by BabyCenter Guest Blogger posted in Parenting

By Christine Elgersma, Common Sense Media

If you've ever handed your phone over to your preschooler and turned him loose on a random kid's app, you're not alone. But you can make those moments productive -- and fun -- if you think of your phone as a preschool learning tool. All it takes is a little advance downloading.
We've collected some of the best contenders in several categories, from ABCs to "soft skills" such as social-emotional learning and creative play. When used in balance with other activities and active play, apps can offer amazing learning potential. See what appeals to your kid, and check out our other lists for more suggestions.
Colors, Shapes, and Logic
Outside of the alphabet and math, there's other knowledge that's good to foster in little ones, including pattern recognition, shapes, attention, and memory. These skill-builders all successfully mix fun and learning. Fishing With Grandpa, 3+

With mazes, puzzles, and a gentle, grandfatherly guide, kids can have fun completing activities that bolster basic skills.
LumiKids Park by Lumosity, Early Learning Play for Kids, 3+

Through simple games, kids practice shape and color identification and test their memories. From adult brain game developer Lumosity, this app is fun -- and free!
MarcoPolo Weather, 3+

Kids can play with different elements of weather and dress characters accordingly. Since kids can control the wind and temperature within the ap...