Top 5 Apps for Kids You Don't Want to Miss

1. Star Walk HD-5

Ages 8-up Overall rating: 4.9 out of 5 stars Why we like it: You can turn your iPhone or iPad into a planetarium -- how cool is that? Point your iPod Touch, iPad or iPhone at the sky (or ceiling) to harness the power of an augmented reality system paired with a database of the stars. The program uses your camera, compass, current location and accelerometers so you can turn your screen, like a periscope, to line up a celestial object. Need to know: There's not much to not like about this app. This is one of the best science apps you can buy. It?s especially great for clear winter nights. Ease of use: 9/10 Educational: 10/10 Entertaining: 10/10 $2.99

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Chris Crowell is a veteran kindergarten teacher and contributing editor to Children's Technology Review, a web-based archive of articles and reviews on apps, technology toys and video games. Download a free issue of CTR here.

This week's top apps for kids have one thing in common: beauty. From an iPad-turned-planetarium to an intricately illustrated e-book, your kids will be learning -- and awe-ing -- from these apps that are visually pleasing yet still educational.

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Our friends at Children's Technology Review shared with us these 5 top apps from their comprehensive monthly database of kid-tested reviews. The site covers everything from math and counting to reading and phonics.

Check back next week for more Top Kids Apps from Children's Technology Review.

Image via Getty Images/AFP, Roslan Rahman

This story originally published on Mashable here.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/top-5-apps-kids-dont-want-miss-165602988.html

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