Jules Says: How to Rock a Family Gathering with Apps for Young People

From 'Creatures of Light'

Family time over the holidays can be a wonderful thing. And if you’re lucky, you’ll get to spend time with nieces and nephews, or grandchildren, while their parents are busy cooking, tending the fire, and generally bustling around entertaining you and others.

So get ready! Here’s a helpful list of interactive apps to share with the children in your life over the holidays. The list was created by four Harvard Graduate School of Education students at the Harvard Family Research Project--Karen Dunham, Laura Alves, Chalatwan Chattrabhuti, and Babe Liberman—who want to get word out. Check out their list of educational apps (PDF) in these categories. (All are free or inexpensive.)

The choices will take you from an Alien Assignment (Fred Rogers Center), to “Creatures of Light” (American Museum of Natural History), to WordGirl Superhero Training (PBS Kids).

• Learn on the Go: Anywhere, Anytime!
• Make School Curriculum Feel Like Play!
• Explore and Contribute to the World of Art
• Bring the Museum to Life Right in Your Own Home! 
• Super Fun Science Apps!

And yes, you’ll surely want to plan off-line time together with that special young person to build a snowman or enjoy steamy mugs of hot chocolate. But in the likely event that tech gadgets materialize at some point you’ll be prepared, especially if you’ve downloaded a few apps and tried them out beforehand. 

Which apps appeal to you? What others would you add to the list? Let us know!

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