In today’s world, it can be a bit of a challenge to keep children entertained and occupied, especially during the school holidays.
As the rising cost of living, stranger danger, and the increasing unpredictability of the weather are all contributing factors to kids staying indoors, parents are looking for good solutions to entertain kids.
Thankfully this has been made a little bit easier due to modern technology like smartphones, tablets, and other types of electronic devices.
While you might not want to give them too much screen time, you also can’t deny there are lots of child-friendly apps available. Not only do apps provide plenty of fun, but they are very educational, too.
In this article, we will highlight 10 of the best learning apps for kids. Download any of these to your child’s device and you can rest assured they will be engaged and engrossed for as long as you want them to be, on something very beneficial to them. Whether you are looking for fun apps for kids, fidget apps, or this or that apps, or best educational apps, keep reading to find the top options.
What to Look for in an App for Kids
Most parents would agree that giving a child a device for them to play mindlessly is not the best option. A little preparation on the parents’ part can lead to safe device time for kids.
Parents typically want something that their kids can enjoy playing and if it’s educational, that’s even better. Make sure the apps you choose for your child are age appropriate. You’ll also want to check the content to be sure it is appropriate. Obviously, different parents have different thoughts on what is appropriate regarding violence, language, etc. Be sure you know what apps and games contain before allowing your child to play.
Top 10 Apps for Kids
1. Kids Academy
Comprising more than 5,000 learning activities for preschool children, Kids Academy is a brilliant app to let your little ones experiment with.
By adopting some of the most advanced adaptive, gamification, personalized learning, and artificial intelligence technologies currently available, Kids Academy provides an excellent platform for learning through play.
This includes everything from puzzles and informative videos and games to printable and interactive worksheets, flashcards, and songs. All of these are designed to educate and engage children in a fun way.
Covering subjects like reading, math, science, social studies, and language arts, Kids Academy can be downloaded onto your child’s iPad, iPhone, or Android device.
2. ABC Mouse
If you are looking for safe apps for kids to use then ABC Mouse is a good bet.
Both an app and a website, it is much loved by children around the world for its quizzes, activities, and videos that are all storyline based.
To keep them engaged it even features a virtual map which tracks the pathway of how your child is learning.
Focusing on the core subjects of math, reading, arts, colors, and the world around us, this learning tool aims to widen your child’s knowledge base. It also strives to improve their overall confidence and set them up for future success.
The great thing about ABC Mouse is that all of its games come with voiced instructions. This enables even the youngest of children to explore and experiment with it.
Suitable for kids aged between two and eight years old, it can be downloaded from the Amazon App Store and is available on iOS, Android, and PC.
3. World Geography Quiz Game
Want your children to find out more about the different continents and countries that make up the world? Then consider introducing them to World Geography Quiz Game.
This fabulous app enables children to learn all about iconic international landmarks and notable historical facts, as well as different cultures, countries, and cities that are far away from where they live.
It does this through a series of thrilling and captivating games and features that they will really enjoy. One involves shaking their device, whereupon they will be transported to a mystery destination.
Aimed at those age four years old and above, World Geography Quiz Game can be downloaded from the Apple App Store.
4. Khan Academy
On the hunt for some free math apps for kids? Well, look no further than Khan Academy.
This comprehensive app is designed for all children from pre-school to high school. Encompassing thousands of educational materials, it covers everything from basic math to history and art.
The videos on this app are designed to help children learn at a pace they are comfortable with and as it is a non-profit platform, the entire program is free to use. So you will not have to concern yourself with costly subscription fees.
Available on both iOS and Android, it even has a sister app called Khan Academy Kids that includes most of the features on the main app. Khan Academy Kids is for those four years old and under.
5. Solar System Scope
There are plenty of science apps for kids out there, but few can match Solar System Scope for its sheer educational and enjoyment factor.
This terrific app introduces children to the fascinating world of outer space, enabling them to explore the Milky Way and planets they were previously unaware of.
It even allows them to familiarize themselves with the moon, sun, various constellations, and dwarf planets in a way that makes kids feel as if they are traveling through it.
This app can be installed on an Android, iPhone, or iPad device. It features a demo you can use for free, as well as a paid version which you can subscribe to if you like what you see. This is one of our favorite iPad apps for students.
6. Epic!
Widely regarded as one of the best reading apps for kids currently available, Epic! is an e-library that provides access to more than 35,000 children’s books.
Aimed at children between the ages of two and 12, these books come in several formats. This includes early readers, picture books, read-to-me, chapter books, and even audio books.
With new books added on a weekly basis, this app helps your child to fall in love with reading. It even provides them with personalized suggestions which are based on their interests and current reading level.
For parents, one of the best features of this app is that it keeps a log of what books your child has chosen to read and for what length of time. This information is emailed to you, which will easily help you keep track of their progress.
While this is a paid app, your first month of Epic! is free.
7. Reading Eggs
Reading Eggs is widely viewed as one of the best learning apps for kids.
Accessible on your iPad, iPhone, Android, and web, this platform strives to make reading enjoyable, informative, and fun for children.
Based on ratified scientific research, Reading Eggs focuses on five key elements of successful reading, namely vocabulary, phonics, fluency, phonemic awareness, and comprehension.
It does this by offering guided reading lessons, as well as access to over 2,000 online storybooks. Reading games and other fun activities are also part of its portfolio.
Designed for children who are about to start school, or are less advanced with their reading, this app strives to not only motivate children to read, but also nurture within them a love for reading at home.
Reading Eggs offers a free trial. After the trial there are three different pricing models you can choose from.
8. BYJU’s Learning App with Disney Characters
One of the best apps for kids who love Pixar and Disney characters like Belle, Woody ,and Ariel is General Learning.
In a stroke of genius, these characters are cast as teachers. However, rather than presenting traditional-style educational lessons, they take them on a fascinating adventure. The characters relate lots of facts and tidbits of information to the children.
This app is particularly good at explaining reading and math concepts. It’s done in a clever way that masks the fact that children are being “taught” as they watch the videos.
It can be downloaded from both the Google Play and Apple App Stores. It even has a parental zone where you will find a report of how your child is progressing with what they are learning.
9. LetterSchool
LetterSchool is a terrific handwriting app which helps younger children learn how to scribe the alphabet.
It does this through a selection of tracing exercises, videos, puzzles, and songs to which children instantly seem to respond.
When teaching your child, the app incorporates a three-step process. The first involves being made aware of each stroke’s starting points, while the second focuses on tracing the letter. The third encourages them to actually write the letter without any prompts.
It aims to teach children how to write both upper and lower case letters, as well as numbers from 1 to 10. LetterSchool does this in an animated and engrossing way which challenges kids to develop their handwriting skills while learning their letters.
The app can be used on your iPad, iPhone, or Android. It charges a monthly or more cost-effective annual fee.
10. Kidlo Coding
For those wanting coding apps for kids, the doyen app has to be Kidlo Coding.
Much loved by children around the world, this awesome coding game educates children about the basics of computer programming.
It introduces various concepts within the sphere of coding via the method of sequential visual coding, an essential skill in our fast-developing world.
Overall, there are more than 50 enjoyable and interactive games for kids to play. The games invite kids to solve various problems while improving their memory and enhancing their logical thinking.
Although there is a free version of the app, if your child enjoys it you might want to upgrade to the paid version. It has over 1000 levels which teach them topics like loops, functions, sequences, and arrays.