has them dump their load at another location. Street Sweeper (our personal favorite) cleans the streets and even has a "Sweeper Wash" where the player gets to clean the sweeper all up! Other enjoyable apps by this developer include Fire Truck, Railroad Boom Truck, Package Delivery Truck, Tow Truck, Garbage Truck and many others! All apps are $.99.

Peek-a-Zoo 
This award-winning app asks children to identify different animals and what they are doing. This app will help kids to learn how to recognize emotions, as well. Best of all, kids will have so much fun with the colorful and playful graphics! $.99

Scout's ABC Garden 
This app features Leap Frog's trusty dog friend Scout, as he guides your child (by name) through the ABC's and 123's in his garden. You can access progress reports, to track what your child has learned along the way. This is a good application, if you are looking for a bit more substance. $1.99

Apps for Road Trips:

Roadside America 
This handy app is built just for road trips. You purchase the app and then you can unlock different local regions as you go for an additional cost. The app will let you know all the unusual places you can stop along your trip including the world's smallest and largest sites, museums, statues, odd buildings, classic attractions, bizarre eateries, mystery spots, unnatural wonders and much more. You can plan your trip out in advance and check maps as you travel. $2.99

Alfred 
Alfred is a robot and a top-ranking travel app. He can recommend places based on your favorite types of food, shopping and much more. He's been called the "Pandora for the real world" due to his use of artificial intelligence. Try him out before you leave and see what he recommends as you travel! Free

SitOrSquat: Restroom Finder 
This genius app will help you find a public restroom near to you or help you map out which ones you should stop at and avoid on your road trip. Once you visit these restrooms, rate and add ones along the way! Great if you forgot the travel potty. Free