As my 5-year-old improves his English reading and writing skills every day, I am constantly on the lookout for new opportunities to match this forward progress in Spanish. Apps are one of the easiest ways to incorporate Spanish into our busy daily routine. Dic Dic, a new iPad app from European developers Perception Technologies and Estudi Kalimba, is a fresh new way to do this.

Each word is pronounced aloud and shown written, then the user must type the word. After correctly completing it, the spelling is repeated letter by letter. These settings can be adjusted.

Dic Dic is available in four languages, plus British English. This makes the three-level vocabulary list quite extensive. My son can practice more advanced English spelling, and review and learn new Spanish words. I can even use this app to refresh my high school French skills! Accents are also included where necessary, which is essential to good grammar and spelling in a foreign language.

Though the structure of Dic Dic is similar to some vocabulary apps aimed at toddlers, I like that it offers a bit more. The difficulty level can be changed as the user improves. This app is appropriate for a wide range of ages, too.

Find Dic Dic in iTunes

Available for iPad

Recommended for ages 3-12

Price: $1.99

Check out more from Perception Technologies and Estudi Kalimba here.

StoryToys, the same app developer that brought us 3D versions of Puss in Boots and The Little Mermaid, now has a new electronic pop-up book. Beauty and the Beast 3D Interactive Pop-up Book is another adorable multilingual app that offers a great combination of story time and game time.

Since most kids are already familiar with the Beauty and the Beast tale, they will enjoy how this storybook is broken up with interactive pages to make it a little more exciting. You can help Belle open gifts, help the merchant escape from the wolf, or – my favorite – play ping-pong with the Beast. The favorite part of make-believe princesses everywhere will be breaking the spell at the end!

The story is also nicely simplified and can be entertaining for a range of ages, from toddlers through early readers.

I particularly love that parents can use the Parent Center to customize the app in various ways, including changing the reading mode and opting out of promotional screens.

Find Beauty and the Beast 3D Interactive Pop-up Book in iTunes

Available for iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch

Recommended ages 3 and up

Price: $4.99

Check out more from StoryToys on Facebook and Twitter.

Constantly on the lookout for new Spanish/bilingual apps, I am always happy to find something that is versatile. Los navegantes, created by second language teachers for Telefonica Learning Services is just that: a fun iPad app that can be used for young Spanish learners who have never been exposed to the language, but also for those who are conversationally fluent but are still learning to read in Spanish.

The app contains a variety of games, including word searches and coloring, that reinforce the vocabulary that is steadily advanced throughout. Adding a birth date for each user adjusts the level accordingly.

As a bonus, the characters are simply adorable and the in-app purchases are affordable.

Find Los navegantes in iTunes and Google Play

Available for iPad and Android

Recommended for preschool and up

Price: FREE (2 units); additional units $0.99 apiece

Check out the Telefonica Learning Services website, Facebook, or Twitter.

Another multi-level, multilingual app, Mr. Mouse from Chocolapps is a great spelling and vocabulary resource. In six languages and three levels, your kids can learn themed vocabulary, including First Words and Fruits & Vegetables.

The objective is to spell as many words as possible correctly so as not to wake Mr. Mouse, the sleepwalking mouse whose dreams provide clues for players.

Mr. Mouse is just one of many educational apps from Chocolapps, which offers a helpful parents’ community.

Find Mr. Mouse in iTunes

Available for iPad and iPhone

Recommended for ages 4-8

Price: $1.99

Check out more from Chocolapps on their website, Facebook, and Twitter.

We review a lot of family-friendly apps that kids can discover on their own, but I’d like to share a useful one that is intended for therapists, teachers, and parents who want to help students of all ages with Spanish pronunciation. Spanish Artik from Smarty Ears is a thorough app whose structure is based on the science of phonemes, a linguistic term referring to the smallest units (sounds) of a language.

This app allows you to add multiple students and have them participate one at a time or alternate turns. The instructor or parent can select the particular phonemes (for example the two “r” sounds, r-trill and r-flap) for each student and the placement of those sounds within the word. The app then generates a list of words that meet the criteria. Once you begin practicing, each word shows up with a picture, and you can click to hear it pronounced and even record the student’s voice. Indicate whether the student pronounced the word correctly, and the app will keep track of the results, which can be emailed or printed.

With over 450 words and customizable settings including rotating images (for group use), this app is a long-term investment in keeping Spanish skills fresh. It would be an excellent refresher for a nonnative speaker like myself and a great way to record a child’s speech progress, but can also be used in a formal classroom setting.

If you know anything about phonemes or are interested in finding out how breaking down words can help with fluency, visit the Smarty Ears list of resources about language learning and technology.

Find Spanish Artik in iTunes

Available for iPhone and iPad

Recommendedfor speech therapists and parents

Price $19.99

For other Spanish apps from Smarty Ears, check out this page. Also find Smarty Ears on Facebook and Twitter.