For Babble's roundup of the top 50 iOS (Apple's operating platform) apps for kids, we looked at some basic criteria that you and your family might also consider before downloading an app. Every app we tested had to have received Apple's age-appropriate "4+" rating. We also considered whether the app allowed parents to participate in, or at least oversee, whatever their kids were doing onscreen. And, even if the apps were designed to do nothing more than keep the kids busy while you're in line at the store, there had to be some positive or educational element to it.

We've broken down our top 50 apps by category, price and age range. (Though many of these apps have a free edition, these "lite" versions often include ads or limit the number of features you can use.) Apps that are labeled "HD" are exclusive to iPad, but nearly all of the apps we selected can be used on any iOS device you own. We hope you have as much fun checking these out as we did testing them. And if we missed one, be sure to tell us about your favorite apps! - Aaron Burgess