30 Awesome Educational Apps for Kids

Written By Wandering Roots

The best apps we’ve found to build children’s academic & soft skills

We (especially Mum) have a bit of an “anti-tech” philosophy as far as raising our kids - we want them to value real life experiences and relationships over virtual ones. However, schools (around the world, as we’re experiencing) are requiring kids to use tablets and computers even at a young age: our junior kindergarteners (ages 4-5) had to do homework on 3 different (and dreadful!) school-mandated apps.

We have accepted that our kids should know how to use tech, feeling that not familiarizing them with the fundamentals of using tablets and programs may disadvantage them. But we have been very intentional about the kinds of apps we let our kids use; we’ve personally tried out well over 100 apps aimed at children looking for those that fit all or most of the following criteria:

  • Educational and/or skills-building - we want the time our kids are on screens to have value beyond keeping them entertained. We seek apps that teach them something: soft skills like problem solving, creativity, and patience or academic skills like reading and math.

  • Nonviolent - we don’t want apps in which animals or people are hurt or killed.

  • Not stressful - so many games out there have countdown timers or mark your choices as wrong or incorrect. We don’t want our kids feeling anxious because of a program. We opt for games without high scorers, failures, limits, and stress so our kids can learn at their own pace.

  • No ads - while an app’s content might be suited to kids, we’ve found that advertisements on these apps are often not appropriate. Further, we don’t want our kids unnecessarily exposed to product marketing. Some of the apps below are free with ads - we paid a minor amount to be ad-free.

  • Offline capable - with all the travel we do, we prefer apps that don’t require an internet correction to function. Limited but still good functionality without internet is okay in our books.

  • Preferably single purchase vs. subscription - we’d rather pay for an app once instead of every month, but some apps don’t offer that option and are still worth having.

Here are the apps that made the cut for our family. We’ve ordered apps within each category roughly by age suitability, with youngest at the top. Please tell us about others that you’ve found to be valuable for your kids via the Comments function at the bottom of this page!

“One stop shop” apps that have (almost) everything

Khan Academy Kids app icon

Khan Academy Kids

Khan Academy Kids (by Khan Academy) is award winning and completely free with no ads or subscriptions, building kids’ reading, spelling, problem solving, math, and creative skills through thousands of different activities aimed at kids ages 2-8.

Apple | Google Play | Amazon*

Endless Learning

Endless Learning Academy (subscription, by Originator) - the all-in-one option from the Endless apps family (covered more below) that teaches everything from ABCs, handwriting, phonics, spelling, early math to emotions, music, Spanish, shapes & colors, sizes, time, directions, anatomy, senses, … the list goes on. This app is aimed at kids 2-5.

Only available from Apple (and designed for iPads)

Apps for kids who can’t read (yet!) that stay fun even once they do read!

Busy Shapes & Colors (by Edoki Academy) is designed for toddlers and preschoolers, teaching them shapes and colors as they use fine motor and problem solving skills to progress through puzzles.

Apple | Google Play | Amazon*

DNA Play (by Avokiddo) lets kids build new monsters by matching up “DNA component” shape pieces. The resulting monsters are very silly, which our kids adore.

Apple | Google Play | Amazon*

Monument Valley (by ustwo games) is Mum’s all-time favorite game - it is beautiful, relaxing, and builds great problem solving and spatial skills. Your job is to guide a princess through various 3D optical illusion puzzles. There are only 3 actions you can take: walk the princess, drag a component up or down, or twist a handle. Mum found it particularly helpful in teaching our kids that even though something is hard, it is possible and perseverance will get you there. There are 2 apps:

Thinkrolls (by Avokiddo) is an award-winning logic puzzle game that help build young kids’ (ages 2-8) reasoning and problem solving skills as they guide little rolling characters through puzzles. There are 5 different Thinkrolls apps: 4 are one-time purchases and the last is an expanded collection of games only on Apple products and with a subscription:

Flow Free (by Big Duck Games) is a puzzle game where you connect matching colored dots on a grid with “pipes” without any crossovers to move up. Its a simple problem in concept that kids can easily grasp, and builds spatial and problem solving skills and creative thinking.

Apple | Google Play | Amazon*

Sort Water Color Puzzle (by Sonat) is another problem solving game with a simple goal and single possible action (pouring from one container to another) that young kids can quickly grasp. One of our kids is really into colors, and so loves this one.

Apple | Google Play

Code Karts (by Edoki Academy) builds early computer coding skills in kids with logic puzzles requiring kids to instruct race cars in navigating different tracks. The app is recommended for kids 4 and older.

Apple | Google Play | Amazon*

World of Peppa Pig (by Find Your Fun) is designed for preschoolers aged 4 and up. There are many different activity options building creativity, problem solving, and story-crafting, and reinforcing great values like nurturing and caring. There is lots of free content; for full access, you will need a subscription.

Apple | Google Play | Amazon*

Apps that teach kids to read & write letters & numbers

The Endless Apps (by Originator) - these are all great, employing adorable monsters and their silly stories to keep your kids learning. Some of these are used by schools, and you can buy them in some app stores as a bundle - or (if you have an iPad) just go with the subscription option, Endless Learning Academy, covered above. Each of our kids has gravitated towards a different combination of the apps according to their particular interests:

  • Endless Alphabet is a great start for very little kids learning their ABCs and building their English vocabulary with adorable monsters - Apple | Google Play | Amazon*

  • Endless Numbers is the companion game to Endless Alphabet (above) teaching early numeracy: number recognition, value, quantity, pattern recognition, and simple addition, all with the adorable Endless monsters - Apple | Google Play | Amazon*

  • Endless Reader follows on from Endless Alphabet, introducing frequent (heart/sight) words in English, many of which have unusual spellings and can’t be sounded out easily with phonics - Apple | Google Play | Amazon*

  • Endless Wordplay focuses on spelling, word building, and rhymes in English, reinforcing spelling rules, patterns, and variations on a fun learning path that gives our kids the sense that they’re making progress - Apple | Google Play | Amazon*

Duolingo ABC (by Duolingo) is award-winning and 100% free. It improves reading and writing, teaching phonics, handwriting, sight words, spelling, and vocabulary. It is for kids 4 and up.

Apple | Google Play

Writing Wizard (by L'Escapadou/Pierre Abel) is an award-winning app used in many schools that helps kids write letters and numbers, suitable for toddlers through second graders. This app really helped our kids to neaten their handwriting and overcome their tendency to flip letters and numbers.

Apple | Google Play | Amazon*

Apps that teach kids math

Also check out the Endless Learning Academy (iPad only) and Endless Numbers apps covered above.

Math & Logic (by SpeedyMind) is for kids 4 years old and up (to about 4th grade) which builds kids math basics (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division), logic, and attention spans. You select the difficulty level for your kid so that the app is attuned.

Apple | Google Play

Duolingo Math (by Duolingo) - Duolingo is famous for effectively teaching languages, but one of their courses is math (another is music, which we cover below) and its great for kids, with an approach very much aligned to the “new math” (wink!) we are seeing our kids’ school used. Create a profile for your kid - and add on another language and the music course too (we go over these below)! Its completely free with Duolingo ads, or you can pick from a few subscription options.

Apple | Google Play | Amazon* | Huawei

stitch. (by Lykkegaard Europe) won an Apple Design Award for inclusivity and, like Monument Valley, beautifully combines art and logic. Its a logic puzzle game around the theme of embroidery where you fill areas without gaps. This game really speaks to our art-loving kid.

Only on Apple

MathTango (by Originator) says its designed for kids aged 5-10, but we personally think its best if your kids can read before taking this on - at least a little, so they can understand the to-do list of quests. This app teaches math in a very fun way for kids: collecting monsters, completing quests, building worlds, and finding treasure. This is set up as a subscription. - Apple | Google Play

Apps that teach kids Spanish & other languages

Endless Spanish (by Originator) is the Spanish version of Endless Reader (above), helping kids build their vocabulary of frequent Spanish words from a young age. The app has 2 modes: Immersion is for native Spanish speakers and advanced learners, and Spanish with English Translation for most native English speakers.

Apple | Google Play | Amazon*

Duolingo is the most downloaded education app globally. It allows parents to create profiles for kids ages 5 and up, and offers courses in more than 40 languages (as well as math and music) where your kids practice speaking, reading, listening, and writing to build their vocabulary and grammar skills. You can use it with ads for free (and a limit on incorrect answers before you have to wait for “lives” to refill); there are a few subscription options if those suit you better.

Apple | Google Play | Amazon* | Huawei

Apps that teach kids music

Duolingo Music - Music is a “language” you can add to your child’s Duolingo (in addition to foreign languages and math). The music course is very intuitive, teaching kids to identify notes, read music, and play familiar songs. Learning music has been shown to help children (and adults) with reading, verbal, listening, and math skills in general.

Apple | Google Play | Amazon* | Huawei

ScoreSkills (by Compoze Music Solutions) is another great app rated for kids 4 and older to learn to read, write, and play music. Dad is a musician and has a distinct preference for this app over Duolingo’s course; Mum isn’t a musician and likes this one a little better too, but not nearly by so much!

Currently on Apple only but coming to Android soon

Other great apps (for kids 4 & up)

Assemble with Care (by ustwo games) asks you to repair beloved but broken objects as part of a story about Maria, a globe-trotting antique restorer. Our kids love this, and we love how much it builds their logic, spatial, and problem solving skills, as well as patience, tolerance, and compassion.

Apple | Google Play

Leo’s Fortune (by 1337 & Senri) involves guiding a puff (sorry, I have no better explanation) through physics-based obstacle courses and puzzles with very simple operational options (left/right and puffed up/flat). We love the problem solving, creative thinking, perseverance, and tolerance for frustration that it builds.

Apple | Google Play | Amazon*

Alba: A Wildlife Adventure (by ustwo games) has the same beautiful design and music that makes ustwo’s other games so amazing. Here, you guide little Alba around her grandparents’ Mediterranean island, identifying and saving wildlife, restoring a refuge, and many other good and responsible deeds. We love the emphasis on appreciating and caring for nature without any stress.

Only on Apple

In case you’re interested: Our Family’s Approach to Technology

All families are different and use screens differently. We limit our kids’ screen time (apps or TV) to 30 minutes or less on weekdays, and 1 movie (usually 45mins to 1 hour and 15 mins) on a weekend. We highly recommend that parents read (or listen to) The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt (Amazon | Audible) to understand the impact that technology (especially social media) has on the brains of developing children.

*Please note that this post includes affiliate links to the Amazon store. Amazon pays us a very small amount if you choose to purchase from them - this in no way impacts the price that you pay for the products. By the sheer number of apps on this page that are not available on Amazon, I hope you feel assured that our recommendations are not swayed towards apps we could see small earnings from.

Other posts of ours you might enjoy:

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