Ever since the release of Apple’s iOS 8 software, you’ve been able to release the default virtual keyboard of an iPhone or iPad with ones made by developers – SwiftKey, Swype and Fleksy being three of the most popular.

Now there’s one for children: My First Keyboard by developer Aacorn. Released for iPad only, it aims to give children “an engaging alternative they can use to type in almost any app”.

What that means is larger keys – 20% bigger according to its maker – and letters based on animals. There’s a walrus for W, a turtle for T, a unicorn for U and so on. When tapped, they turn into the actual letters, with the aim of helping kids to learn the alphabet, and letters’ location on a standard QWERTY keyboard.

Note, there’s also an alternative “blocks theme” which Aacorn says may suit older children, or even parents. The keyboard can also flip from QWERTY mode to ABC mode, if that’s what your children prefer. It can even remember their regularly-used words and make suggestions as they type.

It’s a very good idea, and we suspect it won’t be the last keyboard replacement app for kids to be released. For now, My First Keyboard costs £1.99 for iPad from Apple’s App Store.