Our Top 10 Christmas Apps

It’s time to load those Christmas apps on your iPad, iPhone or iPod and remove some of the Grinch from the frenetic lead up to the holiday season.

We’ve taken a look at the pickings on offer and brought you our Top Ten favourites, both old and new.

So what are you waiting for, get your Christmas spirit on!

**Because I (Ellie) got to write up this post, you’ll discover Australian spelling throughout. This will drive head honcho and big chief Americano Ron bonkers, just wait and see!**

A Charlie Brown Christmas

($4.99 iPad/iPhone)

This app drips with nostalgia for me - I grew up with Charlie Brown and this faithful retelling of the story is certain to charm both children and parents who remember it from their own childhood. There are plenty of extras too so don’t miss out on the chance to decorate your own Charlie Brown Christmas tree.

The Night Before Christmas presented by One Hundred Robots

($1.99 iPad)

There’s a plethora of Night before Christmas ebook apps out there and this one is tops. It has a contemporary 3D feel, but still manages to retain the full charm of the story.

Jacquie Lawson Advent Calendar - Village

($1.99 iPad)

There are a heap of advent calendars out there and the two Jacquie Lawson ones (Village and London) are charming, gorgeous and traditional. They’re the first things that my daughter rushes to open each morning, bypassing the real-life chocolate version until these are opened.

Toca Hair Salon Christmas

(Free iPad/iPhone)

This is a FREE Christmas version of Toca Hair Salon which includes visits by Santa himself and a Christmas tree. Snip and decorate them to your heart’s content.

Cut the Rope: Holiday Gift

(Free iPad/iPhone)

If you haven’t already discovered this cute little candy-muncher in the Cut the Rope physics-based games, then you should download this free Christmas version to find out how addictive he can be.

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer - Oceanhouse Media

($3.99 iPad/iPhone)

This ebook includes custom music, background audio, enlarged artwork for each scene, and authentic audio clips from the timeless 1964 TV special. It’s not a cheapie but it is a goodie.

iLuv Drawing Santa

(Free iPad/iPhone)

Here is a terrific, free app that takes your kids step-by-step through the process of drawing Santa Claus, a snow man, a reindeer, a Christmas tree, and more.

Make a scene: Christmas

($1.99 iPad)

A really fun animated sticker app with lots of different scenes to create. The graphics are really really cute and the animations are cuter still. Keep an eye out for the carolling singers - they’re my favourite.

Wombi Christmas Toys

(Free iPad/iPhone)

This app has five free minigames (toys) to be fixed/constructed/cleaned. There’s so much work to do at Christmas time in this strange little workshop. Pull the lever and find out what turns up next.

Fancy Mess - by Thematica

(Free iPad)

Not strictly Christmas, but very much in the holiday spirit, Thematica’s new free app is a fun dress up game. Dress up the little boy or girl in a carnival costume - make an angel, tiger, pirate, princess and oh so much more.

Eleanor Holland loves the holiday season but really hopes that someone will help her untangle the 650000093848478728713749788972938457 metres of Christmas lights this year.