5 Apps To Prevent Tween Back-To-School Overload

5 Apps To Prevent Tween Back-To-School Overload . . .

I can’t believe it’s already time for my daughter to start school again! Granted, I do teach her at home, but the transition from sleep overs, play dates, pool parties, etc. to studying core subjects has not been an easy one for either of us. This is especially true since the weather outside has been so stinkin’ amazing lately!

Instead of hitting the books non-stop from 8am to 3pm, I’ve been allowing her a few breaks here and there of mindless and uncomplicated fun. It’s a great way to let her brain recharge between subjects. Her apps of choice?

• Despicable Me 2:
  Minion Madness – Silly, kooky, and full of minion craziness. Stampede the streets, fly a rainbow trail on a unicorn, buy costumes, defeat villains both old and new, and more. If you love the yellow, banana-loving guys from Despicable Me, this game is a perfect distraction.
• Toca Hair Salon 2:
  Cut, curl, dye, and style six odd people and animals in Toca Boca fashion. The sound effects are hilarious and the do’s you can come up with are endless.
• Princess Salon:
  Out of the Libii family of ‘salon’ apps, this is my daughter’s favorite. Pop pimples, pluck eyebrows, choose a hairstyle, apply makeup, and assemble an outfit on your model before a royal photo shoot.
• Pudding Monsters:
  What would you do if every so many seconds another of member of your family was eaten? In this puzzle game, you must help the single servings of pudding (which gargantuan eyes) amass into a huge ‘pudding monster’ to scare away their would be predators – humans . . .
• Instagram:
  It’s not a game but, wow, does she enjoy it. She gets such a kick out of scrolling through the photos in her stream, liking them, and adding comments. Her account is private so only the photos she sees are from close friends and family. We often find my daughter experimenting with creative photography  to later post in Instagram (as seen below).

All of the above apps can be found on both iOS and Android devices. Before I got the Samsung Galaxy S4, I was never really concerned if an app was available on more than just the iOS platform. Now, I check for both the Apple iTunes AND the Google Play download icons. This way, before she meets mental overload, my daughter can pick up any nearby device in the house and find her favorite apps.

What are your kids’ go-to apps to wind down?

I was not compensated for this post. However, as a #VZWBuzz Lifestyle Ambassador, I did receive a Samsung Galaxy S4 or my participation in the program. All opinions are 100% my own.