Educational Apps for Kids
Apps for Kids
There is no escaping technology. It is everywhere. Parents use it, kid’s use it and now with the addition of educational apps even toddlers are using devices.
Whether you like it or not, technology plays a huge part in our lives and kids are using it from an earlier age and also understanding how it works faster.
I have previously written about what age you should introduce technology to your kids because for some ages it can be beneficial, and if you can manage or better yet teach your kids to manage their digital time effectively, technology can be an amazing educational tool.
There are so many engaging apps for kids but here are some of my favourite ones.
Toddlers to Pre-Schoolers
1. ABC for Kids – FREE
This app is great for toddler and pre-schoolers because it offers a range of options that will not only entertain but also educate.
They can watch their favourite shows including Peppa Pig, Play School, Sesame Street and more, play games, sing songs and even get mum or dad to print out activity sheets to colour in later.
2. Toddler Flashcards – FREE
As the name suggests, this interactive app is great for toddlers because it introduces letters, numbers, different foods, animals and their sounds. The best thing about Toddler Flashcards is that instead of using animated images they use pictures of real animals. The free version of this app offers 13 language options however if you want more you’ll need to upgrade to the paid version.
3. Chalk Pad – FREE
This is a great app for trips in the car when kids want to draw but you want to steer away from having pens in such close proximity to the seats. Kids can draw in a number of different colours and adjust the chalk size. This offers toddlers the ability to freestyle draw in a simple, easy to use app.
4. Toca Doctor - $2.99
This is a great app to introduce the human body and the medical profession to your kids in a fun and interactive way. What kid doesn’t love pretending to be a doctor? Now they can examine patients as they solve puzzles.
Toca Doctor gives children the freedom to play how they like with no rules or stress, just fun! And better than that – NO third party advertising and NO in-app purchases.
5. LEGO DUPLO Ice Cream – FREE
If you immediately think why would a child play a game about DUPLO when they could go and actually build, you aren’t alone, I did too. However this app is more than just putting LEGO together. It demonstrates the importance of friendship and working together. It is a very fun and vibrant game that toddlers love!
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6. Little Stars – FREE
Education has been made fun with this Little Stars app. Toddler games surround a range of topics that encourage letter, number and shape recognition, in addition to first words.
Along the way kids earn rewards, stickers and get to see their rocket fly into space. This is a fun and engaging app for pre-schoolers.
7. The Wheels On The Bus – FREE
You might think it is only kids songs and sing-alongs but this app is more than meets the eye. Inclusive of educational games and fun colouring in activities, your little one will love the bright graphics and musical tunes.
8. YouTube Kids – FREE
If your kids are interested in watching YouTube videos but you want to avoid the advertisements and age inappropriate clips, than YouTube Kids is perfect. It allows kids to view a selection of kid-friendly channels that include their favourites Pepper Pig and Sesame Street. In addition to educational videos.
It also has a timer to assist parents in monitoring the time spent on devices however it is not the most accurate so do not reply on it.
9. Breathe, Think, Do with Sesame – FREE
When a child gets frustrated the first thing many parents do is reach for their phones to distract the child. This app encourages and educates kids on how to calm themselves with deep breathes, and to think and solve problems to feel better.
The monster demonstrates how to deep breathe, build skills for resilience and overcome challenges. Just as you have come to expect from Sesame Street, this app is educational and fun.
10. Princess Fairy Tale Maker – FREE
Get ready to see your child get creative as they design their very own story complete with castles, rainbows, fairyland, princesses, ballerinas, food and more. This app allows children to decorate the scenes and even add sparkles and glitter to the tale.
While not all kids apps are purely educational, as you can see from this list there are quite a few good ones available. Better yet, there are quite a lot of FREE apps available on iTunes and Android that are educational and engaging for toddlers and pre-schoolers.
These apps can be particularly handy when you are taking a road trip as a form of entertainment, while you get a bit of house cleaning done, etc. It is also important to remember that even though your child is using educational apps, ensuring a good mix of physical play and technology based play is crucial.
Kell Kelly