Stop me if this sounds intimate : One of my family ’s vacation tradition involves all of us sitting around the table toy with our earphone , once in a while looking up to eat or drink , while my mother ( futilely ) attempts to get us to lecture to each other . Er … yeah .
Holiday traditions are normally groovy for play families together — but not if those traditions include technology , according to my mother . But your iPhone can be used for near — if you know where to look . Here are ten apps that can in reality raise your family ’s vacation tradition , whether those traditions postulate opening Advent calendar , taking photos , read level , or playing game .
Open up a whole new Advent calendar
This Advent calendar dishes out vacation tunes instead of confect , with tie-in to bribe the unadulterated album via iTunes .
It ’s difficult to make an Advent calendar into a digital experience , because you ca n’t digitalize candy , burnt umber , or toy . But the attractively designedMusical Advent Calendar 2014(free ) try anyway — and does an first-class problem . This year ’s melodious Advent Calendar is designed to look like a fall Christmas tree ornament painted with flake , gingerbread valet de chambre , and wintry songbirds . Tap the ornament , and a calendar sheathing appears , with numbered “ doors ” for each twenty-four hour period leading up to Christmas . Behind each door you ’ll find a full - length classical vacation track ( include Tchaikovsky ’s “ Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy ” fromThe Nutcracker ) and a linkup to the full album on iTunes . you’re able to come back to past doors again and again , so by Christmastime you ’ll have access to an entire compendium of 25 festive tunes … that means you’re able to check out almost all of them right now .
Call, video chat with, and track Santa
arrange a special call from Saint Nick himself .
Santa ’s on top of the tech plot — after all , he ’s been NSA - style detection on us for years . But now there are apps that you could use to make your Kid ’ Santa experience even more synergistic ( and perhaps more terrific ) .
There are several apps that let you call , or get a call from , Santa , but I care final Unlimited’sA Call From Santa!(free ) . This app is free — the only in - app purchase is to remove ads — and it lets you call Santa ’s voicemail or get a semi - personalised call from the human being himself . The app works over your phone ’s outside speaker ( make certain the strait is on ) , because it ’s not in reality a sound call . Use the voicemail feature to “ report ” your child to Santa ’s Naughty - or - decent leaning , or input your kid ’s age and sexuality and have them get a personalized pre - recorded call from Santa .
If you ’re just looking to scare your kids into being good , Fake Call From Santa(free ) pop up a fake Incoming Call silver screen on your iPhone with Santa as the caller . Or , if you ’re looking for a more personalized experience , there’sHello Santa(free ) , an app that countenance you schedule live picture chats with Santa for $ 20 for each one ( $ 10 gets you a pre - recorded television subject matter from Santa ) . When Christmas Eve comes around , kids can also apply your telephone set to go after Santa ’s flight around the public viaNORAD caterpillar tread Santa(free ) .
NORAD rail Santa gives you a Christmas countdown and will track Santa ’s flight around the cosmos once he take off .
Send some holiday cheer
Perhaps a December 26 vacation card can be your novel tradition .
vacation greeting never go out of style , but not everyone has time to hit the postal service federal agency . Ink Cards(free ) makes direct cards a snap : For just $ 2 , the app sends your recipient a strong-arm card individualize with your photo and message . Ink Cards ’ category include Christmas , Hanukkah , New Year ’s , and generic wintertime vacation stylus , and cards arrive around a week after you regularize them .
Last - minute senders can usePho.to Lab(free ) , a photo frame app that let you create cute photo manipulation to divvy up with your friends and family . The app has been update to let in Christmas and winter - theme human body — for example , one handling put your grimace on the nerve of “ Santa ’s girlfriend , ” while another overlays a 2015 calendar atop your picture . Pho.to research lab is free , but some lineament — such as bounty frames and handling — can be unlock for a one - time fee of $ 5 .
Have a holiday-themed family game night
Need a relatively fail - good room to avoid awkward category conversation ? Games!Holiday Charades(free ) is a fun shot - the - Son - on - my - os frontale style mockery secret plan that everyone can play .
This Heads Up - style charades game is fun for the whole mob .
Here ’s how it figure out : open up up the app , take a class , and invest your phone on your forehead . The app displays the answer to everyone who ’s expect at you , and they have to act out answer while you reckon . Categories admit holiday pic and specials , Christmas medicine , and vacation nutrient , and you could set daily round to be 60 , 90 , or 120 sec prospicient .
Start a digital story time
Holiday story time is an old - school custom that can be raise with apps thanks to interactive e - al-Qur’an , which come up with pre - recorded story , music , games , and other fun activities for kids .
Why not try a holiday chronicle while waiting up for Santa ?
A few of my dearie include the beautifully illustratedHanukkah : The Festival of Lights StoryChimes($2 ) , which reads the report of Judah Maccabee loud to young readers against a musical backdrop . How the Grinch Stole Christmas($2 ) sport Dr. Seuss ’s exemplification and a pre - recorded narration ( you could also record your own narration).A Charlie Brown Christmas($3 ) is a digital pop music - up Word : The illustrations are contrive to look like 3D pa - ups , and can be interacted with through rap and swipe .
