Traveling with children can be difficult, especially when they are accustomed to having entertainment on demand. My son knows that he can watch videos on my phone using the Netflix or YouTube apps, but doesn’t understand why we can’t use the apps on a plane. He cried more than Alec Baldwin when the flight attendant asked us to turn off electronic devices.
Knowing ahead of time that we would be in a no wifi zone, I downloaded the new Ruckus app from iTunes. The app is a virtual store filled with kid friendly storybooks and videos that fully download to your phone or tablet.
My son is a big fan of Curious George and Richard Scarry’s Busytown Mysteries, so I downloaded a few videos and storybooks that I knew he would like. It worked out great that he could enjoy the stories and videos during the plane ride. With connecting flights and a layover, we spent 8 hours traveling each way. I don’t know how we would have made it without some form of entertainment.
Along the way, I stumbled onto a few perks of using the app. First, the Ruckus app has a new title available for free download every month. And second, the app can send you a weekly usage report that shows how much your child is using the app. I thought the usage report was nice because it let me know what stories my son found most interesting.
Another benefit of watching video stored on your phone is that you aren’t eating up your data plan. We have adjusted our wireless plan a few times because my son watches a lot of Netflix streaming video while in the car. The Ruckus app is a nice solution because the video is downloaded ahead of time, which avoids the need to use our phone’s data plan.
The Ruckus app was a convenient way to find content appropriate for children and to keep track of what your children watch. It is worth giving the app a try during your next long trip with the family.
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