As part of the Savvy Saver program through Verizon Wireless, I have had the chance to try out a couple of devices while using the awesome Verizon service. Today I wanted to tell you about one of my favorite apps that my kids use on the Motorola Xyboard.  This app has been a lifesaver on long car trips (we just took a four hour car ride last weekend)!

The app I’m talking about is called Zoodles.  I really like this app because it is designed just for kids.  It basically allows your kids to play games, watch videos, do artwork, and read stories, all while keeping them safely within the Zoodles app.  It does not allow them to venture off into unsafe websites, or watch videos that may be inappropriate (my son loves youtube, so I do worry about him finding inappropriate things).

There is a parent dashboard where you can choose which apps you will allow your children to access, as well as record storybook readings, and customize all of the settings. You can also see what your children have been up to, and what they are learning! You can upgrade to a premium app to get more features, but for now the free ones work just fine for us.

(feel free to click on any pictures to enlarge them – you won’t lose your page)

You can even set up it up so other family members can have access to view what your kids are doing.  I have added the grandparents to ours. 

One of the great things about adding family members is that they can not only record a reading of the stories on Zoodles, but they can also send a video message to the child.  This is great for family that may not see each other often!

In addition to the parent dashboard, I also get an email each week giving me a summary of what the kids have been doing.  I get one for each child I have an account for.  Here is a snippet of my son’s email, it shows what drawings he has done over the last week:

One of my kids’ favorite apps to play is the Umi Shape Bandit game (from Nick Jr.).  Since Zoodles only links to safe sites that stay within the Zoodles app, I know this will be a great game for them.  

My son also really likes this video, Dry Bones.  Every time he is on Zoodles he plays this at least half a dozen times.  I can just hear him now singing, “Dry Bones, Dry Bones.”   🙂

Here is a quick screenshot of all the options the kids get when they go on the actual mobile app:

 

Of course playing all of these awesome games, and using the Zoodles app would not be nearly as fun if we didn’t have amazing service through Verizon Wireless.  My kids get frustrated when something doesn’t work (as I’m sure most kids do), so if the service wasn’t reliable I know they would be up in arms having fits about it not working.  Good thing for us the service has always been excellent, and lightning fast!

 

Written by Jesica H.

Disclosure: I am participating in the Verizon Wireless Midwest Savvy Savers program and have been provided with a wireless device and six months of service in exchange for my honest opinions about the product.