Getting kids interested in learning has always been a challenge for educators and parents. In today’s digital age, the difficulty increases even more as websites, apps, and social media are all fighting for kids’ attention.
However, the key to solving this problem is to use digital resources as allies instead of competing with them. These digital tools are so appealing to children because they’re highly interactive and engaging.
With this in mind, the market has taken advantage of technology to develop educational apps using gamification, attractive interfaces, visual and audio-stimulating features, and more. These resources attract kids’ attention and help educators and parents in the tough yet achievable mission of making screen time meaningful.
Still, not all educational apps cater to all kids. It’s crucial to choose the appropriate one according to the child’s age, school level, and interests.
Over 15 million students count on IXL‘s extensive curriculum and personalized quiz-based teaching style to support their studies. The SmartScore algorithm, real-time diagnostic feedback, and tailored action plans are just some of the valuable features that contribute to a customized educational experience.
There are also numerous resources that motivate students and thorough analytics reports for performance tracking. This makes life easier for parents and educators, too, as they’re able to quickly check in and see where progress is being made.
Prices start at $6.58 per month, but you can give IXL a test run before fully committing by making the most of its 30-day money-back guarantee.
ABCmouse is the go-to option for toddlers as it focuses on basic concepts that prepare 2 and 3-year-olds for preschool. The app offers over 10,000 age-appropriate activities covering phonics, early reading, math, art, social studies, and science fundamentals.
Another way that ABCmouse caters to toddlers is through animations, songs, and touch screen interactions, which are essential for captivating the little ones and keeping them engaged. The cherry on top is that the platform offers several interactive games and puzzles, perfect for toddlers to learn through play and exploration.
Available on desktop and mobile devices, ABCmouse allows up to three profiles under the same subscription. Going for the annual plan results in a massive discount, and there’s a 30-day free trial for users to test the app before subscribing.
Well-known for its high-quality educational and free content, Khan Academy’s version for kids is the best learning app for preschool-aged children. The platform engages children in core subjects like early literacy, reading, writing, language, and math while encouraging creativity and helping them build social skills.
Khan Academy Kids uses storytelling to create lessons and activities guided by whimsical characters, which goes a long way in captivating preschoolers’ attention. Plus, games, animations, and videos appeal to kids with different learning styles, helping all types of learners absorb information more effectively.
Moreover, an individualized experience is created for everyone, as each child’s learning path is personalized according to their own pace. To top it all off, Khan Academy Kids is entirely free, with no ads or external links that can distract or lead children to inappropriate content.
Who knows more about what kids should learn than educators themselves? Feeling disappointed by the lack of quality educational online games available for his students, teacher Alan Tortolani was inspired to create ABCya. This dynamic and engaging learning app provides over 300 educational games crafted for children from preschool to the sixth grade, each enshrined with the ethos that learning should be fun.
The platform also has interactive activities and printable worksheets that cover various topics. Plus, its learning games meet the Common Core standards, which isn’t the case for every educational app.
The best part is that kids can enjoy all games for free online and six games each week on the mobile app. For as little as $5.83 per month, complete access to the app is unlocked in addition to other perks, such as an increased number of simultaneous device connections and an ad-free experience.
Children nowadays have access to electronic devices such as computers, tablets, and smartphones from a very young age. Parents often use them to get a much-needed break, but what if all that screen time could be used for educational purposes instead? That’s precisely what the creators of HOMER had in mind when they developed a software that can start your child’s learning journey. Launched in 2013, the company brings professional expertise to fun and joyful child learning apps suitable for kids aged zero to eight. HOMER uses a scientifically proven method that builds children’s confidence through a personalized program based on age and interests. Even better, kids won’t even know they’re using an educational app, considering how fun it is compared to other games. Moreover, its 60-day free trial is more than enough to find out if your child will get a lot out of the app before committing to a subscription.
As its name suggests, Education.com is a comprehensive educational platform that helps parents and teachers support children’s academic development. The app offers over 30,000 learning resources for preschoolers to 8th-grade students, including worksheets, games, workbooks, and even lesson plans.
Additionally, Education.com’s material is aligned with reading, writing, and math Common Core Standards, so it’s excellent for parents who homeschool their kids or are just looking for classroom material to complement their kids’ regular academic learning.
The platform has a free version that gives access to three of the varied learning resources each month, but users can only thoroughly explore all its resources with a paid subscription. For as little as $5 per month, parents and educators can track kids’ progress, assign lessons, and more.
Socratic is an excellent learning app that helps high school students with homework and academic assignments. It covers an array of school subjects and offers quick and accessible assistance.
With this app, users can take a photo of a math problem or type in a history question and the app will provide the answer within seconds. Alongside the answers, there are thorough videos and step-by-step explanations of the concepts and processes behind the solutions. This helps learners better understand the problem, enabling long-term learning and academic success.
Plus, real-world examples are also provided, making it easier for high schoolers to grasp the relation between the concepts they’re studying and practical examples. To top it all off, Socratic is available entirely for free.
Learning how to code is like learning a new language. So, it makes sense that the younger you start to study it, the easier it is to understand. Of course, the average 5-year-old won’t be able to write a specific programming language. Still, by learning the basics of coding, they can hone essential skills that will be a competitive advantage down the line when applying to college or for a job. codeSpark offers engaging games for kids from the age of five to nine that help develop basic problem-solving skills, logical thinking, creativity, collaboration, perseverance, and more. The best part is that your children won’t even notice they’re learning – it’s just fun! Prices start at $6.67 per month with an annual plan, and a subscription supports up to three users. It’s also possible to try out the app for free for 30 days by using our special coupon code.
Learning apps come in all shapes and sizes, but they’re not all suitable for kids. So, consider the following aspects when looking for the best app to enhance children’s educational development.
In addition to complementing kids’ education, learning apps enhance their digital literacy and stimulate their cognitive development. The main benefits of educational apps for kids include:
Although learning apps for kids can do wonders for their educational development, they’re worth nothing if parents and educators don’t get involved in the process. Children learn by example, so the best way to stimulate them to learn is to make studying a part of the family’s routine and daily habits.
Additionally, it’s important to involve kids in the process of choosing the app they’re going to use. Let your child express their interests, preferences, and learning style, and allow them to cherry-pick their preferred apps.
Moreover, children may struggle to find value in learning when they’re just told to do so. Kids are more likely to be interested in learning if parents actively dedicate time to navigate through the app with them, help them with the activities, and teach them the importance of learning new things. Plus, the time spent together studying turns into meaningful memories kids will cherish forever.
At the end of the day, if you can’t fight the enemy, join them. So, the problem of increasing screen time can be worked around by adding value to it.
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