Apple on Saturday announced via Twitter a re-launch of sorts for a section of the App Store specifically aimed at children’s apps. Apple originally rolled out a Kids category back in 2013, but the new feature offers a more tailored look at games designed for the various age ranges.
The storefront’s first showcase product is for an eBook, “Family Time With Apps,” that hopes to “show parents how to find the best apps that fit your child’s needs, provide tips on how (and why!) to use apps together, and highlight even more resources that will make the process of selecting apps less overwhelming and more fun.”
Below that the section is subdivided into three main categories, specifying age ranges for an array of apps: “Ages 5 & Under”, “Ages 6-8”, and “Ages 9-11.” The lower age categories include games focusing on colors and shapes, as well as basic interactive storybooks, while higher age groups include more complex experiences like platformers and physics puzzlers.
“Set children loose in wondrous worlds designed especially for them. From cute puzzlers to accessible tower-defense games, our selections are perfect for a wide range of skill levels and interests.”
Like elsewhere in the App Store, the new “Games for Kids” section helps users understand which games are truly free and which may require further payments, with all “Free” games prompting users with a “Get” button, and apps with in-app purchases being designated so underneath. The new “Games for Kids” area of the App Store comes on the heels of the service’s announcement of a hugely successful 2014 that has carried over into record-breaking sales in the new year.
