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The most frustrating thing to me is that I can't just find a good app for my daughter without there being some sort of dependency on 1 or 2 of the following: Ad

The most frustrating thing to me is that I can't just find a good app for my daughter without there being some sort of dependency on 1 or 2 of the following: Ads, Links to other games/apps, microtransactions. I want to buy a full app experience for her wether it's just for fun or education and I'm willing to pay it just doesn't really exist. Even the best apps I can find always have these and they interrupt her experience to sell her/me more.

bjornjeffery 7y ago
How old is your daughter? I'd be happy to give you some recommendations.
- cbsks 7y ago
  Do you have any suggestions for 2 year olds? Anything simple and interactive.
  - bjornjeffery 7y ago
    Sago Mini is a good bet for preschoolers in general (disclaimer - I was part of starting Sago Mini, but have no connection to them now). You can buy them individually and then I'd probably start with Sago Mini Pet Cafe or Sound Box. There's also Sago Mini World, which is a subscription that has loads and loads of things in one place. Other good options for this age group is the Peekaboo-series from Night & Day Studios and Petting Zoo from Fox & Sheep. If you're looking for something more educational, take a look at Khan Academy Kids which starts at around age 2. Fantastic and completely free.
    - cbsks 7y ago
      Thank you so much!
  - watwut 7y ago
    Try lego duplo games.
    - cbsks 7y ago
      My daughter doesn't quite have the dexterity to assemble duplos yet, she is still in the "knock the tower over" and "destroy everything dad builds" phase. I am very excited to get her some when she's ready for them!
      - watwut 7y ago
        I meant lego duple games on phone or tablet. They are for that age range. One of them is about mama duck searching for 5 baby ducks. Another about rabit going to buy ice cream, yet another us train. Kind of adventure games for toddlers. There are duple animals waving when you touch them and happy music. The bricks assemble themselves in those games.
        cbsks 7y ago
        Oh, I misunderstood. I'll have to check it out. Thanks for the recommendation!
  - ergl 7y ago
    I'd recommend avoiding any kind of screen at all. Just physical toys. "W.H.O. Says Limited or No Screen Time for Children Under 5" https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/24/health/screen-time-kids.html https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/24/health/screen-time-kids.h...
    - cbsks 7y ago
      Screen time is very limited in our house, but having it for traveling is absolutely necessary. We have had some very long and very loud flights with my daughter and I am willing to do anything to prevent that again, including setting an iPad in front of her for the entire flight.
  - antisemiotic 7y ago
    A modest proposal: physical toys.
    - cbsks 7y ago
      Physical toys are the default, but in some situations, like airplane trips, a screen is much more practical.
askafriend 7y ago
Apple Arcade might be of interest to you. It's going to be a curated selection of games that are kid friendly. No micro-trasactions. No Ads. No in app purchases. Privacy focused, and all games must work offline. https://www.apple.com/apple-arcade/ https://www.apple.com/apple-arcade/
deleted 7y ago
[deleted]
mromanuk 7y ago
I understand your frustration. Can you point me any of those apps (with that pattern you mentioned)? I’m interested in kids apps (I’m a developer and a father of a little one). Maybe putting IAP before the kid start playing?
JMiao 7y ago
toca boca. everything.
johannsg 7y ago
Give Kidomi a try. We offer curated list of premium content devoid of any ads, trackers, social network components, or links to external sites and content (fully COPPA compliment). Disclaimer: I work for the developer of the platform, Fingerprint Digital Inc.
watwut 7y ago
Depending on age, lego games, Monument Valley (awesome), Minecraft, anything from Amanita Design, scratch junior, Where is my Water, Fold the World.
- CannisterFlux 7y ago
  Minecraft has micropayments for new outfits, skins and themes. It isn't a "one payment for everything" game any more.
  - watwut 7y ago
    You don't need outfits, skins nor themes.
    - CannisterFlux 7y ago
      No, I agree, but kids might not see it that way :)
NKCSS 7y ago
I'm about to launch a series of games I created for my own daughters that does exactly this. No ads, no in-app purchases. https://dutchdad.com/ https://dutchdad.com/ You can leave your e-mail there to get notified when I launch. The first three games are: Simon says, a memory game where the images are drawings that my daughters made themselves (I am planning to open a 'Custom app for your child' section where you can have drawings by your own children put into the game) and a altered version of 'Shades and Hues - a game of color gradients' that I created for my wife last year (published on the Android appstore with ads currently, my children love it, so I'll create a no-ads version under the 'Dutch Dad' brand for children. An updated version of the first version is here: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nkcss.shadesandhues_agameofcolorgradients&hl=en_US https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nkcss.shad... (was taken down a while because I had no privacy policy link, has 1000+ installs), so I created a new version: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nkcss.shadesandhues_agameofcolorgradients2&hl=en_US https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nkcss.shad... that has a different menu, but works mostly the same (10+ installs)).
shimfish 7y ago
I make the My PlayHome series of apps, in case you want to try them out. Not enough people are willing to actually pay for apps. Piracy, especially on Android, is extremely high. The few kids who don't pirate apps are constantly emailing me asking for the app to be free because they have a device but their parents don't let them buy anything. Apple and Google are recently getting very tough and starting to regulate all apps that have children as their target audience, which is obviously a good thing. However, it seems they still haven't made much progress in actually promoting apps for kids. To give you an idea of how few people are actually paying up front for kids apps: My PlayHome is currently ranking at 20 in the USA Paid iPad kids category. That means only 19 apps in the entire app store are selling specifically to kids using the upfront paid model on iPad are more successful than this. How many USA daily sales is My PlayHome getting on iPad? Around 50. Until something changes, and it probably won't, even though the demand for quality, non-exploitative kids apps is out there, the big money somehow isn't.
- sharkmerry 7y ago
  >> To give you an idea of how few people are actually paying up front for kids apps: My PlayHome is currently ranking at 20 in the USA Paid iPad kids category. That means only 19 apps in the entire app store are selling specifically to kids using the upfront paid model on iPad are more successful than this. How many USA daily sales is My PlayHome getting on iPad? Around 50. Is this a "long tail" issue? Granted 20th isnt that long but perhaps sales are concentrated at the top few spots? 50/day is still great. about $72k/year gross. THats not huge, but thats still quite a bit
tboss 7y ago
What are you hoping to get out of this app? In my experience with my kids I'm better off just exposing them to real-world stuff - they'll get their online education soon enough either way.
deleted 7y ago
[deleted]
claudiulodro 7y ago
This is an area I've spent a lot of time researching and trying to find good solutions in over the last 6 or so years. I agree, the kids app space is by-and-large awful because of the the economics apps have nowadays. Here is a pretty decent list that should provide enough entertainment to last your kid(s) until the age where they can handle regular games: - The Endless Alphabet/Endless Reader/etc. series of games. - Toca Life games and other games by Toca Boca - Lego Juniors for toddlers, Lego Harry Potter/Star Wars/etc. for 4+ year olds - The My PlayHome apps mentioned in another comment - PBS Kids Games app - Elmo Loves ABCs There are also ad-free apps that come with a bunch of games and have a monthly subscription fee. I generally avoid these because I wouldn't pay $80/yr for a full AAA game, let alone a collection of Flash-like games, but if that's what it takes for the company to be sustainable without resorting to shady tactics who am I to judge. One I recommend in this space is Starfall.
ronyeh 7y ago
I understand your frustration (I'm a father of two young boys). However, as an app developer it's super tough to make any money if you aren't the top 10 paid kids apps or games. The market is not huge. For my own kids, I've resorted to drawing apps. Simple calligraphy apps with very few options can keep a toddler busy for a while. Plus you can draw and have them guess, pictionary style. Check out Zen Brush 2 and also Khan Academy Kids.

bjornjeffery 7y ago

How old is your daughter? I'd be happy to give you some recommendations.

cbsks 7y ago
Do you have any suggestions for 2 year olds? Anything simple and interactive.
- bjornjeffery 7y ago
  Sago Mini is a good bet for preschoolers in general (disclaimer - I was part of starting Sago Mini, but have no connection to them now). You can buy them individually and then I'd probably start with Sago Mini Pet Cafe or Sound Box. There's also Sago Mini World, which is a subscription that has loads and loads of things in one place. Other good options for this age group is the Peekaboo-series from Night & Day Studios and Petting Zoo from Fox & Sheep. If you're looking for something more educational, take a look at Khan Academy Kids which starts at around age 2. Fantastic and completely free.
  - cbsks 7y ago
    Thank you so much!
- watwut 7y ago
  Try lego duplo games.
  - cbsks 7y ago
    My daughter doesn't quite have the dexterity to assemble duplos yet, she is still in the "knock the tower over" and "destroy everything dad builds" phase. I am very excited to get her some when she's ready for them!
    - watwut 7y ago
      I meant lego duple games on phone or tablet. They are for that age range. One of them is about mama duck searching for 5 baby ducks. Another about rabit going to buy ice cream, yet another us train. Kind of adventure games for toddlers. There are duple animals waving when you touch them and happy music. The bricks assemble themselves in those games.
      - cbsks 7y ago
        Oh, I misunderstood. I'll have to check it out. Thanks for the recommendation!
- ergl 7y ago
  I'd recommend avoiding any kind of screen at all. Just physical toys. "W.H.O. Says Limited or No Screen Time for Children Under 5" https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/24/health/screen-time-kids.html https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/24/health/screen-time-kids.h...
  - cbsks 7y ago
    Screen time is very limited in our house, but having it for traveling is absolutely necessary. We have had some very long and very loud flights with my daughter and I am willing to do anything to prevent that again, including setting an iPad in front of her for the entire flight.
- antisemiotic 7y ago
  A modest proposal: physical toys.
  - cbsks 7y ago
    Physical toys are the default, but in some situations, like airplane trips, a screen is much more practical.

askafriend 7y ago

Apple Arcade might be of interest to you. It's going to be a curated selection of games that are kid friendly. No micro-trasactions. No Ads. No in app purchases. Privacy focused, and all games must work offline. https://www.apple.com/apple-arcade/ https://www.apple.com/apple-arcade/

deleted 7y ago

[deleted]

mromanuk 7y ago

I understand your frustration. Can you point me any of those apps (with that pattern you mentioned)? I’m interested in kids apps (I’m a developer and a father of a little one). Maybe putting IAP before the kid start playing?

JMiao 7y ago

toca boca. everything.

johannsg 7y ago

Give Kidomi a try. We offer curated list of premium content devoid of any ads, trackers, social network components, or links to external sites and content (fully COPPA compliment). Disclaimer: I work for the developer of the platform, Fingerprint Digital Inc.

watwut 7y ago

Depending on age, lego games, Monument Valley (awesome), Minecraft, anything from Amanita Design, scratch junior, Where is my Water, Fold the World.

CannisterFlux 7y ago
Minecraft has micropayments for new outfits, skins and themes. It isn't a "one payment for everything" game any more.
- watwut 7y ago
  You don't need outfits, skins nor themes.
  - CannisterFlux 7y ago
    No, I agree, but kids might not see it that way :)

NKCSS 7y ago

I'm about to launch a series of games I created for my own daughters that does exactly this. No ads, no in-app purchases. https://dutchdad.com/ https://dutchdad.com/ You can leave your e-mail there to get notified when I launch. The first three games are: Simon says, a memory game where the images are drawings that my daughters made themselves (I am planning to open a 'Custom app for your child' section where you can have drawings by your own children put into the game) and a altered version of 'Shades and Hues - a game of color gradients' that I created for my wife last year (published on the Android appstore with ads currently, my children love it, so I'll create a no-ads version under the 'Dutch Dad' brand for children. An updated version of the first version is here: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nkcss.shadesandhues_agameofcolorgradients&hl=en_US https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nkcss.shad... (was taken down a while because I had no privacy policy link, has 1000+ installs), so I created a new version: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nkcss.shadesandhues_agameofcolorgradients2&hl=en_US https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nkcss.shad... that has a different menu, but works mostly the same (10+ installs)).

shimfish 7y ago

I make the My PlayHome series of apps, in case you want to try them out. Not enough people are willing to actually pay for apps. Piracy, especially on Android, is extremely high. The few kids who don't pirate apps are constantly emailing me asking for the app to be free because they have a device but their parents don't let them buy anything. Apple and Google are recently getting very tough and starting to regulate all apps that have children as their target audience, which is obviously a good thing. However, it seems they still haven't made much progress in actually promoting apps for kids. To give you an idea of how few people are actually paying up front for kids apps: My PlayHome is currently ranking at 20 in the USA Paid iPad kids category. That means only 19 apps in the entire app store are selling specifically to kids using the upfront paid model on iPad are more successful than this. How many USA daily sales is My PlayHome getting on iPad? Around 50. Until something changes, and it probably won't, even though the demand for quality, non-exploitative kids apps is out there, the big money somehow isn't.

sharkmerry 7y ago
>> To give you an idea of how few people are actually paying up front for kids apps: My PlayHome is currently ranking at 20 in the USA Paid iPad kids category. That means only 19 apps in the entire app store are selling specifically to kids using the upfront paid model on iPad are more successful than this. How many USA daily sales is My PlayHome getting on iPad? Around 50. Is this a "long tail" issue? Granted 20th isnt that long but perhaps sales are concentrated at the top few spots? 50/day is still great. about $72k/year gross. THats not huge, but thats still quite a bit

tboss 7y ago

What are you hoping to get out of this app? In my experience with my kids I'm better off just exposing them to real-world stuff - they'll get their online education soon enough either way.

deleted 7y ago

[deleted]

claudiulodro 7y ago

This is an area I've spent a lot of time researching and trying to find good solutions in over the last 6 or so years. I agree, the kids app space is by-and-large awful because of the the economics apps have nowadays. Here is a pretty decent list that should provide enough entertainment to last your kid(s) until the age where they can handle regular games: - The Endless Alphabet/Endless Reader/etc. series of games. - Toca Life games and other games by Toca Boca - Lego Juniors for toddlers, Lego Harry Potter/Star Wars/etc. for 4+ year olds - The My PlayHome apps mentioned in another comment - PBS Kids Games app - Elmo Loves ABCs There are also ad-free apps that come with a bunch of games and have a monthly subscription fee. I generally avoid these because I wouldn't pay $80/yr for a full AAA game, let alone a collection of Flash-like games, but if that's what it takes for the company to be sustainable without resorting to shady tactics who am I to judge. One I recommend in this space is Starfall.

ronyeh 7y ago

I understand your frustration (I'm a father of two young boys). However, as an app developer it's super tough to make any money if you aren't the top 10 paid kids apps or games. The market is not huge. For my own kids, I've resorted to drawing apps. Simple calligraphy apps with very few options can keep a toddler busy for a while. Plus you can draw and have them guess, pictionary style. Check out Zen Brush 2 and also Khan Academy Kids.