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Dear Albany, Which apps can I use to keep the kids & I organized?

by on ‎09-06-2012 05:41 PM

As summer comes to a close and we get started with the hustle and bustle of fall, I thought I’d share a few of my favorite apps that keep me and the kids organized.

 

Pocket Informant Pro

 

I survive on this app. Period. Do you remember when we used to carry around the thick, heavy binder planners? Say goodbye to back pain and hello to paperless, colorful life organization! 

 

Pocket Informant Pro replaces the need for the old-style paper planners or your kitchen wall calendar with at-a-glance organization. With the available customization choices, you can set your information to show as much or as little as you wish. Plus, I can color code EVERYTHING—a great perk for me since I'm running the family schedule of six people. This app is a bit pricey, but worth every penny! 

 

WeWantApps!

 

This is all about helping parents find age-appropriate apps for kids 0-14 years old. Call it the quintessential app-finding app.

 

You can select criteria like age or app platform (iPhone, iPad, or universal for both) and then search by book, educational, or game app. Within seconds, hundreds of apps appear with suggested ages, and with one click, you can see the iTunes store description, reviews, and more.

 

As parents often look to other parents for app recommendations, WeWantApps! offers them the option of connecting their Facebook account to the app. You can share your favorite kids’ apps and reviews via a Facebook plug-in and see your friends' recommendations as well. All for free!

 

This is such a timesaver for me, especially since the age range among my kids is so varied. Also, it allows me to really get a good look at the games vs. educational apps. Many of the educational apps are so fun that kids don’t realize they're doing so much learning. It's sneaky education!

 

OverDrive Media Console

 

With this app, I borrow books and audiobooks from the library. Hear that? Borrow...not pay! All you need is a library card and you’re good to go. Lots of features right from your iPad are available:

 


  • Return borrowed audiobooks. Finally!

  • Return audiobooks to your library's collection as soon as you finish listening so you can check out the next one. Don’t forget you can do the same with eBooks!

  • Sharing: Depending on your OS, share information about the book you're reading via Facebook, Twitter, email, and more.


This app was especially helpful with the kid’s summer reading program.

 

Pic Collage

 

One of my most-often-used apps. I love it! It's fast, fun, easy and free! I think it's the best way to create awesome photo collages using stickers, text, web images, and freeform cutouts!

 

All you have to do is use images from your photo library, Facebook albums (and your friends' albums too), or photos from the web to create a collage. There are also lots of fun backgrounds and stickers for you to choose. When you're done, share your collages via Facebook, Twitter, or email.

 

I use this for Facebook posts quite often, but my favorite thing to do with Pic Collage is decorate my home. I take pictures of places in my house where I want to add a décor piece or remember measurements, and I store the collages in an album on my iPad. I also use this app to remember birthdays and Christmas presents. For me, Pic Collage is also a visual inventory of sorts.

 

Wall Space

 

Office Space

 

Cabinet Space

 

 

A+ FlashCards Pro

 

Wow…what a paper (or index card saver)! A+ PRO is an efficient way to create and memorize new words, idioms, terms, or any other types of information!

 

We blow through flashcards at my house: sight words, math facts, presidents, state capitals, French terms, etc. Now we can customize each set of cards with text, images, and multiple viewing options.

 

You can import existing sets of cards from websites like Quizlet.com (one of the largest flashcard websites) or create a set on your own. What I’ve found is that most of the cards I’m looking for are already out there, so I simply download a preexisting set. Super easy and fast! Download this app now while it is free for a limited time!

 

 

Hope you enjoy my favorite apps!

 

—Albany