Christian software for kids has existed for two decades, and new titles are beginning to emerge specifically for tablets, iPads and smartphones. Some are free; most are between $.99 and $1.99. The best place to look for them is on your device’s “app store.” You can also Google them. There are some turkeys, so make sure to read users’ reviews, and try before you buy.
Here are few noteworthy choices:
The ABC’s of God. An iPad/iPhone app for preschoolers. ABC’s of God includes letter recognition, handwriting, capital and lower-case matching and word searches with Bible verses and what God is like. Kids choose a letter of the alphabet to “play” and each letter describes an attribute of God, such as gracious, zealous and truthful, and includes a simple verse.
The Adventure Bible. An iPad app for ages 7 to 12 from Zondervan. Kids play games to memorize Bible verses. Choose level of difficulty and verse. Players earn in-app prizes that make memory fun. Kids can add verses to favorites list, and play the “new verse each day” game. Also includes a Bible books scramble. Free version has just two books.
Bible Word Find. An iPad/iPhone app featuring Bible wordsearches. Easy, medium and hard modes. Kid-friendly graphics. Ages 6 to 12.
The Beginner’s Bible. An iPad app for ages 2-6 from Zonderkids. The first six stories are free, subsequent story packs are $1.99. Some of the graphics are interactive.
Bible Coloring Book. An iPad/iPhone app for ages 2-7. Kids pick a Bible picture and select “crayons” to fill the picture.
As parents and Presbyterians, we are of course concerned with the message, and I’m happy to say that the aforementioned are ecumenical. The same cannot be said for all Bible apps. There are some groups putting out apps that subtly reflect their “unique” point of view, or are designed to sell you their other resources. Most Bible apps come in “lite” (free) versions you can try. App stores and Amazon app sites have worthwhile user reviews. You can also see many in action on YouTube.
What seems to be missing are Bible apps for older children and youth (if you exclude “the Bible” and Bible Trivia apps, of which there are many). Almost all decent Bible apps for children are written for preschoolers and young children, and not for older kids or youth. This was true of software for PCs at one point, so we should eventually see more for older kids. What’s also lacking is “quality in quantity.” The number of good Bible apps for any age is not that great, … yet. And like a lot of secular apps, many Bible apps lack interactivity and depth.
Bible Trivia apps are a good alternative for older children and youth. Especially if you have an Android phone or tablet, you’ll be glad to see all the Bible Trivia apps available. Watch for the Bible version they use, the degree of “triviality” and any themes which the questions seem to be pushing.
One of the better ones is Bible Trivia for Children. This iPad/iPhone app features 197 multiple choice questions, including 50 bonus general knowledge questions. nine game modes and both single and multiplayer options. This would be fun for a car ride, family table or Sunday school game.
Another good one is Bible Trivia Quiz Game for Android devices. It has a large database of questions and great user reviews.
As a proponent of software use in Sunday school, I’m often asked about “iPads for our Sunday school.” Right now, I just don’t see enough good apps with Sunday school-level depth to justify the equipment expense. This may change in a year or two, but by then, the equipment and operating systems requirements will have changed too, so hang in there.
NEIL MACQUEEN is a Presbyterian minister specializing in Christian education. He is also the producer of many Christian software titles for kids, none of which are mentioned in this article.
