Doodle Jump was rated as one of Apple’s top 2009 apps. It’s highly addictive.

I came across this post today on 10 cool iPhone applications for your kids. For those of you who are insane with work, life and the juggling act, no doubt you’ve already discovered the joy of handing over your iPhone to your child and not hearing a peep until you wrestle the thing out of their hands.

I’ve tried to keep the “screen time” at a minimum, but I will admit when I need total silence from my 4-year-old, I hand him the iPhone and tell him two words: Doodle Jump.

Some of the games on the above seem worthy of more research, but I was completely shocked that Doodle Jump didn’t make the list.

It’s my 4-year-old’s favorite app and an addiction among many of the adults I know. It entails making a little guy, The Doodler, jump around on a springy journey up, up and away on your screen. I will admit I really have no idea how to play and am routinely beaten by my son. He, on the other hand, is challenging co-workers of mine to hit 30,000+ in points.  I’ve created a monster ­– or for lack of a creative word, an iAddiction.

Other apps that have saved me when I have to take a conference call and I’ve got a 4-year-old who needs entertaining:

Lightsaber: Nathan loves this thing, though be warned – this is not one of the quietest apps. You basically build your own lightsabers and wave your iPhone around like you’re in an intense saber fight. Pretty cool.

Highlights Hidden Pictures: This is the iPhone version of the original Highlights Hidden Pictures. Nate loves doing the magazine versions at home, and now he can do them at any time on the phone. I like this one because it’s actually educational, and so I don’t feel like a nominee for Worst Mommy of the Year when I hand over the phone.

Doodle Kids: Nathan doesn’t really play this anymore, but he loved it as a toddler. I’m sure any day now my almost 2-year-old will start choosing her own iPhone apps. Doodle Kids is a simple painting program written by a 9-year-old iPhone developer in Singapore. Yeah, that’s right. I’m serious. He designed it for his sisters and all the kids of the world. Isn’t that just special?

That’s about it in terms of specific kid apps on my phone. Both of my children also love to go through my photo gallery and look at pictures of friends and family. They’ve both completely mastered the one-finger scrolling. Scary but true.

Be sure to comment below and tell me your favorite kid-friendly apps. I’m hoping we can expand our horizons past Doodle Jump!