iPlayPhone: iPhone app lets kids play "telephone" without actually calling
How's this for a parent hack? Ryan Neudorf's one year-old son always wanted to play with Ryan's iPhone, but he didn't want him to accidentally call Japan. So he built an iPhone app, iPlayPhone, to simulate the fun while keeping the phone's calling features safely tucked away.
From Ryan's blog:
I built it for my 1yr old son who’s always running off with my phone. It’s simplictic but super fun. All the buttons play goofy sounds. The onShake sound totally baffles my son, he’s like “woah, i shake it and is makes sounds…weird.”
Ryan sent me three free download codes for iPlayPhone (at the US iTunes store) -- if you'd like one, leave a comment some time today (Saturday). I'll randomly choose three folks and post the "winners" tomorrow!
Oh my goodness!! What a great app! I will have to use that, my 3year old is already obsessed with the iPhone!
Posted by: Megan | 28 March 2009 at 07:06 AM
My almost-2 would love this!
Posted by: Jen | 28 March 2009 at 07:09 AM
This is great! I can't pry the iPhone away from my 1-year-old.
Posted by: Gretchen | 28 March 2009 at 07:11 AM
I sure could use this! My little guy (19 months) called our local deli the other day with random button mashing (no idea how he managed it), and he's a very poor Tetris player, so that only keeps him occupied until the blocks stack to the top and the game is over. =D
Posted by: Kat | 28 March 2009 at 07:23 AM
Looks like a fun app. I think my kid might figure out how to get to the real phone part. Worth a try, though.
Posted by: Dennis | 28 March 2009 at 07:26 AM
BRILLIANT! Now when are they going to make toy iphones?
Posted by: Katheryn | 28 March 2009 at 07:27 AM
I can't wait to try this. Genius idea.
Posted by: Amy | 28 March 2009 at 07:37 AM
LOVE the idea!! People are so creative, I would love this!
Posted by: April | 28 March 2009 at 07:39 AM
My three year old and two year old would love this!
Posted by: jennifer, playgroups are no place for children | 28 March 2009 at 07:47 AM
woo hoo! that rocks!!!
Posted by: sarah w | 28 March 2009 at 07:50 AM
Hey, thanks for the coverage!
I just wanted to mention that I'll be releasing some sound effect packs for iPlayPhone in the near future, allowing you to change up the types of sounds.
Posted by: Ryan Neudorf | 28 March 2009 at 07:56 AM
ooh! What a great app!
Posted by: happy Steve | 28 March 2009 at 08:00 AM
Jeepers! What a great idea for an app! My toddlers already love playing with my phone -- for the game and drawing apps. They'd be very interested! I love the bright colored buttons on this one!
Posted by: Jen R. | 28 March 2009 at 08:02 AM
This would be fantastic for my 14-month-old. I am so tired of hearing the Peekaboo Barn app and desperately need a change!
Posted by: Denise | 28 March 2009 at 08:02 AM
What a terrific idea!! My 3 yr old and 18 month old are obsessed with my iphone- this is perfect!!
Posted by: Mom to G & C | 28 March 2009 at 08:14 AM
My kids are obsessed with our iPhone an iPod touch. We love this kind of stuff to keep them occupied at restaurants and on planes when the thrill of coloring books run out.
Posted by: Wendy | 28 March 2009 at 08:15 AM
My son loves to steal my iPhone - great idea for an app!
Posted by: Kelli | 28 March 2009 at 08:28 AM
Great idea! I'd love to have that for emergencies -- but considering my last phone died due to youngest child throwing it I try not to give him the iphone too much :)
Posted by: Carrie | 28 March 2009 at 08:33 AM
Yes yes yes We do the dice game but he always escapes out of the application.
Posted by: Laura | 28 March 2009 at 08:39 AM
I love it!!
Posted by: Sharla | 28 March 2009 at 09:12 AM
I could almost kill my husband... because of his addiciton to his iPhone, my 2 yr old always sees him with it, and wants to be "cool" like dad and play with it too! We were doing so good keeping her away from video games! :(
I like this ap though, it keeps it innocent and simplistic for the kids!
Posted by: Sarah | 28 March 2009 at 09:15 AM
In the name of heave, I NEED THIS. we're going on a 9 hour trip to California on Tuesday, and I am despairing that I will find enough things to keep my 22 mo old entertained! Does it work on the ipod touch?
Posted by: Mandy | 28 March 2009 at 09:30 AM
I need this! Please pick me!
Posted by: Allison | 28 March 2009 at 09:33 AM
Sounds fabulous!
Posted by: M'Lynn | 28 March 2009 at 09:44 AM
This is a FABULOUS idea! Perfect for when you are stuck in the doctors office IMHO!
Posted by: Suzanne | 28 March 2009 at 09:45 AM
I need this app! My 16-month-old is obsessed with my iPhone.
I'd love to know what other apps people have found for entertaining their kids. I have Peekaboo Barn, MiniPiano, DigiLite drum pad, Scribble, BubbleWrap, and Lightsaber. White Noise was really helpful for naps and bedtime when we were away on vacation. And the Sesame Street podcast, while not updated in a while, has bought me those crucial few minutes for the grocery store checkout.
Anyone have any other favs?
Posted by: Janice | 28 March 2009 at 09:50 AM
What a great idea! My 15 month old will love this app!
Posted by: Sam G | 28 March 2009 at 09:55 AM
it's interesting to see so many parents letting their 1, 2, 3 year olds play w/ their iphone. I've got an ipod touch and would like to enter the drawing.
Posted by: Wendy Huang | 28 March 2009 at 10:05 AM
Would love to give it a whirl!
Posted by: Iain K. MacLeod | 28 March 2009 at 10:51 AM
My two year old would LOVE this! What an amazing app!
Posted by: Meg | 28 March 2009 at 11:15 AM
We'd love it! Between all our phones, it's just a matter of time before our little one calls Siberia. Or 911. My friend's baby did that 10 years ago. :)
Posted by: Alex | 28 March 2009 at 11:21 AM
Man, that's totally a "Why Didn't I Think of That" moment. My 1 and 3 year old's are always fighting over my iPhone. My 3 year old can get on YouTube and my 1 year old has already figured out how to turn the thing on by himself. I need a kid-entertaining app!! I'd love a download code.
Posted by: Karli W | 28 March 2009 at 11:29 AM
Wow! My 2 year-old walks around with Daddy's iPhone - "Pho? Pho? Pho?" - just begging to actually push the buttons. This sounds perfect!
Posted by: Mary | 28 March 2009 at 11:33 AM
My little guy would love this! iPhones are a parenting dream!
Posted by: Jay | 28 March 2009 at 11:54 AM
Awesome- my two year old has cost me a few $$$ in the past playing with my phone- this is brilliant!
Posted by: Sierra | 28 March 2009 at 12:07 PM
great idea!!
this reminds me -- i'd love a post about everyone's favorite free iphone apps for kids.
Posted by: marjorie | 28 March 2009 at 12:36 PM
I know my daughter would love this. She already is trying to get a hold of my iPhone.
Posted by: Christopher Gillett | 28 March 2009 at 12:56 PM
great idea for an app!
Posted by: susannah | 28 March 2009 at 01:04 PM
What a fantastic app! I think all parents NEED this!
Posted by: Christie | 28 March 2009 at 01:15 PM
I love this. My two year old is always playing with my phone and has called people in other countries before!!
Posted by: Antoinette | 28 March 2009 at 01:22 PM
My 2.5 year old is addicted to the iPod. I start to feel guilty...and then she learns a few new numbers and I am thankful instead!
Posted by: Michelle | 28 March 2009 at 01:30 PM
Does this work with the iPod Touch? That's what I have - but my boys are enthralled with it.
Posted by: Laura K | 28 March 2009 at 02:10 PM
*raises hand* Oooo please count me into the contest. My iPod is by far the greatest parent hack for doctor's appointments and this would be a great program to have.
Posted by: Amanda | 28 March 2009 at 02:14 PM
I would love this app for. my son.
Posted by: Mandie | 28 March 2009 at 02:44 PM
Cute! My daughter would love this.
Posted by: julianne | 28 March 2009 at 02:54 PM
This would be very cool for my kids! Check out this list of other good apps... http://cimbura.blogspot.com/2008/12/goodbye-daytimerhello-iphone.html
Posted by: Tim Cimbura | 28 March 2009 at 02:55 PM
What a great idea!
Posted by: Becky | 28 March 2009 at 03:09 PM
That is a great idea! If I don't win I'll have to look into it.
Posted by: Ticia | 28 March 2009 at 03:20 PM
Pick me, pick me!! My 2yo hasn't called japan, but she did manage to call Spain! I NEED this!! :)
Posted by: Paige | 28 March 2009 at 03:22 PM
That's awesome! I have wordex on my phone for spelling learning, but my son has already mastered it.
Posted by: Rachel | 28 March 2009 at 03:24 PM
My 13 month old would love this! We just have an ipod touch, but she thinks it is a phone and loves to play phone with it.
She also enjoys the free app I Hear Ewe, which allows her to tap animals and hear animal sounds. She loves all animals, and this game makes her giggle and giggle.
Posted by: Katie | 28 March 2009 at 03:26 PM
this would be great for my husband's iphone!
Posted by: Jenny | 28 March 2009 at 03:35 PM
That's pretty cool. My nephew is only a year and he's already trying to take my cell phone.
Posted by: Melly G | 28 March 2009 at 04:13 PM
This would make Daddy's day!!!!!
Posted by: Shara | 28 March 2009 at 04:20 PM
perfect for my kids who call all phones "iPhone."
Posted by: kristin | 28 March 2009 at 04:33 PM
Yea! What a clever idea! My little guy is getting tired of the MiniPiano! This looks fantastic!
Posted by: Jana | 28 March 2009 at 04:39 PM
I'd love this. My son (16 mo) is always grabbing for my iPhone.
Posted by: Janice | 28 March 2009 at 05:01 PM
Would love it!
Posted by: Sonya | 28 March 2009 at 05:04 PM
Good idea. My 1yr old is into the ballon game while my 2 yr old already rocks out to full games like tank , car, and ball games. They learn all too quick.
Posted by: philldo | 28 March 2009 at 05:31 PM
Four kids 5 and under...yeah, this app would be pretty cool in our house.
Posted by: Tami | 28 March 2009 at 05:36 PM
I would live to have this app. I know my 18 month would love to play with this.
Posted by: Karin | 28 March 2009 at 05:48 PM
My girls would LOVE this. They are always taking my iPhone and playing with the different applications on it.
Posted by: Lynn | 28 March 2009 at 06:05 PM
My 3 year old son would love this. All he wants to do is play "Monkey" which is short for Super Monkey Ball. The problem is he has no idea how to play.
Posted by: Mark Kennedy | 28 March 2009 at 06:26 PM
That is such a great idea - and how cool that the dad just wrote the app himself; necessity is the mother (and father!) of us all.
Posted by: Annelies | 28 March 2009 at 06:28 PM
sweet! Maybe my son will start pushing the screen instead of just drooling all over the phone, and making calls to other countries.
Posted by: danielle | 28 March 2009 at 07:12 PM
My wife would love this for our little boy. You can only play the photos slideshow so many times before that trick doesn't work any more. It loses the entertainment factor.
Posted by: lance | 28 March 2009 at 07:14 PM
My boys would love to be able to play with something like this!
Posted by: Cory | 28 March 2009 at 10:06 PM
I have a couple kids that would totally dig this. I work with phones ALL day at work (www.freedomiq.com), and I'm sure my kids would love to follow in my footsteps. Not to mention, Apple wasn't very nice to my invention (www.mynewber.com). Glad you were able to get your app in to the exclusive app store!
Posted by: Christopher Nikkel | 28 March 2009 at 10:41 PM
This is an awesome app and we'll be sure to get it! Our two-year-old has his own app page on my husband's iPhone and just loves it. He knows how to unlock it on his own and to go to his page of apps that includes youtube, Monkey Ball, a penguin game, Dress Chica, and many more. The most hilarious thing for us was watching him teach his grandmother how to use the iPhone the other day.
Posted by: Cynthia Vargas | 29 March 2009 at 06:49 AM
Genius!!! My girl loves my phone. Sesame street podcasts only entertain for so long. What a neat idea!
Posted by: Stephanie Terrell | 29 March 2009 at 08:09 AM
Need this for sure- my little girl calls people from my phone all the time!
Posted by: Jill | 29 March 2009 at 09:16 AM
Love the idea - so handy. Save my iPhone! :-)
Posted by: C Cherng | 29 March 2009 at 11:12 AM
I'm also wondering if it'll work on the itouch. Great app idea. Perhaps it'll give rise to more fun for kids on an iphone.
Posted by: Felicia | 29 March 2009 at 12:24 PM
If it's not too late, this would be awesome!!!
Posted by: Carol | 29 March 2009 at 02:32 PM
Am i too late? i would like this code!
Posted by: Rebecca | 29 March 2009 at 03:28 PM
Ohhh I sooo need that!!! My daughter won't leave my phone alone. Sometimes giving her my phone is the only way to chill her out. She sees her daddy on the phone all the time so therefore she wants it. Thanks for this opportunity!!
Posted by: Joy | 29 March 2009 at 05:41 PM
The bane of any iPhone app that purports to be kid friendly is that none of them can "lock out" the home button... and I don't know about all of your kids, but my 19 month old has no problem mashing on that button constantly (and he just figured out how to do the slide unlock)
Posted by: SAR | 29 March 2009 at 07:41 PM
WTF?!?!?! Don't let kids or ANYONE play with the iPhone. This is a bad habit. I have two year old twins and can always keep them occupied without my precious electronics being broken. BAD BAD idea!! You're all f'n crazy. Kids play with their toys, not my tools!
Posted by: youreanidtio | 17 April 2009 at 02:14 PM
I'd prefer to let them play using a UI that is decidedly less like a real telephone... perhaps an iPhone app that mimics a rotary dial ;)
Posted by: Kidlet | 04 May 2009 at 09:04 PM