Top 10 Educational Apps for Young Children (so your kids won’t forget everything they learned come summer!)

As moms, we all fight the daily battle that comes with parenting in this age of information and globalization: screens, or no screens? And while too much of anything is never good, the truth is that most of us can use the peace and quiet a little screen time affords. If moderate screen time* is part of your summer survival guide, you might consider downloading a few educational apps  to help make your child’s screen time more efficient. If they’re going to be sitting in front of a screen, at least let it be in front of an app that helps them brush up on their tech skills or enhance their multiplication memory muscles. They’ll think they’re getting away with something, and you’ll be able to rest easy knowing they’re not completely wasting their time. It’s win-win! 

Here are my Top Ten Educational Apps to vanquish any false mom guilt you might have about a little screen time this summer:

1. Hopscotch, Free with In-App purchases

My STEM-minded son loves this app, and if you have a future techie in the house, then Hopscotch just might be the app for you! Kids are taught to think like programmers by learning how to come up with an idea, putting together the elements of their idea, and testing out the finished product by publishing it on the app and seeing what other amateur coders have to say about it. I love seeing the proud look on my son’s face when he creates a new game and receives positive feedback from his peers! It builds his confidence and makes my mama heart proud.

This open-ended tool is designed for kids aged 8 and older.

2. Monster Math, Free with In-App Purchases

Monster Math is a math game for elementary and middle school students that my kids love because of its creative story-line  and engaging game features. It’s the kind of game that causes my kids to forget their doing math while they play! After downloading, children name their “monster” and embark on an exciting mission.

Monster Math is created for children in elementary and middle school.

3. Singapore Math Games for Kids, Free with In-App Purchases

As a home-educator, Singapore Math is hands-down my favorite math approach. It provides a proven, three-step learning plan specifically developed to teach math to kids using the Singapore method that has turned Singaporean children into some of the world’s best math students. Though this app is free to download and has a free trial, it does cost money to either purchase individual activities or a monthly/yearly membership (my personal choice). 

Created for children ages 3-7.

4. Time, Money & Fractions On- Track, $4.99

As a six-year home-school veteran, I can tell you that time, money, and fractions are not always the most naturally compelling subjects  for kids to learn. However, Time, Money & Fractions On Track will help bridge that gap. These math skills are some of my least favorite to teach, but this app makes reinforcement easy.

Created for ages 5-7

5. BabbelFree, with optional subscription

When my son decided he wanted to learn Spanish, I did some research and decided to try out Babbel.  Developed by a team of language learning experts, their goal is to get your child speaking from their very first lesson. Babbel’s lessons are short but sweet: about 10-15 minutes, and designed to send your child’s new language straight to long-term memory. 

Created for age 4+

6. How it Works? $2.99

My son and daughter love science,so I knew I needed a science app to feed their curiosity. How it Works? is full of animations, easy-to-do experiments, and fun games for non-readers that help kids explore and understand some of the most interesting natural phenomena of our planet!

Created for ages 6-8.

7. Epic!, Free Trial, then $7.99 a month

Though a real-life book is always preferable to its digital counterpart, sometimes we don’t have the bookshelf space or the suitcase space to book hoard to our heart’s content (or is it just me?). For times like these, it’s Epic! to the rescue! Epic! claims to be the leading digital library for kids, where kids can explore their interests and learn with instant and unlimited access to 25,000 high-quality e-books and audiobooks. 

Created for ages 4+

8. Film-maker Pro, Free, with possible In-App Purchases

Is one of your children an aspiring filmmaker? Consider downloading Film-maker Pro! My kids would tell you this is their favorite app ever invented. They spend hours creating videos of themselves completing obstacle courses they composed or challenging each other in competitions; then they upload the videos onto their personal YouTube channels. They edit the videos to more reasonable lengths (at least that’s what they think), and personalize them by adding sound effects, emojis, and music

Recommended Age: 10+

9. abc Pocket Phonics Lite, Free

PocketPhonics teaches kids letter sounds, first words and handwriting.  My daughter has enjoyed learning with this app since she was four-years-old, so it is super easy to use! Apparently, independent research found children learned nine times faster using PocketPhonics compared to a classroom lesson. 

Recommended Age: 4-7

10. The Joy of Reading, $3.99

The Joy of Reading is a comprehensive collection of 9 multi-level games that are designed to encourage early reading. An array of colorful animals supports the child according to their readiness as they are exposed to systematic and explicit instruction in phonemic awareness and phonics.

Recommended Ages: 3-6

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends limited screen-time for children, especially for children 2 and under.

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Christine Kelly
Christine grew up in Wichita and always knew it was the place she wanted to raise her family. After going to Covenant College in Lookout Mountain, GA for two years and then studying abroad in Italy, she happily came back home to finish her English degree at Wichita State. While there, she met her husband, and now, 11 years later, enjoys staying home with their three children in East Wichita. When not home-schooling her oldest two, Christine enjoys intentionally building a diverse, local community, reading books and talking about them with friends (especially with a cup of coffee or glass of wine in hand), and going on adventures with her kids, exploring Kansas and learning all about the natural beauty and small-town-charm of the Midwest!