Breaking it Down By Age: Which Apps Should Your Kids Be Using?
Whether you’re looking for educational apps for kids for free or you’re willing to pay, there are plenty of great options available for each age group.
Our team worked together to create a list of our personal favorites. Here is a versatile collection of educational apps for students and other little ones depending on their age.
Are There Any Good Apps for Babies?
While many researchers don’t believe in offering screen times to any babies under 2 , some parents might still be wondering whether there are beneficial options for tiny tots who are interested in their parents’ phones.
If you’re looking to introduce your little one to a phone app, one of these options might be a good place to start:
Available for the low price of $1.99 on iTunes, iBabyPhone is for babies who are curious about our devices.
This app allows you to safely hand your phone over to babies as young as 6 months and let them pretend to make calls, press buttons, and look at things.
It also comes with various learning opportunities to teach them about animals, colors, shapes, and more.
Once my daughter became about six months old, I could already see that element of interest in her eyes when she’d look at my phone.
Baby Rattle is for situations like this!
For $1.99 on iTunes, this app gives your baby something to look at on your phone without being overwhelming. It introduces four different “rattle screens” that are soothing and eye-catching to babies of all ages.
Is your little one interested in music? If so, they’re sure to love the different music and sounds that come with Baby Piano !
Versions of this app are available for both iOS and Windows and come in either a free “lite” version or a paid “full” version.
Best Educational Apps for 3-Year-Olds and Preschoolers
When you’re looking for the best educational apps for preschoolers and other toddler-aged kids, the number of different options can seem overwhelming.
Whether you want them to brush up on their math skills or learn about the alphabet, these educational apps for 3-year olds and up are some of the most recommended:
When you’re searching for the best educational apps for 3-year-olds and beyond, why not choose one that utilizes all of your child’s favorite PBS characters, such as Arthur, Dinosaur Train , or Super Why!
That’s where the PBS Kids Games app comes in!
This free app is available on all devices, including Kindle Fire. It incorporates characters from tons of popular shows into various learning games to help improve your child’s skills in math, reading, and more.
While most reviews are positive, one parent did say that some younger children might need a lot of help working the games at first.
When you’re looking for activities for toddlers at home , busting out any and all of your LeapFrog toys is always a great way to encourage fun and learning.
So it should come as no surprise that this educational powerhouse has also come out with an educational app for kids, called LeapFrog Academy Learning , which is full of versatile learning opportunities.
Available on most devices, this app comes with a free one-month trial. Once that offer ends, there are a few different subscription options, starting with a $7.99/per month price.
Most parents were impressed with the wide selection of topics and activities on this app, but some mentioned it was more expensive than they think it should be. Others did reference occasional problems with loading.
DuoLingo is famous for its language learning applications.
That’s not the only service they offer, though! They’ve also created one of the best educational apps for preschoolers who want to learn how to read called DuoLingo ABC – Learn to Read .
What’s even better, however, is that this 5-star rated app is readily available on most devices, and it is FREE!
Screen time doesn’t have to be all bad. Kids can learn from educational shows and have fun at the same time!
Best Educational Apps for Kindergarten and Elementary Schoolers
As kids begin their learning experience, it’s crucial to find educational apps for students that meet their growing skills and needs, like these:
Whether you need educational apps for kindergarten students who are just starting their reading journey or you’re looking for more advanced early-reading options, Homer Learn and Grow is one of the leading phonics-based education apps available for young learners.
Available for iOS devices, this a free app that comes with different in-purchase options. It has more than 17,000 reviews on iTunes and an impressive 4.4-star rating.
The one downfall I noticed is that some parents complained the cancellation process can be tricky.
In our house, ABC Mouse is a favorite! This top-rated app appeals to kids of all different ages and offers beneficial learning opportunities in various subjects. The most popular ones are math, science, reading, and art.
This app is available on all devices, which makes it a great option for any family.
So, what’s the bad part of this app? It’s definitely not the cheapest option. There are different payment plans starting at $12.99 a month.
With over 40,000 reviews and nearly a 5-star rating, Prodigy is an iOS and Windows app that is a popular choice for any family searching for the best math educational apps for kids.
One of the things parents and kids alike love about this app is the fact that not only does it offer ample learning opportunities, but it’s also tons of fun!
Best Educational Apps for Pre-Teens
Once our kids hit their pre-teen years, it’s a pretty safe bet that they’ll be relatively skilled in the device department.
That doesn’t mean we should stop trying to find educational apps for students that will continue to benefit their development, though. So if you’re looking for good options, try these:
A close friend of mine works for our local parks department and told me that iNaturalist has become one of the most popular science and nature apps among the pre-teens that they work with.
If your son or daughter is interested in learning more about the world around them, this app might be a good option. It’s a free app that’s available on most devices.
Has your child taken an interest in coding? If so, it’s time to get them on the award-winning iOS app, Box Island !
Utilizing beautiful graphics and challenging puzzles, this educational app for kids will teach them all of the coding basics they need to get started.
Plus, it’s a free app, although it does allow in-app purchases.
One reviewer did note that it’s not always easy to access the in-app purchases if you’re looking to use them (this might also be a benefit since kids can’t easily make purchases).
If you’re looking for a math app to help your student expand their skills, Marble Math might be an ideal option. Available for both iOS and Windows, this top-rated puzzle app is only $3.99.
Additionally, it’s a reliable choice for most pre-teens because it lets you pick your skill level and difficulty based on your unique wants and needs.
If you’re worried about screen time keeping your family from doing things together, why not tune into an app or show you all enjoy?
Let’s Take the Screen Time Judgment Down a Notch
So, as you can see, the possibility for beneficial screen time does exist.
If you want to start exposing your little ones to various apps, there are plenty of educational apps for students and kids that will actually help increase their skill level.
Just remember to monitor their activity and help them choose the best options for their age and grade level.
And to the naysayers that try to give you a hard time about your so-called “electronic babysitter,” I offer you these three simple words: just do you.
Don’t worry about someone else’s opinion of your parenting techniques. Just do your best to make the choices that work for your family, and you’ll be on the right track.
Have you used any of the valuable educational apps for kids listed in this article? What did you think?
Nice content and lists that every parents can follow through for their kids learning needs.