Any parent with an iPhone wonders how they ever lived without it. Not only can you multi-task your life with a new ease but the other amazing joy of the iPhone is it’s a portable entertainment centre for kids. Now when I’m stuck in traffic, ordering at a restaurant or anywhere where I need five minutes of peace I whip out my iPhone.  The only trouble I have these days is wrestling it out of the sticky paws of my kids. 
Here’s my pick of favourite apps for kids. (Should come with a parent warning: only to be played with for a short amount of time in moderation!)
Talking Carl (£0.59)
This is the best 59p I’ve spent on my phone. Talking Carl not only looks adorable, but provides hours of entertainment. Tickle him and he laughs, poke him and he says ‘ouch’, ignore him and he grumbles. Carl repeats back what you say in a funny-sounding, high-pitched voice. There’s no confusing pages to scroll through, just you and Carl. It’s particularly popular with my two year old.
Old MacDonald (£1.19)
This interactive book app is great for toddlers and older kids too. Duck Duck Moose Design have created three different song books -  Old MacDonald, Itsy Wincey Spider and Wheels on the Bus. Their latest Old MacDonald has you sliding through their imaginative, interactive farm. Kids love the waddling ducks, making the cows moo, there’s a bulldozer, disco dancing sheep and more. The best bit is recording your own version of the nursery rhyme with your child.
Curious George (£1.79)
There are lots of different colouring apps out there, but as a fan of the naughty monkey Curious George I chose this one for the boys. You can get at least five minutes of peace as they colour in a picture, stamp on the funky stickers and save the results to the gallery.
Bubble Wrap (free)
Bubble Wrap is the ultimate grown-up time-waster.  The fun of popping bubble wrap has now been rolled out into an app. You get a field of bubbles across the screen and then touch each one to make them pop. As soon as you start there’s a timer to see how many although kids just have fun popping the bubbles.
Balloonimals (£1.19)
This clever app absorbs kids and adults alike. You blow into the microphone and watch the Balloonimals spring to life. Gently shake the phone and the balloon slowly takes shape into one of the animal designs – including a fish, duck, T-Rex and unicorn. The only problem is not letting kids shake the phone too hard.
Do you have a favourite app? Let us know here.