Best Five iPad Apps for Kids 2013

Kids love iPads, even though they were originally intended for grown-ups. Luckily, there is a huge selection of apps for kids on the iOS platform. Unfortunately, there are so many that it can be hard to tell which apps are useful and which ones aren't worth your time. We've assembled a list of the top five apps for iPad that will entertain, enrich, and educate your kids, as well as keep them busy for a little while.

5. Pettson's Inventions 2 Intended for kids 4 and up with a budding mind for engineering, this puzzle game gives kids a half-completed invention and asks them to put together the missing parts to make it work. There are 25 levels in the game, and two more that you can play anytime without beating others first. When a player finishes an invention, he or she clicks on the lever on the top right to see if it works. If it does, players are rewarded with an animation of the completed invention in action and a gold star.

4. Bugs and Numbers

This math app, for kids 4 and up, contains 18 mini games that will help develop various math skills in a fun way. The app will automatically adjust the difficulty level to a player's performance to gradually challenge the player. Skills addressed by the game include addition, subtraction, fractions, telling time, and beginner skills like counting and distinguishing left from right. Each time a game is completed with a high score, the app gives you a colorful little bug to put in a virtual keepsake box.

3. Cupcake Maker

This addictive little free app involves exactly what it says. You build your own cupcakes from "scratch" to finish. Players start with virtual cupcake mix and add eggs, water, and other ingredients, and then pop it into a virtual oven. When they're done, players select icings, candles, and toppings, and decorate the cupcake. With great graphics, this app will encourage creativity, as well as demonstrating a little bit about what goes into making the things we eat. And it won't wreck your kitchen in the process.

2. Faces iMake - Right Brain Creativity

Speaking of keeping things clean, this app allows your kid aged 4 and up to play with food and other household items -- virtually. Given a blank canvas with a row of items like food stuffs, pots and pans, and other household things, kids can make faces, people or anything they'd like. They can pick out items, drag them into place, and even rotate and resize them using iPad gestures. A creativity-enriching app that has infinite replayability.

1. Angry Birds Star Wars

There's a reason why Angry Birds is one of the most popular franchises in app history so far. It's incredibly addictive. This version adds a Star Wars twist, but it also complicates game play with different Star Wars-related abilities and new ways of setting up the levels. It will build hand-eye coordination and problem-solving skills, as well as keep your kid entertained forever.