Who wants name-calling and hair-pulling in the backseat as you head over the river and through the woods to Grandmother's house for Christmas? Good old fashioned car games and sing-alongs are great, but these days, mobile apps might be even more of a lifesaver during your long holiday trek.

Let's take a look at some of the best ones out there:

• 12 free educational apps for kids from ages 2 and up -- everything from digital puzzles and flashcards to letter-tracing and memory games
• Poptropica Tips & Tricks app -- this one is from FE's super-cool sister site, Poptropica. Your little gamers will love it! This app is also free!
• 12 fun and interactive apps for preschoolers -- Elmo, Tinkerbell, and other pals guide your preschooler through cool skill-building activities. These ones range from free to pretty cheap.
• 12 must-have apps for Moms -- Mrs. Claus deserves a little fun, too!  ;)

If you're wary of letting your tot using apps at such a young age, or you don't want your older child to go overboard on screentime with his smartphone, check out our guide to smart and safe mobile app use for kids.

Shout out to the New York Times, which also just put out a list of cool kids' apps for your upcoming holiday trip.

Happy Holidays! Happy Travels!