In our world of technology there is absolutely no avoiding the battle of too much screen time! There is however a simple solution, or at least a happy barter. Educational apps have emerged as vibrant tools that not only engage children but also enhance their learning experiences. As there are SO many to choose from, which can be daunting for parents, we have put together a top 15 list. We have chosen these apps for their unique features that serve in the growth of foundational skills, creativity and curiosity. 1. Khan Academy Kids Khan Academy Kids is a treasure trove of interactive learning experiences tailored for children aged 2-8. With an extensive library of activities ranging from math to reading comprehension, the app employs delightful characters who guide kids through lessons with stories and games, making learning not just educational but also entertaining. 2. PBS Kids Games Featuring beloved characters from PBS shows, the PBS Kids Games app offers a host of interactive games that focus on subjects like literacy, math, and science. The engaging animations and familiar faces turn educational content into a playful adventure that captures children’s attention and makes learning a shared experience with family and friends. 3. Duolingo Duolingo transforms language learning into a fun and gamified experience. With bite-sized lessons, colorful visuals, and a reward system, kids can embark on their journey to learn new languages like Spanish, French, or even Japanese. Its bright interface promotes daily practice and encourages kids to embrace challenges in language acquisition. 4. Prodigy Math Prodigy Math presents a unique blend of role-playing games and math practice. Perfect for teachers and parents looking to support math skills, the app adapts to each child’s skill level, building confidence as they advance through increasingly challenging levels while defeating fantasy creatures along the way. 5. Epic! Epic! is a digital library providing unlimited access to thousands of children’s books, audiobooks, and educational videos. With curated collections across various subjects, it sparks a love for reading and supports literacy development while allowing kids to explore genres and topics that pique their interests. 6. Tynker For aspiring coders, Tynker is a stellar platform that equips children with the basics of programming through engaging games and projects. It cultivates problem-solving skills and critical thinking by allowing kids to create their own games, songs, or animations, thus nurturing their creativity and technical proficiency. 7. Hopscotch Hopscotch makes coding accessible and fun for children aged 9 and up. The app allows kids to learn programming concepts while creating games and animations. Its user-friendly interface enhances their understanding of logical thinking and the computational aspects of coding, all while having fun with design. 8. BrainPOP With its animated educational videos covering topics from science to history, BrainPOP captivates young minds. The accompanying quizzes and interactive activities reinforce what kids learn from the videos, allowing for engagement and interaction that transforms passive learning into an active exploration of information. 9. Osmo Osmo takes educational gaming to the next level by blending physical play with digital experiences. Using hands-on activities with physical pieces combined with an iPad or tablet, kids engage in creative problem-solving and strategic thinking. Osmo’s apps cover subjects from math to spelling, affirming the blend of tactile and digital learning approaches. 10. Cut the Rope: Magic While it may seem like just a fun game, Cut the Rope: Magic incorporates aspects of physics and problem-solving. Children learn to think critically as they navigate puzzles that require them to strategize and apply logical thinking to progress through levels, seamlessly merging entertainment with educational value. 11. Starfall Ideal for preschoolers and early elementary children, Starfall focuses on literacy and math skills through engaging stories, games, and songs. Its phonics-based approach helps young learners develop reading skills, while the colorful graphics and cute characters keep them entertained and eager to learn. 12. Classdojo ClassDojo is an excellent app for fostering communication between home and school. This platform facilitates classroom management, encouraging positive behavior and engagement. Parents can follow their child’s progress, while students are motivated to develop their social skills and teamwork, thereby enhancing the educational experience. 13. ScratchJr ScratchJr serves as a gentle introduction to programming for younger kids, teaching them how to create interactive stories and games. With easy-to-use programming blocks, children learn foundational coding skills while expressing their creativity, promoting a sense of achievement and confidence in their abilities. 14. Brainly Brainly is a homework helper that connects students with a vast community of peers and experts for academic support. By fostering collaboration and peer-to-peer learning, the app allows children to ask questions and receive guidance on various topics, promoting critical thinking and self-directed learning. 15. National Geographic Kids With its stunning visuals and captivating content, National Geographic Kids engages children’s curiosity about the world around them. The app is filled with articles, videos, and quizzes that cover a range of topics—from wildlife to geography—helping to shape informed global citizens who are passionate about the environment. The infusion of educational apps enhances their learning journey through reading, math, science and even coding and critical thinking. Embracing these tools can transform traditional learning experiences, paving the way for children to thrive in an increasingly digital and interconnected world, not to mention saving you from the dreaded screen time fight!
Being a parent has always been a tough job as we always seem to running from one place to the next. Getting time to help our children do their homework and study seems to be even harder. I began to look for different websites and apps that could help my children study and practice while in the car or while at a sibling’s event or practice that would be fun, but also practice in the area(s) they need the most. Multiplication Table for Kid’s Math: This app is a fun one! They learn the multiplication table from 1-12. There are 4 times tables modes: Story, Lesson, Kid Challenge, and Duel. They can play the Math Duel with a friend! There are easy and hard puzzles, simple and complex math equations, (even with addition and subtraction). The story mode gives you 3 lives per multiplication table and they need to try and get through as many as they can without losing their lives. Check Out Multiplication Table for Kid’s Math on Google Play Store! Reading Eggs: Reading and sight words can be a hard thing for young readers. Reading Eggs sight words is a great app for both the phone and the tablet. This free app helps children learn 100 site words, such as he, she the, ect. It’s has 4 levels with 25 words in each level! This is a fun game to start at age 3 for the early learning, but has all the 100 words they need for kindergarten! And at the end of each lesson, the word is spelled! This will help them learn and have fun in no time! Check out Reading Eggs on Google Play Store! English Reading Comprehension Another hard thing for kids is comprehending what they read! Many kids can read, but can’t always remember what it was that they were reading. English Reading Comprehension is a free app for them! This app allows your child to read and take a test based off of what they read. It also has questions based off of words and phrase, spelling and grammar. They are categorized by 5 grades. There is also a mock test. After you have practiced all types of questions, you can take the mock test. It randomly selects questions from each of the topics/ There is also no limit on how many times you can take the mock tests. This is a great app to helping that student of yours reach that goal! Check out English Reading Comprehension on Google Play Store! Check these apps out and see how much you like them and how much your child is learning!
Math can be difficult enough, let alone finding a way to make it fun. http://www.elitehometutoring.com/ compiled a list of 10 Fun Math games and the best part, they’re free! If flash cards aren’t intriguing and practicing linear slopes doesn’t create excitement- but the skills need to be sharpened beyond what homework provides-a fresh fun angle might be what’s needed. When math becomes fun through timed courses, blasting through alien slime and “chomping” through a Pac-Man style maze; games like Minecraft and Halo no longer replace study time. Let’s face it, staring at a sheet of paper hardly holds a light to the glamorous lights and sounds of the gaming world. Math games not only intrigue more sensory centers in the brain, they engage the mind to learn beyond memorization. The fun math websites listed below are tried and tested by real students and caregivers: 1) At http://www.coolmath-games.com/0-unlucky-robber, students can learn geometric angles, timing and spacial reasoning as they race through a climbing obstacle with the goal of finding treasure in the game “Unlucky Robber”. 2) Young learners can choose the level of difficulty as they play “Math Match” at http://www.abcya.com/math_match.htm. With options from addition to division this fun memory card style game has an exciting ten second bonus round at the completion of every series. 3) Fractions mean fueling up an asteroid blasting rocket as you race across the universe in the game “Space Fractions” on http://www.funbrain.com/brain/Adventure/SpaceFractions/index.html. 4) Move over Angry Birds, this astronaut worm is hurled through space by a slingshot aimed at the subtraction solutions in this game of accuracy and timing. Watch out for the asteroids that will knock you off course! http://www.funbrain.com/brain/Adventure/SlingShot/index.html 5) Symmetry is so much more fun and creative in the gorgeously displayed jigsaw puzzles at http://www.mathsisfun.com/puzzles/jigsaw-puzzles-index.html 6) Math isn’t fun if you don’t know the words, learn math words and a few more in “Hangman”. http://www.mathsisfun.com/games/hangman-game-with-math-words.html 7) Multiplying large sums is no longer daunting confusion in this lattice multiplication game. This fun game of multiplication lends an awesome tool that students will use throughout their education. http://www.coolmath4kids.com/times-tables/times-tables-lesson-lattice-multiplication-1.html 8) Linear equations have never been so fun as they are in the game or rescuing Zogs. These little Zogs have more patience than a classroom setting when it comes to hanging on until the answer is correct! http://www.mathplayground.com/SaveTheZogs/SaveTheZogs.html 9) Practice percentages, multiplication and real world math as you travel through “Math at the Mall”; http://www.mathplayground.com/mathatthemall2.html. 10) Explore the broad range of math games for every student from kindergarten to pre-calculus at http://www.mathplayground.com/. If these math games still don’t aid in your learning process, we can help! Contact Elite Home Tutoring and get on track with a custom plan to get the results you want through one of our credentialed tutors in your area. Please visit: http://www.elitehometutoring.com/ and our concierge service will locate a tutor near you.