educational ipad games for 5 year olds uk

The Best Educational Apps For Kids: The 2024 Guide

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Whilst it’s vital to set boundaries with screen time, educational apps for children can play an important role in learning and development.

We have rounded up the best educational apps for children by age, and since there are new apps available every week, this list will keep growing!

The best educational apps for kids from 0 to five years old (Early Years Foundation Stage)

Between birth and five years old, your child will mostly learn through games and play .

The rate at which they learn is astonishing – it might be hard to keep up!

These learning games apps are designed to help little ones enjoy developing new skills.

1. Suitable for kids of all ages, Simply Piano is probably the best Piano learning app out there.

Whatever your level, progress at your own pace with the app’s tailored lessons and real-time feedback. Gain the skills you need to play the songs you love and make your musical dreams come true.

Simply Piano listens to the notes you play – on any piano or keyboard – and gives you immediate feedback, so you know if you’re on track or need a bit more practice.

From classical pieces to all your favourite Disney songs, build your skills by playing music you love.

Dive even deeper with warm-ups, personalized exercises, and sheet music.

Enjoy step-by-step tutorials perfectly paced for beginners.

And if you can already play, their advanced courses will take your skills up a notch.

2. Thinkrolls Play & Code

Unleash your child’s inner genius with Thinkrolls Play & Code, the award-winning, logic and problem-solving app for kids.

The app offers more than 1,000 logic puzzles, fun brain games and a unique pre-coding platform where kids can create, play and share their own logic puzzles.

Thinkrolls Play & Code will train your kids in eight key cognitive areas:

• logical thinking
• problem-solving
• spatial reasoning
• processing speed
• inventiveness
• creativity.

The app integrates a wealth of STEM and pre-coding concepts into a fascinating play experience.

You’ll be amazed by how quickly your little ones will learn to solve complex problems, think multiple steps ahead and seamlessly apply these skills to real-life scenarios.

3. Fish School

This app includes eight fun educational activities to help children learn about letters, numbers, shapes, ABC song, colours, differences, matching and playtime.

Colourful fish transform themselves into different letters, numbers, shapes, colours and more.

We think this is one of the best educational apps for 4 year olds.

4. Duck Duck Moose

The team here create a huge range of apps for little ones, including Old MacDonald Had a Farm.

In this free app, traditional songs are given a funky twist – check out the resident cow who is reading the ‘Moo Yorker’.

5. Toddler Counting 1,2, 3

Created by Australia-based Giggle Up, this free, no-fuss, simple counting game can be adjusted to increase the difficulty levels.

Ideal before your child starts primary school.

Kids will learn the names of animals , toys, household objects and more, with positive feedback along the way.

6. The Go Explore app

Brought to you by the BBC, the app includes everyone’s favourite CBeebies character Bing and the townsfolk of Biggleton.

There is also a Den area that you can visit to discover the games your child has been playing.

7. Elmo Loves 123s 

Full of games, activities, and videos, which will help teach children about numbers and counting.

8. LEGO DUPLO World 

LEGO DUPLO WORLD is carefully aligned with the highly-regarded Headstart Early Learning Outcomes Framework to ensure it is age-appropriate and meets the developmental needs of 2-5-year-olds.

Each activity targets key learning goals for toddlers and preschool kids.

In the Parent Centre, you can read about the learning benefits of each activity.

9. Little Oxford

Oxford University Press’s app Little Oxford is the only preschool app with activities which support the seven key areas of Foundation Stage and Oxford International Early Years Curriculum.

Little Oxford is a new Augmented Reality app for 3 to 5-year-olds, created by educational experts, and built on decades of knowledge of how children learn.

The app was developed with an Early Years specialist and offers a unique learning through-play experience to ease the transition to primary school.

It harnesses the latest AR and VR technology to create an engaging learning experience for children and parents.

Available on the App Store and Google Play, a limited version of the Little Oxford app is free to download, with the full app available with a discounted subscription of £15 for three months or £30 for the year.

There are no additional in-app purchase options.

If you’re looking for the best apps for toddlers, try one of these.

10. Teach Your Monster To Read

Universally loved by parents, this award-winning app delivers what it promises – it really does help you teach your kids how to read!

The best educational apps for children age 5 to 7 years old (Key Stage 1)

1. onebillion is a non-profit organisation based in London that has built comprehensive, scalable educational software for children in and out of school.

With a focus on teaching reading and numeracy in the child’s own language, the organisation work around the world to help the most vulnerable children.

The ‘onecourse’ app has been developed for tablets and smartphones, both iOS and Android and classes are available in Swahili (Tanzania), Chichewa (Malawi) and English (UK).

2. Help your kids to improve their memory with the simple, quick and fun Monster Hunt app.

The perfect game to play whilst the kids are waiting for their tea.

3. Collins has created a huge range of educational resources, including the free Big Cat Reading Assessment Tool.

It has been designed to help teachers assess and analyse children’s progress in reading, but parents will find it useful too.

4. Word finding games seem to stand the test of time and PopWords! is one of the most popular free word search apps available.

Kids need to find words as fast as they can from an endless stream of letters.

Longer words will earn more points; kids will feel stretched and progress is tracked to make the learning measurable.

5. It’s never too early to start learning maths skills – including algebra!

DragonBox Algebra is an award-winning app that makes one of the more difficult maths subjects a little easier.

Designed for age 5+, the app presents algebra problems through fun interactive games that cover addition, division and multiplication.

6. Spelling Stage

We like this one as you can play spelling games as a family and it feels more like a game than it does school.

7. Count On Me!

Count on me! is a maths app for children aged 6 to 9 years old.

Based on a unique concept of Game Embedded Teaching,it involves combining science with game design which encourages children to discover the magic of mathematics and accelerates their learning.

Research has shown that children who practice maths by playing  Count on me!  improve their skills by 60% per cent, compared to children who do not use the app.  

Count on me! provides short learning sessions with proven results.

Children can only play the game for 15 minutes per day as the characters in Numberia ‘rest’, so it means limited screen time with maximum learning outcomes. 

The best educational apps for children age 7 to 11 years old ( Key Stage 2)

Keep up with your child’s learning as they work through the challenging last years of primary school!

1. iMovie is one of the most popular movie-making apps, and for good reason.

Kids love to experiment with their photos, videos and audio clips and create professional-looking videos.

You will need macOS to use this app.

2. For children who find handwriting tricky, Dexteria helps with fine motor skill development.

Available for £5.99, the app has been developed in consultation with Occupational Therapists and aims to increase coordination and motor control in the hands and fingers.

It can also be used to help a person recover from strokes and injuries.

3. Marvel is the king of the playground right now and with Marvel Hero Tales from Kuato Games , kids can join Ms Marvel, Spider-Man and Captain Marvel (Member exclusive stories) and discover a new way of experiencing Marvel adventures.

They get to run, swing and fly their way across New York City as you they the power of words to defeat the bad guys and tell their very own stories, with new adventures being added all the time.

Marvel Hero Tales uses a unique system that lets players control the story through the power of language.

Developed with experts in language development, the system is mapped to UK Key Stage 2/US 2nd Grade reading skills to help with vocabulary development.

4. Key Stage 2 is an ideal time to introduce another language and DuoLingo is a brilliant free app to start developing those language-learning skills.

Bite-size lessons mean your child won’t feel overwhelmed with learning new words (and it is common for teachers to use this app in the classroom!).

5. Brain Pop is a learning resource created over 20 years ago that covers all core subjects with different apps for different age ranges with an emphasis on self-paced learning.

The app covers subjects like Science, Humanities, English, Maths, Art, PHSE & Citizenship, and Design & Technology.

The music apps are especially fun and interactive.

Material can be reviewed more than once so your child won’t feel rushed.

Movies, quizzes, animations and games make learning fun.

6. Kids Brain Trainer

Completely safe and designed for kids, this game helps your child learn through play.

There are four colourful and educational sections, “Kids Brain Trainer (Preschool)” has 144 games specifically designed to contribute to, exercise and develop your child’s motor and cognitive skills.

The game aims to help improve visual attention, visual-spatial relations, short term memory, visual-motor coordination, bi-lateral coordination, tactile skills and much more.

Fables World

Fables World is a laptop and phone friendly teaching platform that helps children aged 4 – 14 master maths in just five minutes a day.

The app is popular with families and schools and is used by over 10,000 families in the UK whose kids struggle with maths.

The app uses funny cartoons and jokes such as ‘farting fractions’ to engage kids with maths in a way which makes them laugh and retain information.

The best educational apps for children age 11 to 14 years old ( Key Stage 3 )

By now, kids might have their own devices.

Load them up with these fantastic apps:

1. Garage Band turns your iPad or iPhone into a collection of touch instruments and a full-featured recording studio.

Kids can create their own music and record performances, which can then be shared with family and friends!

2. For comic-book lovers, the Comic Book app will be fun to use.

Kids can use their own photographs to make comic strips with a range of effects and speech bubbles.

This could be a great app to engage reluctant readers.

It costs from £2.99 in the App store.

3. The Human Body by Tinybop lets children explore the human body in a frank and fun way with sound effects and interactive activities.

Although many younger kids will enjoy this app, it’s also good to remind teens of what is going on in their ever-changing bodies!

4. For budding artists, AutoDesk Sketchbook is an easy to use free app that will help your child build confidence as they experiment with quick sketches and more developed artwork.

The camera on your child’s phone can be used as a scanner so line art can be imported with a transparent background, ready to build on.

The app is free.

5. True or False Chemistry

A fast-paced game for secondary school-age kids to help them learn and remember the periodic table.

The best educational apps for children aged 14 to 16 years old (Key Stage 4)

During the pre-teen and teenage years, apps are useful for organising schoolwork and staying on top of assignments as well as learning skills that might not be taught in the classroom.

1. Evernote is a popular note-taking app that allows users to share information.

Perfect for homework assignments.

Android alternatives include Google Keep where you can store notes, lists, photos and audio files.

2. If your child has an iPod touch or iPhone, why not download the Kindle app?

Your child might find it easier to keep up with reading if they can simply do it on their phones rather than lugging books around.

3. Learning outside of the classroom knows no limits with Skillshare .

Online lessons include design, illustration, business, technology, photo and film , entrepreneurship and writing but be warned that you do need to purchase many of them.

There are options to get together to learn with friends by creating a ‘team’ and the app has offline access to avoid chewing up data on your devices.

4. EdPlus Kids

EdPlus Kids is for kids of all ages and there are over 200 topics to choose from.

The app is an Oxford University spinout and while they’re big on maths, they also cover science, languages and more fun subjects like animals from Africa .

The app is free while schools are closed and is usually £4.99 a month/£29.99 a year.

If your kids are young but ready for smartphones you may like to invest in a phone monitoring app.

We bought a lifetime Kidslox subscription which means we can block or restrict certain times, give time limts and generally help them to stay safe online.

Give your kids MFL (modern foreign language) class a boost with Prepy; an app that helps them improve language learning and retention.

Who do you think does the best apps for kids?

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30 Best Educational iPad Games for Kids in 2024 (Free and Paid)

Learn while you play!

Tablets are a regular part of most kids’ routines these days, and teachers and parents can use that to their advantage. There are a lot of terrific iPad games for kids that are designed for learning but disguised as fun! Here are some of the best that cover reading, math, science, social studies, and more for kids of a variety of ages.

Free iPad Games for Kids

The earlier kids start to learn new languages, the better. When we’re young, our brains are more receptive to learning language in general. Duolingo no longer has a specific version just for kids (though they do have a reading program; see below). But the general app itself is still great for kids by upper elementary or so. It’s completely free, and offers more than 40 languages to explore. Teachers should check out Duolingo for Schools , too.

Duolingo ABC

Ages: Pre-K to Grade 1

The foreign language learning company has brought its same philosophy to teaching kids how to read. The entirely free lessons focus on phonics, phonemic awareness, fluency, and reading comprehension, all the skills emergent readers need. The lessons increase in difficulty as children progress, with tailored reviews to help kids strengthen skills they struggle with. It’s aligned with Common Core standards too.

PBS Kids Games

Ages: Pre-K to Grade 2

You know you can trust PBS to provide safe, fun, and educational iPad games for kids. Their collection features stars from popular shows like Daniel Tiger and the Wild Kratts, with hundreds of games on just about every subject. This is one iPad app every parent and teacher needs, especially since it’s all entirely free (and available in Spanish too!).

iCivics Games

Ages: Middle and High School

iCivics has a suite of terrific social studies games that kids will truly enjoy playing. They’ll feel like they’re right in the action as they try to get a new law ratified, run in an election, or try a case in court. These apps are all free, and their website has lots of excellent accompanying resources for teachers.

Bedtime Math

Ages: Pre-K to Grade 3

Bedtime stories are a longstanding tradition, but what about bedtime math? That’s what this free app, along with its accompanying books , aims to do. Each day, the app adds a new fun math problem for parents and kids to do together. (Teachers could also use them as daily problems in the classroom.) Each math problem has three levels of difficulty, and many offer challenge questions too.

Little Alchemy 2

Ages: K to 12

Starting with just a few basic elements (air, earth, fire, and water), players mix these to create dozens of new items, both real and imaginary. For instance, mix water and earth to get clay, then mix clay and fire to make bricks, add brick to brick to build a wall, and so on. This robust free game is completely engrossing, and it encourages both creativity and logical thinking.

World Geography Quiz Game

Ages: Grades 3 to 12

This isn’t one of those iPad games for kids full of animated characters and flashy graphics. It’s a straight-up geography quiz game and a very good one. Kids who are into maps and globes will enjoy checking their knowledge of flags, capital cities, statistics, and much more. The game is free to download and play; you have the option to buy “hints,” but they’re not necessary to enjoy the fun.

Sushi Monster

Ages: Grades 2 to 6

Looking for a fun way to practice math facts? Check out this free app! Sushi Monster is hungry. Feed him the sushi plates to make the correct goal number and practice addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.

Lyrical Letters

Ages: Pre-K to Grade 12

Combine music with spelling and vocabulary in this charming game, enjoyable for anyone at any age. Listen to the sequence of notes, then play them back to spell the right word. You can also simply play around with the keyboard and synthesizer functions, composing tunes just for fun. Lyrical Letters is free to download and play; you can remove the in-game ads for $1.99.

Ages: Grade 4 and up

Build vocabulary and work on spelling with this innovative word game. As you connect letters to make a word, they disappear from the board, collapsing others around them. New letters are always rising from the bottom, though, so you’ll have to think quickly to stop them from reaching the top and ending the game. The game is free to download, but many reviewers note that it’s ad-heavy; pay $4.99 to unlock the full version.

More Great Educational iPad Games for Kids

Think of this collection of iPad games for kids as your personal set of Montessori activities on the go. From busy boards and blocks to music sequencers and a marble machine, the youngest learners will find plenty to keep them engaged as they develop key skills. Pok Pok is subscription-based ($6.99/month or $45.99/year), with a free 7-day trial.

Hands-On Equations

Ages: Grades 4+

The Hands-On Equations iPad games teach algebra skills in a fun and engaging way. There are three levels available, plus Hands-On Equations Lite, a free version you can try to see if you like it. Level 1 covers the basics of equations, while 2 and 3 build up the difficulty to include order of operations and negative numbers. Levels 1, 2, and 3 range in price from $2.99 to $3.99 each.

Endless Alphabet

Ages: Pre-K

This iPad game has been around for awhile, but parents and kids both continue to love it. Kids build their vocabulary and alphabet knowledge through interactive games and fun animations. They’ll also enjoy the adorable monsters that join in on the game! Get Endless Alphabet for a one-time purchase price of $8.99.

ABCmouse is one of the most popular educational iPad games for kids who are learning to read, count, and more. They offer thousands of learning activities across the curriculum, including hundreds in Spanish. It requires a subscription ($12.99/month or $45/year), but you can try it for free for 30 days to see if you like it.

Adventure Academy

Ages: Grades 3 to 8

Adventure Academy is ABCmouse’s older cousin. Upper elementary and middle school students can learn math, science, language arts, and more. They’ll create their own avatar and make their way around a fully interactive school environment, learning as they go. It has the same subscription rates as ABCmouse ($12.99/month or $45/year).

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Ages: Pre-K to Kindergarten

Everyone’s favorite caterpillar is now available in an app! Play games to match colors and shapes, put together puzzles, and learn to take care of plants and animals. The app is free to download, but it costs $4.99 to unlock all of the available activities.

Ages: Grades 1 to 5

Solve math problems and try to get five Bingo Bugs in a row. Be careful, though, because wrong answers will affect your end score. High scores earn you your very own Bingo Bugs for your collection! There are five modes: addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and mixed. Math Bingo costs $2.99 to download and play.

Ages: Grades 3 and up

Everything you love about Mad Libs in an app! Kids will get sneaky practice in learning the parts of speech, while creating zany stories that make everyone laugh. You get a limited number of Mad Libs for free, with the ability to buy more packages starting at $1.99.

Sight Words Ninja

Ages: Grades 1 to 4

This is such a fun way to practice sight words! As various words appear on the screen, slice through the target word as fast as you can to score points. At only $1.99, this game is a terrific bargain and one that students will beg to play.

Wee ones will love helping Tim and his family as they learn colors and shapes. The game is available in multiple languages, so you can also use it to help kids learn basic words in Spanish, French, and more. Dino Tim is free to download and $2.99 to unlock all content.

Presidents vs. Aliens

Ages: Grade 3 and up

Learn more about U.S. presidents while you battle aliens in this silly but informative game. As you answer the questions and beat each level, you add a new president to your collection. Then, you can fling these presidents at the aliens to help defend the planet! The app costs $1.99 to download but has no in-game ads and doesn’t require any additional purchases to play. Kids will need to be able to read to play on their own.

Ages: K to Grade 4

This subscription-based iPad game for kids promises to make learning math fun and engaging. Kids set out on missions to earn monsters by solving math puzzles. This is a program that can grow with any child, starting with very basic counting skills and building through to multiplication and division. After a 7-day free trial, the program costs $7.99 a month or $49.99 annually.

Where’s My Water?

Ages: Kindergarten and Up

Swampy lives in the sewers under the city, but he loves to stay clean! His shower is constantly getting stopped up, though, so kids need` to dig through the dirt and avoid obstacles to guide the fresh water to Swampy. This game is a lot of fun, but it’s based on real physics and the movement of water, so they’ll learn while they play. This Disney game costs $1.99 to download and includes additional storylines for purchase.

Stack the States 2

Ages: Grade 3 and Up

Learn U.S. geography the fun way by answering questions and building your own collection of states. Kids master state capitals, cities, landmarks, flags, and more. The app costs $2.99 to download and play, with no ads or other in-app purchases to worry about.

Teach Your Monster to Read

They say the best way to learn something is to teach it to another. That’s the idea behind this popular iPad game, where kids “teach” a monster to read while learning the skills themselves. It covers early reading skills, from letter recognition through phonics and word-building. Download and play for $8.99.

Monster Physics

Kids who love to tinker will get a real kick out of this game. They can design and build their own inventions, then see how (and if!) they would work in the real world. There are 50 different missions for them to invent and conquer alongside their own monster avatar. At only $1.99 to download, with no in-game ads, this one is definitely worth a look.

Cut the Rope

Ages: Kindergarten and up

This game has been around for a while, but it’s popular for a reason. The concept is simple: arrange the objects on the screen and then cut the rope to release the candy into the hungry monster’s mouth. The laws of physics apply here, so kids will learn without even knowing it. The levels get progressively more challenging as you play. Cut the Rope costs $1.99 to download, with the ability to buy hints, solutions, and more puzzles in the app.

Slice Fractions

Ages: Grades 1 to 6

Learn fractions in an interactive environment as you slice through ice and lava to clear the mammoth’s path. There’s no reading involved in this game, so kids can focus purely on numbers and fractions. Slice Fractions costs $3.99 to download and play.

Ages: Grades 2 to 12

You don’t need any coding experience to play this game; you’ll learn as you go. Solve puzzles by guiding a robot to light up tiles with basic commands. Multiple players can save their progress on the same device, so this one’s great for classrooms or families. Some reading is required, but otherwise, even little ones can play on their own. Lightbot costs $2.99 to download and play, without the need for in-app purchases.

Reading Raven

This well-reviewed app teaches basic reading and writing skills, starting with letter recognition and tracing. As their skills advance, so do the challenges, until they’re able to practice reading aloud using voice recording. Reading Raven is a one-time cost of $3.99 to download and play, with no in-game ads.

Did we miss one of your favorite iPad games for kids? Come share your thoughts in the WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group on Facebook .

Plus, our favorite online games that are fun and educational too ., you might also like.

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20 learning apps for stir-crazy kids

These fun-filled educational apps provide perfect brain food for children while schools are closed

T he closure of schools across the UK has left many parents and carers in the sudden, unexpected position of being home-school teachers. Schools are providing support where they can, but there are also still plenty of smartphone and tablet apps that can be used as part of learning.

It may be tricky to get some children to see these devices as good for more than TikTok, Fortnite and (adult) YouTube , but the positive side is that the best learning apps are interesting enough to – perhaps with an initial nudge – engage children. Here are 20 apps that may get parents off to a good start. The “younger children” apps are most suitable for preschool and early primary kids, while the “older children” apps are more for later primary and early secondary age.

For younger children

Go Explore from CBeebies

( Android / Apple / Amazon – free) The entire range of the BBC’s CBeebies apps will be getting heavy usage in the coming weeks, clearly. They’re all good, but this is the one focused on learning games, from phonics and geography to feelings and self-care, all based on the parent channel’s shows and characters.

Khan Academy Kids

( Android / Apple / Amazon – free) Khan Academy is a free collection of education courses for all ages, but it has an app specifically for two to seven-year-old children that focuses on maths, reading and social and emotional skills. It has a large and growing archive of learning videos, digital books and simple but engaging exercises.

Montessori Preschool

( Android / Apple / Amazon – subscription) For very young children who’ll be missing out on some of the formative teaching at preschool this year, this beautifully crafted app could be a great help. From maths and phonics to music and early coding, its colourful exercises never feel dry or dull. It costs £5.49 a month.

( Android / Apple / Amazon – subscription) British company Hopster describes its app as “educational kids’ TV”. What that means is a collection of familiar cartoons and shows including the likes of Sesame Street , Bob the Builder , Thomas the Tank Engine , Fireman Sam and Pingu , accompanied by fun learning games on topics such as maths and phonics. It will even remind kids not to binge on too many episodes in a row. It costs £4.99 a month.

Teach Your Monster to Read

( Android / Apple / Amazon – free) This usually costs £4.99, but has been made free owing to the school disruption. No matter how you feel after a couple of days of home-schooling, the titular monster isn’t your child. Instead, this gets children to create a monster and then teach it to read – a great way of learning themselves.

World of Peppa Pig

( Android / Apple / Amazon – subscription) This is one of a growing number of subscription-based children’s apps – seen as a more trustworthy model than in-app purchases and/or ads. Aimed at preschool children, it’s another collection of learning games, but also has videos, picture-making and songs from the TV show. It costs £4.99 a month.

YouTube Kids

( Android / Apple – free) After a rocky start when some non-child-friendly videos made it through the filters, YouTube has worked hard to make its official children’s app something parents can trust. It includes a dedicated learning category collecting great videos about science, nature, space and other topics.

Mental Maths 5-6

( Apple – £3.99) It’s been out for a few years, but this is still one of the best maths apps for children that feels genuinely educational. It’s built around a range of maths exercises and progress tests. Separate versions cover children up to the age of 11, and there’s a spelling series, too.

Dr Seuss’s ABC: AR Version

( Android / Apple – £3.99) “Big A, little a. What begins with A?” Well, augmented reality does, for a start. Dr Seuss’s inimitable alphabet book has been turned into an AR app, with animated characters appearing in the room around your child. The learning aspects include tracing the letters to learn their shapes for (non-AR) writing.

( Android / Apple / Amazon – free) Scratch is the programming environment that a lot of children will be familiar with already from school. ScratchJr is an app version designed for five to seven-year-olds, although older children can have fun with it, too. It uses coding blocks to create programs for games, animation, music and other creative tasks.

For older children

King of Maths: Maths Learner

( Android / Apple – free + in-app purchases) This recently released maths game challenges children in quickfire sums, increasing in difficulty if they keep answering correctly. They write the numbers on the touchscreen with their finger rather than tapping buttons. It’s free to try, with a £3.99 in-app purchase unlocking everything.

Google Arts & Culture

( Android / Apple – free) Field trips and museum visits may be out of bounds for a while, but Google’s Arts & Culture app at least has virtual tours of more than 1,200 museums and galleries. Children can look and read as well as curate their own lists of favourite artworks to share.

( Android / Apple – subscription) There are a number of great learn-to-code apps out there for children, but Mimo is one in particular that feels most connected to the world of professional programming. At a cost of £8.49 a month, it offers quick but interesting exercises in languages including Python, Java and Swift.

Elevate: Brain Training

( Android / Apple – subscription) Elevate is one of a clutch of quality brain-training apps (see also: Peak or Lumosity ) full of mini-games designed to sharpen your memory, maths skills, focus and other mental skills. Like those other apps, it uses a subscription – £38.99 a year – but with a week’s trial to test it out.

Simply Piano

( Android / Apple – subscription) If music lessons have gone out of the window, Simply Piano is one of the best app alternatives. It helps children (or adults!) to learn songs and then listens to their playing on any real piano or keyboard to give feedback. Two courses are free, but then it costs £83.99 a year – pricey for an app, but not so much for piano lessons.

Women Who Changed the World

( Android / Apple – £2.99) This is a history app focused on a range of famous women who “helped us to understand our world better, and to make it a better place to live in”. Rosa Parks, Marie Curie, Malala Yousafzai and Amelia Earhart are among the women profiled through animation and storytelling.

( Android / Apple – free + in-app purchases) Duolingo isn’t just a fun and popular way to learn languages that children already study at school. It covers more than 30, including Arabic, Hindi, Hebrew and Welsh. It’s well designed, rewarding short daily sessions of practice. It’s free, but in-app purchases remove ads and unlock some extra features.

( Android / Apple – free/subscription) Kahoot! isn’t just an app, it’s also a website: a big collection of trivia quizzes created by other users. It’s going to really come into its own as schools close. It’s also a good group-learning experience: one person hosts a game and the others compete on their own devices.

( Android / Apple / Amazon – free) The TED talks archives are a wonderful repository of brain food for all ages – older children included. Search for history, science, nature – anything – and see what comes up. The talks are not all suitable for children, but many are.

Swift Playgrounds

( Apple – free) Swift is Apple’s own programming language, and Swift Playgrounds is its app for teaching people how to use it. It’s for adults as well as children, but it’s certainly accessible for the latter, with its lessons presented as coding puzzles that will give people the skills needed to start making their own apps and games. It’s on Apple’s iPad, but not (yet) its iPhone.

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The UK’s Best Apps for 5 Year Olds: How to Make Learning Fun!

Are you looking for the best apps to help your five-year-old learn in a fun and engaging way? As a parent myself, I understand how challenging it can be to keep the little ones entertained while teaching them something valuable. I want to make sure that my children are learning, yet having fun. And this is why I have taken it upon myself to research the UK’s best apps for 5 year olds – so we all don’t have to!

In this article, I’ll be sharing with you some of my top picks when it comes to educational apps and websites for five year olds. From helping your child recognize shapes and multiplying numbers, to art adventures and educational stories, there is an abundance of digital activities out there that will not only teach them new skills but also make learning enjoyable! So let’s get started on our journey through understanding what these amazing tools can do – together we will ensure your kid has a great time while learning some essential skills too.

1. Teach Your Monster to Read

Teach Your Monster to Read is an interactive educational app designed specifically for young children learning how to read. Developed in collaboration with primary school teachers, the app aims to make reading fun and engaging through a series of mini-games that gradually introduce children to new phonics concepts. The games are set in a colorful, cartoonish world filled with adorable monsters that kids will love.

One of the great things about Teach Your Monster to Read is its adaptability. Parents can customize the game’s difficulty level according to their child’s age and reading ability. This means that even if your child struggles with certain phonics concepts, they won’t get discouraged by overly difficult games or tasks that are too easy for them. Additionally, parents can track their child’s progress within the game itself, which allows them to see what areas their child needs help with essay .

Overall, I think Teach Your Monster to Read is an excellent tool for parents who want their children to learn how to read at home in a fun and engaging way. Its playful visuals and animations draw kids in while also teaching them important literacy skills like phonics and sight words. Plus, since it’s available as an app on both iOS and Android devices, it’s incredibly convenient for busy parents who want something easy-to-use but effective.

In conclusion, if you’re looking for an educational app that makes learning how to read enjoyable for your little one(s), then Teach Your Monster To Read is definitely worth checking out! With its customizable difficulty levels and tracking tools built-in – this versatile platform ensures success when starting early literacy journeys together!

2. Hopster: Learn & Play

Hopster is an innovative learning app that offers interactive games and educational videos for kids aged 2-6 years old. The app aims to make learning a fun and engaging experience for children, with a range of topics covered such as literacy, math, science, creativity, and more. The interface is simple to navigate even for young users who may not be familiar with technology yet.

One of the best features of Hopster is its wide variety of content that encourages children’s curiosity and creativity. From animated songs about shapes and colors to science experiments using everyday household items – there’s something for everyone! Children can also play games that improve their motor skills while having fun at the same time.

Another great aspect of Hopster is its ability to track progress through personalized profiles. Parents can monitor their child’s achievements in different subjects and adjust the difficulty level accordingly. This feature ensures that children are constantly challenged without getting frustrated or losing interest in learning.

Overall, Hopster offers an excellent platform for early education that makes it enjoyable for both parents and kids alike. With immersive games, informative videos & shows as well as an easy-to-use interface – it’s hard not to see why this app stands out from other educational products on the market today!

3. Hairy Phonics 1

Hairy Phonics 1 is a fantastic educational app that is designed to help children aged four and up develop their phonetic skills. The app features the lovable Hairy Monster, who helps children learn how to read using fun and engaging games and activities. With its colorful graphics, catchy songs, and interactive gameplay, this app makes learning to read an enjoyable experience for kids.

The first thing you’ll notice about Hairy Phonics 1 is how user-friendly it is. The app has a simple interface that makes it easy for young children to navigate on their own. Each activity in the app has clear instructions that are read aloud by a friendly voice, so kids can easily follow along without any confusion. This means parents can hand over control of the device with confidence knowing that their child will be able to use the app independently.

One of my favorite things about Hairy Phonics 1 is how varied its activities are. From matching letters to sounds, building words using letter blocks or tracing letters with your fingers- there’s plenty of different ways for kids to engage with phonetics! Not only does this keep kids interested in learning but also ensures they’re exposed to phonetic concepts from all angles – which improves retention rates significantly.

Overall I would highly recommend Hairy Phonics 1 as an excellent educational tool for young readers out there. It’s creative yet practical approach towards education makes it stand out among other apps available today – as well as being affordable which makes it accessible too!

4. Sago Mini World

Sago Mini World is a fantastic app that offers endless fun and learning opportunities for young children. It is an award-winning mobile game that features a host of adorable and colorful characters, including cats, dogs, pigs, birds, and more. The app provides kids with access to a virtual world where they can explore different locations such as the kitchen, garden, park, and beach.

The first thing you will notice about Sago Mini World is its stunning graphics. The game’s developers have done an excellent job creating vibrant environments that are sure to engage children’s imaginations. Each character in the game has its own unique personality traits which add to the fun factor of playing.

One of the great things about Sago Mini World is it encourages creativity in children with open-ended play options. Kids can let their imagination run wild as they explore each location at their own pace or interact with various objects within them – like planting vegetables in the garden or baking cupcakes in the kitchen! Furthermore, parents can be assured that this app promotes educational values such as problem-solving skills development through engaging mini-games.

In conclusion, Sago Mini World is an exceptional mobile application designed specifically for preschoolers aged 2-5 years old. With its beautiful graphics and interactive gameplay activities like decorating cupcakes or fishing on a boat ride makes it genuinely delightful for both parents and children to enjoy together! Its vast collection of games ensures your child never gets bored while encouraging exploration & creativity throughout playtime – making it perfect for those longer car rides or days spent indoors due to bad weather outside!

5. Montessori Preschool

Montessori Preschool is an excellent app that offers a unique learning experience for children aged two to five years old. With its interactive and educational games, this app provides kids with the necessary skills to help them excel in their early years of life. The Montessori method is incorporated into the app’s design to ensure that all activities are engaging and developmentally appropriate.

The app includes a wide range of fun-filled activities such as tracing letters, counting, matching objects, and identifying shapes and colors. Each activity is designed to improve cognitive abilities such as problem-solving, critical thinking, memory retention and overall brain development. Additionally, the graphics used in Montessori Preschool are colorful and vibrant which makes it visually appealing for children – keeping them engaged for extended periods.

Aside from being one of the most entertaining learning apps on the market today; it also tracks your child’s progress so parents can monitor their kid’s educational journey closely. This feature assists caregivers with identifying areas where their child may need more assistance or additional support while promoting various talents they notice over time.

In conclusion, Montessori Preschool is an amazing tool that will provide any family seeking a holistic approach towards education with tremendous benefits – all through an easy-to-use mobile application! It combines traditional teaching methods with modern technology elements like animations & graphics while tracking individual student performance levels along the way – making sure no stone goes unturned when helping our future leaders reach their full potential!

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30 Educational iPad Games for Kids (Teacher Approved!)

A child will often use electronic devices such as an iPad instead of a computer. This will require more motor skills that aren’t developed yet. For example, rather than having your child watch videos, you could implement the use of games as interactivity. This will be vital in a child’s early development.

We selected thirty iPad games and apps to help you with the education side of parenting. This will be helpful whether as preparation for preschool or to keep their brain in tip-top shape during the break. The games covered here are free to play and subscription-based services with trials available on the App Store.

1. Adventure Academy

Coming from the same creators of ABCmouse, Adventure Academy is a subscription-based learning platform for children to help improve their skills in preparation for elementary and middle school. Education experts curate the educational materials, so you are assured of high-quality and fun learning experiences for your kid.

Topics include elementary and middle school level science, mathematics, and more. Kids will be immersed in this game as they can create and customize their avatar, representing them in a virtual school environment.

Adventure Academy has a 30-day free trial available, so you may assess if the learning platform fits your child. A monthly subscription starts at $12.99.

2. Mad Libs

Mad Libs is a fan favorite among games to play among children. This game is about filling the blanks of a story template with words you come up with and helping kids practice their vocabulary and speech. Tons of laughter are guaranteed with the kids’ silly and fun stories.

Mad Libs is available for free on the App Store, with options to purchase additional stories inside the app ranging from $2 to $5 for twenty-one stories on average.

3. Where’s My Water?

Download: App Store / Google Play

When mobile games and apps started to boom in the early 2010s, ‘Where’s My Water?’ was one of the most popular puzzle games. The player helps guide the water so that the crocodile can take a bath, all with realistic physics and water movement. In addition, the game introduces more mechanics and a storyline progression.

Kids will be engaged and have fun with this game as the art style and gameplay are very fun and relaxed. ‘Where’re My Water’ costs $1.99 on both the app store and google play.

4. Cut the Rope

Another one of those games that helped get mobile gaming where it is today, Cut the Rope, is a game with a simple concept: you help feed the monster by ‘cutting’ the rope. Kids will learn all about physics in this game and will be further challenged as they progress through its levels. 

Cut the Rope costs free on both the app store and google play. If you can’t get through a certain level, you may choose to buy hints or puzzle solutions inside the game.

You can download this game here:

App Store Google Play

5. Reading Raven

Another highly acclaimed educational game on this list is Reading Raven. This game focuses on creating a solid foundation of reading skills for your child, all at their own preferred pace. Reading Raven will build your child’s confidence, reading, and English language skills.

Reading Raven is available on both the app store and google play.

6. ABCmouse

ABCmouse is similar to Adventure Academy in terms of the subscription-based model. Furthermore, the game is also an award-winning learning program that features learning math, art, music and reading for the young ones. ABCmouse is even used by schools and public libraries for academic and educational purposes. You can even learn basic Spanish!

ABCmouse is free to download and has a 30-day free trial to get a feel for the learning program. Afterward, it will cost you $12.99 per month or $59.99 per year.

7. Sushi Monster

Sushi Monster is a game where kids can practice their basic arithmetic skills while engaging and fun. Kids will have to add, subtract, multiply, and divide to feed sushi to the monster. The art style for this game is enjoyable and engaging for children, and the level progression feels rewarding while delivering a good challenge.

Sushi Monster is available on the App Store for free.

8. My Very Hungry Caterpillar

The famous children’s character, the very hungry caterpillar, is also a character in the app, My Very Hungry Caterpillar. This app is for most preschoolers, emphasizing developing their skills in various facets. This includes playing games to match shapes, solving puzzles, and taking care of plants and animals. 

My Very Hungry Caterpillar is free to download but requires in-app purchases to unlock some of the learning activities and content.

9. World Geography Quiz Game

This educational game is pretty straightforward, with no cartoon characters or subscription models. Instead, the World Geography Quiz Game will develop and test your child’s memorization and geography skills. They will learn about various countries’ flags, capitals, cities, etc.

The World Geography Quiz Game is available for free on both the app store and google play.

10. Slice Fractions

Slice Fractions is an award-winning game developed to help children learn about fractions in a super fun way with little to no reading involved or lengthy explanations. The activities inside the game include learning and working with fractions with ease and various physics puzzles. 

Slice Fractions is available for free on both the app store and google play.

11. TinyTap: Kids’ Learning Games

TinyTap is one of the best learning games for kids, ranking number one in learning apps for kids in 24 countries. TinyTap is an all-in-one powerhouse with its subject variety and over 200,000 interactive learning games. This game also includes developing creative skills such as writing and drawing on top of the usual subjects.

You can also create interactive learning games for parents and teachers and earn from them, all without needing to learn to program or code.

TinyTap is free to download but it requires a subscription to access most of the content once the free trial ends. A year’s subscription is going to cost you at least $49.99.

12. GarageBand

It is essential to have your kid be knowledgeable about science and math and develop hobbies and interests. This could be in the form of music! 

Learning how to play a musical instrument will develop patience and dedication in your kid. GarageBand could be the door to open that interest for them before splurging on a physical instrument. GarageBand lets you create songs with various instruments in a virtual sound studio setup.

GarageBand is completely free on the App Store and includes no subscription fees or in-app purchases.

13. Tappity

Tappity is a science-focused educational game with a mascot named Haley to help your child learn and understand various science concepts and conduct basic science experiments. Science topics include biology, earth science, and outer space. Additionally, all of these fun experiences are fully interactive. 

Tappity is available to download for free and try for 14 days. Afterward, you can choose to continue and unlock all the content with a subscription plan. It will cost $14.99 per month or $24.99 for three months, or $74.99 for a year’s subscription.

14. Coco – Educational Game

Coco – Educational Game is an educational game app for kids that covers the usual science and math concepts and essential soft skills such as memory, logic, and reflex tests. Another cool thing about the game is its art style, including primarily soft colors that appeal to children. All of these help in keeping your kid entertained.

Coco – Educational Game is available on the app store and google play.

15. Endless Alphabet

Endless Alphabet is a highly acclaimed educational game from the creators of an educational Sesame Street-based game. It is a passion project developed to help kids have a blast while learning about the Alphabet and expanding their vocabulary. The game has a lot of interactivity and is well animated to help engage the children.

Endless Alphabet is available on the app store and google play.

16. Dino Tim: Basic Math Skills

Dino Tim is an educational learning game that helps your kid focus on learning colors, shapes, and even other languages such as Spanish and French. It is a perfect companion when getting your child ready for preschool. The art style is fun and appeals to children who like dinosaurs and other animals. 

Dino Tim is available on the app store and google play.

17. Colorfy: Coloring Art Game

Drawing minus wasting paper and spending money on art materials sounds like a win-win for mother earth and parents. Colorfy gives you just that, providing a digital canvas for your children. In this app, they can color and paint various images such as mandalas, animals, floral patterns, and so much more.

Colorfy is available on the app store and google play.

18. Wallykazam! Letter and Word Magic

Wallykazam!, based on an animated Nickelodeon television series, is a game to help develop your kids’ reading and English language skills. Learning activities include learning letter recognition, rhyming words, and phonics.

Wallykazam! is available on the app store.

19. MathTango

Math Tango is a subscription-based game wherein kids learn math skills while engaged and having fun. The game’s math content can range from basic counting skills to multiplication and division. In addition, the game’s monsters that you earn by solving math problems are all pretty adorable, so your kid will indeed be motivated to do the math.

Math Tango is available on the app store and google play.

20. PBS Kids 

PBS Kids cannot be left off a list of educational games. Most of the content on PBS Kids is helpful and varied featuring science, reading, and math. The level of learning for kids is catered towards preschool through elementary. PBS Kids is an essential app to have your kids learn things in a fun and exciting way

PBS Kids’ educational games/apps include Wild Kratts Creature Math, Cyberchase 3D Builder, and Dinosaur Train Classic in the Jurassic, Jr.! Most of these are free except for Wild Kratts.

21. GoNoodle

Primarily focusing on encouraging getting your kid’s body moving and healthy, GoNoodle is a game that features kids’ songs, exercises, and dances along with video content. This is a fun and wholesome way to get your kids to help clean around the house, making it a fun bonding activity for the family.

GoNoodle is available on the app store and google play.

22. Monster Physics

This one might be the most unique game on this list so far. Monster Physics is a game where kids can build cars, rocket ships, airplanes, tanks while letting them play around with their creations, complete with physics. This will develop a creative side in your child, similar to Legos. 

Monster Physics is available to download on the App Store for $1.99.

23. Balloon Pop

Balloon Pop is an educational game where toddlers and preschoolers can have fun popping balloons and learn about numbers, letters, colors, and shapes. These types of games can develop young children’s motor and reflex skills. Balloon Pop has five different game modes available in nine other languages. 

Balloon Pop is available on the app store and google play.

24. Flow Free

Flow Free is a very simple educational puzzle game to help develop your child’s problem-solving skills. The game is very colorful as you need to solve the puzzle by connecting the pair of colors. The levels get progressively more challenging which will surely put your child’s puzzle-solving skills to the test. 

Flow Free is available on the app store and google play.

25. Lightbot

Lightbot is a puzzle game where the player guides the robot to do various commands. What’s even cooler is that multiple players can pick up and play on any device, which is ideal for classroom settings. The tutorial can get lengthy, but once you get the hang of it, even the young ones can ease through the puzzles in the game.

Lightbot is available on the app store and google play.

26. Marble Math

This award-winning app is hailed as one of the most fun math games available for elementary-age kids. Marble Math helps kids practice mental math while providing engaging gameplay. It requires them to solve the problem to advance the marble through the maze.

Marble Math is available on the app store and google play.

27. Shape Gurus: Preschooler game

One of the top picks in the Italy App Store, Shape Gerus, is a wonderfully animated game aimed to teach the young ones about learning shapes and colors and challenging puzzles. These interactive games include matching, sorting, and classifying shapes and colors. Shape Gerus will surely help get your kid ready for preschool!

Shape Gerus is available on the app store and google play.

28. Monkey Preschool Lunchbox

Monkey Preschool Lunchbox is an all-around educational game for your preschooler to learn about colors, letters, numbers, etc. There is also a child-friendly animated monkey to guide the kids through the activities and keep them engaged. This is a must-have companion game to help your child develop these preschool skills.

Monkey Preschool Lunchbox is available on the app store and google play.

29. Peekaboo Barn

Peekaboo Barn is an award-winning app for toddlers designed to help educate your child with animals! Kids will learn and be familiarized with the names and sounds of various animals and artwork displayed on their screens. Night & Day Studios designed this game for kids of all ages and even those with special needs. 

Peekaboo Barn is available on the app store and google play.

30. TallyTots Counting

Learning to count is a vital skill in a child’s early development . TallyTots helps you get your kid to learn and have fun simultaneously! TallyTots is essentially an educational counting game designed with animated 3D graphics and music to help get your kid engaged. Learning activities include sorting, ordering, and counting.

TallyTots is available on the app store and google play.

These games listed are sure to help and play a significant role in your child’s development. Still, it is also essential to never forget to limit their screen time, especially early on. Learning through games is excellent but guiding them and being there for them while they are doing so is the most important thing.

Whether it would focus on math, science, health, or soft skills, we hope that we helped you find that educational game you were looking for!

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Best Apps for Kids Age 5–8

The best mobile apps for kindergartners and early elementary schoolers cover a spectrum of entertainment and educational offerings. At this age, socialization and creativity are key -- and believe it or not, there are several quality apps for that! When choosing apps for this age group, go beyond the usual arcade games (although those can be fun) to apps that help kids express their feelings and unleash their creativity . Check out the rest of our app tips for more advice on how to find and download the best picks for your kids.

Crazy Gears

Fun STEM-themed free play with easy offscreen connections.

DIY.org – Creative Challenges

How-to videos ignite curiosity and nurture key skills.

Kahoot! Algebra by DragonBox

Kids learn concepts of algebra in stellar game app.

Faces iMake - Right Brain Creativity

Kids make fanciful facial art using everyday objects.

GoNoodle Games

Jump, wave, and wiggle with fun immersive movement games.

GoNoodle - Kids Videos

Get hearts pumping with fun, kid-friendly movement videos.

The little line

Sweet animated story of friendship uses kids' own drawings.

LOOPIMAL by YATATOY

Create sound sequences with music blocks, cute creatures.

Marble Math Junior

Younger kids' version of great math app holds its own.

Monkey Word School Adventure

Cute monkey guides kids through six early-reading games.

Pango Build Park

Imagine, create, and play at custom theme parks.

Plum's Creaturizer

Make creatures and take pics outside for fantastic fun.

PuppetMaster

Create puppets, craft stories, co-play with cool tools.

Superhero Comic Book Maker

Engaging way to make stories with great graphics and audio.

Adorable physics platformer creates little problem-solvers.

Thinkrolls Play & Code

Delightful puzzles inspire innovation and problem-solving.

Toca Hair Salon 4

Free-play styling game grows, now with in-app purchases.

Creative challenges, social media for kids with purchases.

Interactive word-builder impresses with lots of options.

Barefoot World Atlas

Delightful way to learn about animals, people, and more.

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Best Educational iPad Games

iPads for kids are quickly becoming a popular and powerful educational tool at home. iPad games for kids are being used in education around the world with great success. Come home with an iPad and your kids are going to want to play iPad games with it.

Lots of iPad games for kids are fun and genuinely interesting. Every game for iPad has an age-specific rating so that you can tell if the game is right for your child. We've taken care to play every game, so you know it's definitely worth a download. Whether you're new to iPad gaming or are just looking for your next game to download, here are my top picks for iPad games.

Check out the best educational iPad games that are fun and engaging for children of all ages.

• Best iPad Educational Games

1. Kids Academy

Kids Academy is one of the best iPad game for young learners. Their innovative program blends cutting-edge adaptive technology, artificial intelligence, custom learning paths, and game-like elements to enhance children's learning experience. It makes learning engaging and effective by offering interactive games across subjects like Math, Reading, Language Arts, Science, and Social Studies.

Ages: 3 and over

Related: Puzzle Games

2. MentalUP Educational Games

MentalUP Educational Games for iPad offer learners a variety of problem-solving experiences and critical thinking challenges. The games start with concise instructions before launching into timed exercises. Users can customize the app to focus on specific skills and consider the player's age. It includes a reports page for tracking progress and achievements, and players can personalize their avatars with in-game currency earned by succeeding in games.

Ages: 5 and over

Related: Best brain training apps

3. PBS KIDS Games

PBS Kids Games is a top iPad game for kids, offering over 25 games featuring popular PBS Kids characters. It provides preschoolers with hours of entertainment and education across various activities like pattern matching, racing, and music. The games teach basics about weather, sea life, shapes, and more, while also developing reading skills and strategic thinking. The app regularly updates with new games, expanding its educational content. It's a free and effective choice for interactive learning with beloved children's TV characters.

4. Adventure Academy

Adventure Academy is a multiplayer game for elementary and middle school students, offering thousands of learning activities across subjects like math, reading, science, and social studies. Kids explore these through quests in a virtual world. The activities include videos, games, quizzes, and interactive elements aligned with U.S. and international curriculum standards.

Ages: 9 and over

5. Science Games for Kids - Tappity

K-5 Science for Kids - Tappity is a great app that is like having the perfect science teacher available for children all of the time. The app includes 200+ science lessons, activities, and stories in a curriculum designed for kids ages 4-10. Their content is aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards for K-5th Grade.

6. Word Beach: Fun Spelling Games

Word Beach is an ideal iPad game for children aged 6 and older, enhancing their attention, language development, and spatial awareness. This word puzzle game improves their spelling skills, introduces new words, and reinforces the spellings of irregular words. The game involves finding words from letters of a longer word, with progress to the next level upon completion. With hundreds of levels and regular updates, it offers lasting engagement. A daily challenge, presented as a simple crossword, adds variety.

Ages: 6 and above

• Related: Best free games for kids

7. Kids Brain Games

Kids Brain Games is a fun iPad game for kids. The games are challenging children to develop their thinking skills. The variety of puzzles is excellent and cover many different topics and ways of thinking. One moment your child will be matching clocks to times and the next mentally rotating a scene to find its mirror image. Both of these have an element of maths to them but other challenges cover words, problem solving, planning, memory, general knowledge and all sorts of other aspects.

Ages: 5 and under

8. ABCya Games

ABCYa is an educational game for iPad designed for kids in grades K-5, categorizing games by grade and subjects such as letters, numbers, and holidays. The game collection includes arcade, word find, racing, and typing games, among others, with examples ranging from Alphabetical Order for kindergarteners to Division Drag Race for fifth graders. ABCya! allows children to identify their learning levels and select games that meet their educational needs.

9. Coding Games For Kids To Play

Coding Games for kids is a popular iPad game for kids that teaches sequential visual coding. The app comes with an array of free games and encourages children to solve problems, improve logical thinking and increase their memory in a fun and interactive environment. Its fun way to get kids to learn and problems solve in fun way with cool characters and plenty of great games to choose from.

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Some of the Best Online Learning Games for Kids

By Courtney Schley

To find our favorite learning apps and games for kids, we spent more than 40 hours researching and testing 50-plus apps recommended by educators, experts, and parents. If your family has a tablet and you want it to be more than a game-playing and video-watching device, or if you’re trying to find apps for your smartphone that will do more than keep your kids occupied in a pinch, we have some great suggestions.

As with our guides to STEM and learning toys, we didn’t test scores of apps to try to find the “best” ones. Rather, most of the apps here have been chosen by teachers for their students in classrooms, used by Wirecutter parents and their kids, or recommended by the experts and educators we spoke with. (For details, read more about how we selected the apps in this guide.) The apps we cover in this guide are great learning apps not because they’re designed to make kids smarter, to drill facts, or to replace in-school learning, but because they each offer something fun, unique, and interesting for kids and adults.

The research

Our favorite math apps, our favorite coding apps, our favorite science and exploration apps, our favorite social and emotional learning apps, our favorite ebook app, how we picked and tested.

These math games don’t simply drill facts or make kids memorize but rather use visuals, narratives, and storylines to help kids discover math concepts and build their skills. We like these apps because they offer games and exercises tailored to different ages and skill levels and because they encourage adults and kids to play together.

A family math app: Bedtime Math

Bedtime Math (iOS and Android)

Bringing math home.

This free app makes math a part of daily family life, like a bedtime story. A peer-reviewed study showed that it not only helps improve kids’ math performance but also makes parents feel more comfortable with math.

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How it works: Bedtime Math ( iOS and Android ) seeks to do for math what the bedtime story does for literacy, by turning math into an enjoyable bonding routine between child and caregiver.

The free app offers a daily word problem for children to solve together with an adult during bedtime or anytime. Each exercise centers on a short narrative or interesting fact and poses questions at four difficulty levels, from pre-K through elementary school.

Why it’s great: Bedtime Math is one of the few children’s educational apps that have been evaluated in a peer-reviewed study . This particular study demonstrated that students who used the app significantly boosted their math scores; it also showed that Bedtime Math can help parents mitigate their own math anxiety , a phenomenon that can negatively affect their children’s attitudes toward math and their ability in the subject. Teacher Jennifer Auten told us she liked that the questions were written at a middle-school reading level, meaning an adult must facilitate the discussion but you have a choice of four levels of difficulty based on the child’s age and math level.

Apps for visual math: DragonBox Numbers and DragonBox Big Numbers

DragonBox Numbers (iOS, Android, and Amazon)

Visual numeracy.

Cute Nooms help kids visualize and conceptualize numbers and arithmetic operations.

DragonBox Big Numbers (iOS, Android, and Amazon)

More-complex arithmetic.

Kids follow characters called Nooms on adventures, solving long addition and subtraction equations in the process.

Ages: 4 to 8 and 6 to 9

How it works: DragonBox Numbers ( iOS , Android , and Amazon ), aimed at kids 4 through 8, introduces number sense, addition, and subtraction through cute characters called Nooms. (The characters are designed to resemble Cuisenaire rods , math learning aids that introduce kids to arithmetic operations in a hands-on way.) Kids feed, slice, and sort the Nooms, developing familiarity with addition, subtraction, fractions, and ranges. In DragonBox Big Numbers ( iOS , Android , and Amazon ), for kids 5 through 9, players follow the Nooms on more complex adventures, solving long addition and subtraction equations in order to gather and trade resources.

Why it’s great: The Nooms function as digital versions of what classroom teachers call math manipulatives , physical learning aids that help young children understand theoretical math concepts in a concrete way. For older kids, the DragonBox series continues on with algebra and Euclidean geometry.

Many great apps teach coding to kids as young as preschool and progressing through upper elementary grades. We’ve highlighted four of these apps because they’re particularly easy to get started with and don’t require reading or, for the child or the parent, a coding background. Regardless of what app they use, parents should think of coding apps as a family activity, said Pat Yongpradit of Code.org . “You will rarely have such a rich media experience as you can when coding with your kid,” he said.

Coding puzzles for beginners: Lightbot and Lightbot Jr

Lightbot (iOS and Android)

Coding puzzles.

The app’s simple puzzle challenges are easy to jump into for kids and adults with no previous coding experience.

Lightbot Jr (iOS and Android)

Coding puzzles for younger kids.

A slower-paced, easier set of puzzles for kids as young as preschool.

Ages: 9 and up (Lightbot); 4 to 8 (Lightbot Jr)

How it works: In Lightbot ( iOS and Android ), kids solve a series of simple puzzles by lining up commands that make a robot advance over obstacles and light up squares. As they master basic concepts, they add more-complex commands, such as conditionals, loops, and nested statements. Lightbot Jr ( iOS and Android ) follows a similar structure but at a slower pace and with simpler challenges that focus on reinforcing the basics. A minimal amount of reading is required, so pre-readers may need adult help at the beginning.

Why it’s great: Project Lead The Way (PLTW), a nonprofit educational organization that promotes and develops STEM curricula and resources, told us, “The best apps for young students without previous experience are those that teach and help build logic and reasoning skills [and] critical thinking skills, and provide brain teasers.” PLTW’s curriculum writers like the Lightbot and Lightbot Jr apps as ways to get kids as young as 4 started with the basic concepts and logical structures of coding.

A creative coding app: ScratchJr

ScratchJr (iOS, Android, and Amazon)

Visual programming.

Using graphical coding blocks, ScratchJr lets kids animate characters and create storylines.

Ages: 5 and up

How it works: In ScratchJr ( iOS , Android , Amazon ), kids select characters and backdrop scenes and drag graphical programming blocks, which snap together like puzzle pieces, to make animation sequences and storylines. Although the app has some written cues, the programming blocks largely use symbols (such as arrows and stop signs) to indicate what they do (such as move the character forward or make them stop). As kids become familiar with how to structure the code, they can create multi-scene stories.

Why it’s great: ScratchJr isn’t lesson-based (though you can consult a variety of curricula and tutorials for the app) but rather designed to give kids a sandbox in which to experiment, learn, and create through trial and error (the app offers sample animations as well). Pat Yongpradit of Code.org , which recommends ScratchJr among other coding apps and games, noted one particular benefit: “It’s very free-form; you’re not basically being directed down a particular path.” Younger kids will need an adult or older child to guide them as they get familiar with ScratchJr .

An app for hands-on coding: Osmo Coding Awbie

Osmo Coding (iOS)

Tangible coding.

The Osmo system uses physical game pieces in conjunction with the device’s screen, making scripting and coding tangible and accessible for pre-readers.

Ages: 5 to 12

How it works: Osmo Coding Awbie requires a base system—a stand and a mirror that attach to the device’s camera and that are compatible with other Osmo games —for the iPad , iPhone , and Amazon Fire . The system allows players to use physical pieces to interact with the screen-based game. Kids use bricks marked with commands, arrows, numbers, and loops to create scripts that direct a silly character through mazes and challenges, picking up prizes such as strawberries.

Why it’s great: Teacher Jennifer Auten, who uses Osmo Coding Awbie and other Osmo games in her classroom, said the fact that it combined an app with physical pieces made kids more patient and thoughtful as they worked through the challenges: “When something is purely on the screen, kids will sometimes end up just tapping as fast as they can, randomly guessing. With the manipulatives, it slows their thinking down.” Auten also noted that the physical pieces made it easier to play the game with multiple people, fostering discussion, collaboration, and group problem-solving. She also likes that Osmo Coding Awbie is open-ended: “Kids can explore and create their own paths.”

In this category we chose these three apps—focused on anatomy, the natural world, and space—because they offer kids unique, open-ended ways to explore science topics. Each app encourages kids to meander, linger, and dive deeper at their own pace.

An app to see what’s inside: The Human Body

The Human Body (iOS and Android)

Seeing what’s inside.

The Human Body offers a visually and aurally interesting way to wander through the body’s organs, systems, and functions.

How it works: In The Human Body ( iOS and Android ), kids explore anatomy by jumping around to different organs and systems—for example, watching a mouth chew food and swallow drink, sliding into a stomach breaking down food, and following flashing nerve signals as they race up to the brain.

Why it’s great: The Human Body focuses less on teaching kids specific anatomical lessons and more on sparking wonder and fascination toward the body and what it can do. The app’s engaging visuals are neither cartoonish nor graphic, and the thoughtful sound effects are as compelling and instructive as the animations: Gurgles, wooshes, creaks, and spurts give kids a visceral sense of what’s happening inside them. You can toggle on or off the text labels that identify the systems and organs, but no reading is required to get deep into the app, making it equally accessible to pre-readers.

An app for discovering nature: Toca Nature

Toca Nature (iOS, Android, and Amazon)

Natural-world building.

Toca Nature is an open-ended building app—similar to Minecraft—where kids can explore and shape the terrain, collect resources, and observe wildlife.

Ages: 4 and up

How it works: In Toca Nature ( iOS , Android , Amazon ), kids start with a simple plot of land where they can raise or lower mountains, create lakes, clear or plant forests, and make deserts. They can zoom in to different areas of their terrain to collect and distribute resources (like mushrooms, fish, or berries). As they change and shape the environment, different kinds of animals, plants, and fish will appear, multiply, migrate, or disappear.

Why it’s great: Similar to popular narrative-less building games like Minecraft , Toca Nature harnesses the enjoyment kids get from open-ended creating, wandering, and exploring games, with a unique focus on the natural world. Common Sense Media senior editor Christine Elgersma said that an app like Toca Nature doesn’t have explicit learning goals—it’s not trying to teach kids the names of animals or types of terrain, for example—but rather is “an exploratory app with experiences that a kid really couldn’t have off screen.” By creating and manipulating the environment, and then observing how the plant and wildlife change as a result, kids can see how animals, resources, and the environment interact.

An app for exploring space: Professor Astro Cat’s Solar System

Professor Astro Cat’s Solar System (iOS, Android, and Amazon)

Cats in space.

Explore the solar system with a jet-propelled cat.

Ages: 8 to 12, or 6 and up with an adult

How it works: Kids explore the app much as they would read a book, delving into facts, illustrations, and animations about planets, moons, stars, and space exploration. At various points, quizzes and other challenges let you earn sardine treats for Professor Astro Cat.

Why it’s great: Jana Grcevich , an astronomer, science educator, and author , told us she enjoyed the Professor Astro Cat app ( iOS , Android , and Amazon ), along with the popular book series it’s based on, with her then 6-year-old niece. The app requires reading, but the entertaining storyline and fascinating facts make it fun for adults along with younger children.

Social and emotional learning , which includes self-awareness, empathy, communication skills, and building relationships, among other capacities, has increasingly been recognized as a critical component of children’s education. These three apps let young kids explore different aspects of self-expression, emotions, and social play.

An app for self-expression: Me: A Kid’s Diary

Me: A Kid's Diary (iOS)

A digital diary.

This app lets kids explore self-expression through drawing, writing, photos, and audio and video.

Ages: 7 and up

How it works: Kids create a digital diary of their lives by answering questions about themselves; making avatars for family members, friends, and other loved ones; and designing their own media. Kids navigate all these entries on their Me Map, a sort of multimedia landscape of their lives.

Why it’s great: Me: A Kid’s Diary helps kids creatively document their feelings, experiences, and loved ones through different media and modes of expression. In some ways, the app offers an experience akin to social media—uploading photos, making videos, writing reflections, and mapping personal connections—but in an entirely closed environment (there’s no actual communication or sharing within the app). This can create a space for kids to start to explore (and for parents to discuss) digital self-expression and sharing.

An app for emotions: Daniel Tiger’s Grr-ific Feelings

Daniel Tiger's Grr-ific Feelings (iOS, Android, and Amazon)

Exploring emotions.

The beloved PBS character helps young kids identify, act out, and explore their feelings through games, songs and creative activities.

Ages: 2 to 5

How it works: Kids explore the familiar world of the PBS Kids series Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood ( iOS , Android , Amazon ) through simple games, songs, and art activities that focus on identifying and exploring feelings and emotions. It offers different ways for kids to practice, talk about, and experience emotions, such as by drawing a picture, taking a photo of themselves feeling angry or happy, or practicing a calming exercise with Daniel Tiger.

Why it’s great: The app is simple and accessible for very young kids, with frequent verbal cues and reminders to help them through the easily navigable interface. “Even without the Daniel tie-in, it could actually still be a pretty successful app for teaching a lot of social, emotional, and self-care skills,” said Harry Sawyers, Wirecutter senior editor and father of three. “But having the familiar characters and songs really helps jump-start their interest if, for example, they ‘have to go potty—stop, and go right awaaaaay!’”

An app for social play: Toca Tea Party

Toca Tea Party (iOS)

Tea for two (or more).

Toca Tea Party presents the elements of a tea party—drinks, desserts, and dishes—for unstructured imaginative play.

Ages: 2 and up

How it works: Toca Tea Party couldn’t be simpler: You set a tea table with plates, cups, drinks, and treats for three guests, and the rest is up to your imagination. There’s no objective beyond pouring drinks, munching treats, and wiping up spills, and the app has a built-in end point: Once you’ve finished the snacks and beverages, the table clears itself and the dishes drop into a sink, ending the party.

Why it’s great: Toca Tea Party isn’t so much a game as a scene for unstructured imaginative and social play for young children. Kids can play alone (perhaps by inviting dolls or stuffed animals as guests) or with one or two others—a unique feature for a tablet game to pull off well. My two daughters, now 4 and 5, haven’t tired of Toca Tea Party after two years, and their play centers on chatting, pretending, and sharing.

An app for reading: Epic! ebook subscription

Epic! e-book subscription

Endless ebooks.

This app allows young readers to choose from up to 35,000 different books for a low monthly cost.

How it works: For $8 a month, kids gain access to some 35,000 children’s books in an intuitively designed app. Epic’s library is updated regularly with new titles, including classics and the site’s original content. Many of the picture books have a “Read to me” function, where a narrator reads the text aloud and the pages turn automatically. The app also suggests books by age and based on what a child has previously read, allowing kids to easily discover new titles at their reading level. Epic! works on iOS, Android and Microsoft tablets and smartphones.

Why it’s great: While some subscription kids’ e-book apps tend to be populated with the kinds of uninteresting titles you’d find in a bookstore bargain bin, Epic! offers an impressive library of children’s books, including many of the beloved classics and award-winning authors you’d find in a well-curated children’s library. (The Wizard of Oz, with the original 1900 illustrations, was one memorable find that gave us many nights of rapt bedtime reading.) The app is simple enough to use that both of my daughters can independently browse books by the cover art and find what interests them—even though they are both pre-readers. Fairy tales abound, but I’ve also found them paging through books about geology, Ramadan, and coding.

Since we began researching learning apps in 2016, we’ve spoken with a range of experts, including a classroom teacher, a child developmental psychologist, a pediatrician, an astronomer, education researchers, app developers, and others.

These have included Kathy Hirsh-Pasek , a professor of psychology at Temple University who has written about and conducted research studies on educational apps for young children; Jennifer Auten , an award-winning teacher in Cupertino, California, who has been using tablet and smartphone apps in her first- and second-grade curricula since the iPad was released in 2010; Christine Elgersma , senior editor, parent education, for Common Sense Media, an organization focused on children’s media; and Pat Yongpradit , chief academic officer at Code.org, a nonprofit that advocates for computer science education. Last, we’ve spoken with parents on our staff for recommendations of apps they and their kids love in categories such as science, music, and coding.

We read articles and reports from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and child developmental psychologists and educational researchers to learn about kids’ media use and about principles for designing learning apps. Finally, we read through reviews and ratings from well-regarded children’s media sites such as Common Sense Media .

Similar to what we found when researching learning toys , we discovered that developers and app stores often label apps as “educational” with little research or evidence, and few experts, to support those claims. In 2016, the AAP released a broad report on children’s use of digital media, calling for more-rigorous evaluation of apps that claim to be educational: “Unfortunately, very few of the commercially available apps found in the educational section of app stores have evidence-based design input with demonstrated learning effectiveness.” Similarly, in a 2015 article , Hirsh-Pasek writes that educational apps “present a significant opportunity for out-of-school, informal learning when designed in educationally appropriate ways” but notes later on that “[o]nly a handful of apps are designed with an eye toward how children actually learn.”

Experts are still studying what makes learning apps successful pedagogical tools, as well as fun and interesting activities for kids. But after speaking with experts, reading research, and trying out apps ourselves, we identified a few features that seem to be common among great learning apps.

• Offer unique experiences: Several of the experts we spoke to noted that a good educational app should offer children something they couldn’t simply do, learn, or explore in a classroom or the real world. If the app is “basically a worksheet on screen, [or] an experience that could be replicated off screen, then that’s not a good use of the screen,” Elgersma said. “You want it to be an experience that kids could really only have in that screen world.”
• Be open-ended, with limits: Most of the apps in this guide are open-ended in the sense that they encourage kids to independently explore, create, and navigate within the app. But researchers say it’s important to have built-in limits, as well. The AAP has pointed out that digital games have traditionally been designed with rewards and reinforcement designed to keep kids playing as long as possible. The organization recommends that learning apps instead have “automatic ‘stops’ as the default design to encourage children and caregivers to pause the game use and turn to the 3-dimensional world.”
• Be engaging but not distracting: Apps have great potential to engage children through interactive features, but some research has shown that too many bells and whistles can distract children or reduce their comprehension. A good learning app uses interactive, animated, and responsive features to engage kids or enhance their comprehension, not simply to entertain. Hirsh-Pasek has written that parents should evaluate an app’s interactive features and ask: “Do the enhancements actually add value and increase engagement, or do they cause distraction?”
• Encourage interaction: The AAP and other organizations say that learning apps that encourage real-life interaction among multiple people—adult and child, or child and peers—can be especially strong at facilitating learning. The apps in this guide are fun and interesting for kids and adults, and many foster conversation and play outside of the app itself.

As with our guide to learning toys , we focused primarily on apps aimed at kids 3 to 9 years old, though older kids can enjoy many of our recommendations, as well. We chose this age range because, as Hirsh-Pasek has written , “there are so many apps targeted toward [children in this range] that parents and educators do not know how to navigate the marketplace of possibilities.”

All the apps we recommend in this guide adhere to the FTC’s Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act . Among other things, COPPA requires that websites and apps directed at children under age 13 obtain permission from parents before collecting or sharing personal information from children, or targeting them with behavioral advertising. None of the apps in this guide require children to enter personal information in order to use the app’s functions, and none offer social media sharing or connectivity.

Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, et al., Putting Education in “Educational” Apps: Lessons From the Science of Learning , Psychological Science in the Public Interest , April 20, 2015

Yolanda (Linda) Reid Chassiakos, et al., Children and Adolescents and Digital Media , Pediatrics , October 1, 2016

Jana Grcevich, PhD, astronomer, science educator, author , phone interview , December 1, 2016

Jennifer Auten, first- and second-grade teacher, Cupertino, California , phone interview , November 8, 2016

Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, PhD, professor of psychology, Temple University , phone interview , January 8, 2019

Christine Elgersma, senior editor, parent education, Common Sense Media , phone interview , March 12, 2019

Pat Yongpradit, chief academic officer, Code.org , phone interview , April 18, 2019

Meet your guide

Courtney Schley

Courtney Schley, a senior editor covering sleep and appliances, has been at Wirecutter since 2014. She has held several roles at Wirecutter, including research editor, as well as supervising editor of baby and kid coverage.

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How to Set Up a Remote Learning Space for Your Kids

by Melanie Pinola

With many schools closed this fall, it’s time to set up a remote schoolwork area for kids that’ll make learning a little easier.

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Best kids’ apps & games for iPhone/iPad

Put a child in the same room as an iPad or an iPhone and they will instinctively reach for it. Perhaps it’s the bright colours and the feel of the touchscreen; the simplicity of the interface in iOS and iPadOS also plays a part. No matter the reason, kids love messing with smartphones and tablets.

Mobile devices can do a great job entertaining and educating your offspring, but not all apps are created equal. In this article we present the apps and games most beloved of our editors and their children; there’s a blend here of learning, creativity and fun.

Best kids’ apps: Ages 5 and under

Here are our recommendations for children aged 5 and under. Age guidance is approximate, of course, and you won’t need to be told that kids learn and mature at different speeds.

Be sure also to click through to the App Store using the links provided. Have a look at screenshots, any available preview videos and so on, to see if the difficulty, complexity and reading level are appropriate for your child.

• Price: £3.99/$3.99 ( Bloom on the App Store )
• Age rating: 4+

There are tools for making music and others that are more about experimenting with sound. Bloom is an iPhone take on the latter, a collaboration between software designer Peter Chilvers and musician Brian Eno that enables you to explore generative audio composition.

That probably all sounds a bit highbrow for kids, but it really isn’t in practice. Essentially, you tap on the screen to play a note, which eventually loops. Keep tapping and a composition appears. It’s a beautiful, relaxing app, and simple enough that even a two-year-old can grasp the basics of how it works.

• Price: Free ( Dino Tim on the App Store )
• Age rating: 4+ (made for ages 3-6)

Dino Tim’s family has been abducted by witches, and kids have to solve various educational puzzles in order to save them. The game involves solving colour and geometric shape puzzles, as well as running, flying, jumping and even a little bit of magic.

The aim of the game is to teach kids to recognise basic geometric shapes, as well as to learn about colours and even their first words. The game has been fully translated into a number of languages (French, Spanish and Italian to list a few) which provides your child with a great opportunity to learn a foreign language in a fun way, from a young age.

Endless Alphabet

• Price: £8.99/$8.99 ( Endless Alphabet on the App Store )
• Age rating: 4+ (made for 5 and under)

Endless Alphabet proves that dialling down the surreal doesn’t mean an app about letters has to be boring. On the contrary, Endless Alphabet is a lot of fun as you choose a word, watch the letters scatter, and drag them back into place.

The letters come to life when touched, wriggling under your fingers, and once the word is complete, you’re treated to a little animation that explains what the word means.

It’s more expensive than many of the apps listed here, but hugely popular on the App Store with hundreds of positive reviews.

Laugh & Learn Shapes & Colors

• Price: Free ( Laugh & Learn on the App Store )

Designed for babies and toddlers, this app from Fisher-Price offers two simple games. In the first, you tap to hear the name of a shape and tilt the device to make it bounce around. In the second, there’s a keyboard to prod, and each shape has its own song to sing along to. This is, in all honesty, not a terribly elegant app, but in our experience it seems captivating to tiny humans grappling with technology for the first time.

• Price: £1.99/$1.99 ( Miximal on the App Store )

There’s nothing especially innovative about Miximal – it’s yet another of those sliding games, where you make strange combinations of animals. But what sets Miximal apart from its peers is the sense of craft and care that’s gone into the app.

The style is cartoonish, yet all of the animals are very recognisable. Each is animated, too.

Tap one of the sections and it moves and jiggles. Fashion a ‘complete’ animal and it will offer a celebratory alternate animation. Additionally, if your child wonders at any point what strange mixed-up creature is currently on the screen, a quick tap of the play button will give you (and read out) its name.

The Monster at the End of This Book with Grover!

• Price: £4.99/$4.99 ( The Monster at the End of This Book on the App Store )

This updated and improved digital version of the classic Sesame Theme-themed kids’ book is a lot of fun. As Grover performs, the words appear on the screen, highlighted as they’re spoken. And you can interact with the app by touching a knot, for example, to make it unravel. Tap Grover to tickle him.

Monster Mingle

• Price: £2.99/$2.99 ( Monster Mingle on the App Store )

There’s a lot to be said for exploration and play when a child is developing. Monster Mingle’s free-play nature makes it ideal for such things.

You create your own friendly monster by dragging parts to it that are lying about the place, and said monster can then amble about, dive into the ocean or soar into the air. The world features all kinds of strange creatures to discover and interact with, and the goal-free nature of Monster Mingle makes for a stress-free and highly entertaining time.

Montessorium: Intro to Colors

• Price: £4.99/$4.99 ( Intro to Colours on the App Store )

With Intro to Colors, your child learns the basics of colours through a series of matching games. So it starts out matching red, blue and yellow before moving on to secondary levels and gradients. Kids learn to mix and match paint, as well as how to learn to spot and name different colours.

Intro to Colors is a pretty app, which is one reason we like it. But it also makes use of the iPad to deliver something young children would not get from other more traditional means.

Mr Thorne’s

• 99p/99c for Mr Thorne’s Divide + Conquer or Mr Thorne’s Addition Space Station
• £1.99/$1.99 for Mr Thorne’s Times Tables Terra
• All have age rating 4+

London teacher Christopher Thorne must be one of the coolest Sirs on the planet (although he does appear to own several pairs of Timmy Mallet-like specs), and he uses the planets as the theme for his three maths apps.

When you score 10 out of 10 on a particular addition, times table or division test you get to keep a space station or planet, depending on the app you’re using. There’s a mystery challenge when you’ve unlocked all the tests, which is an extra incentive – and different to the Squeebles and Math Bingo reward games.

Each game has three levels: Beginner/Newcomer, First Class/Elite and World Class/Legend. The top level is going to test adults, too, so you can join in and have sum fun.

We recommend all the Mr Thorne maths apps, as they’re simple to use, look great, and should really engage kids in these maths basics.

My Very Hungry Caterpillar

• Price: £5.99/$5.99 ( My Very Hungry Caterpillar on the App Store )

The Very Hungry Caterpillar has munched its way through countless books, a telly animation, and even the odd activities-based app. But My Very Hungry Caterpillar takes a different approach, transforming the ravenous larva’s surroundings into an interactive game.

The result’s not unlike a no-lose Tamagotchi, with you feeding the caterpillar, playing with it, helping it doze under a leaf, and watching it grow. Eventually, like in the original story, the caterpillar transforms into a beautiful butterfly, at which point a new egg is laid for the adventure to begin anew.

• Price: Free ( Peek-a-Zoo on the App Store )

There’s an elegant simplicity at the heart of Peek-a-Zoo, and it might at first appear a bit too simple. But any time spent with the app and a small child will dismiss any lingering concerns.

You’ll grow to love the gang of sweet cartoon animals, and the simple questions for the child to answer: who is winking? Who is dressed up? And so on. You soon realise that although this app is very straightforward, it’s cunningly teaching your child all kinds of things, from identifying animals to types of clothing and actions.

Sago Mini Monsters

• Price: £3.99/$3.99 ( Sago Mini Monsters on the App Store )

One for younger monster-creators, before working their way up to the likes of Monster Mingle or DNA Play, Sago Mini Monsters has you coax a monster from gloopy green slime. You then tap colours and paint your beast before interacting with it.

Most interaction comes in the form of feeding the monster dishes that appear, along with prodding and poking horns, eyes and mouths to change their appearance. A quick brush of the teeth and some decorations and the monster’s time is done. You can then take a photo to share before starting the process again.

Shape Gurus

• Price: £2.99/$2.99 ( Shape Gurus on the App Store )

In this interactive story, children are regularly challenged to complete puzzles based around shape-matching. In one case, a little bird flutters towards the outline of a nest, while five brown triangles wait to be dragged into place. Elsewhere, shape and colour matching creates flowers and a watering can.

The voiceover isn’t the best around, but the 27 puzzles and story should keep a child engrossed for a good while, and the journey’s fun enough that it will warrant repeating a number of times.

Teach Your Monster to Read

• Price: 99p/99c ( Teach Your Monster to Read on the App Store )
• Age rating: 4+ (made for 3-6)

Kids will love creating personalised monsters who help them learn the basics of reading, starting with letters, phonics and sound combinations before moving on to combinations of sounds and words. The app takes children through the various stages of teaching their monster to read using various mini games, and we suspect they’ll be having so much fun they won’t even notice that they’re learning.

Thinkrolls 2

• Price: £3.99/$3.99 ( Thinkrolls 2 on the App Store )

Thinkrolls 2 is a slight but engaging platform puzzler for tiny hands to tackle. The aim is to help a little ball traverse various traps, collecting coins on the way to meeting up with a friend.

All of the objects you can manipulate (such as expanding platforms, and barrels to drag into water traps) are suitably chunky, and the game is forgiving when it comes to errors, enabling you to replay sections when a mistake is made, such as when tumbling into a hole.

It’s designed for young children and even toddlers can grasp the basic mechanics – although the very young may need a little help from a parent when it comes to the more complex interactions.

• Price: £3.99/$3.99 ( Toca Band on the App Store )

This smart, uncomplicated game is all about creating music from a band of colourful characters. You simply drag them to the stage and they get on with playing their instruments; move them to a spot with a different colour and they’ll change what they’re playing.

Any character plonked in the star position (unsubtly marked with a massive yellow star) gives you the chance to explore more sounds as part of a solo performance – perfect for when you think pianist Dancy Nancy or maracas player Shaky McBones hasn’t had enough of the limelight.

Best iPhone & iPad apps for kids: Ages 6 to 8

Now for some apps that are suitable for a slightly older audience. Here are our recommendations for children aged 6-8.

We’ll repeat ourselves, and point out that age recommendations are approximate. Check out our choices on the App Store before spending any money, to see if the difficulty, complexity and reading level are appropriate for your child.

BBC iPlayer Kids

• Price: Free ( BBC iPlayer Kids on the App Store )
• Age rating: 4+ (made for 6-8)

The standard version of iPlayer is the best catch-up app around, providing fast access to shows recently broadcast on the BBC. But while it has age-gating, there’s always the risk a youngster will access something you don’t want them to see.

iPlayer Kids gets around this problem by restricting content to shows from CBBC and CBeebies. The interface is also simpler and chunkier, making it suitable for young children. That said, it still retains important features, notably the option to download shows for offline playback.

• Price: £2.99/$2.99 ( DNA Play on the App Store )

The suggestion that DNA Play can teach 6-to-8-year-olds the basics of genetics is perhaps pushing it a bit. But what this toy does allow for is the creation of almost limitless monsters.

This is achieved by completing ‘DNA puzzles’ (basic shape-matching) and subsequently manipulating the ‘DNA’ relating to a monster’s limbs, torso, face and features (by dragging shapes or just prodding the relevant bits of the monster). There’s also a modicum of interaction, where you can take your monster dancing and skating, and take a photo to share with friends.

Smartly, the app enables you to save a monster before creating another, enabling you to revisit favourites at a later date.

Journeys of Invention

• Price: £9.99/$9.99 ( Journeys of Invention on the App Store )

One of the most ambitious digital books in existence, Journeys of Invention aims to chart the course of science and technology. It’s essentially a series of interwoven chapters, detailing how various inventions have impacted what followed.

Many pages enable you to interact with objects, spinning 360-degree ‘photographs’ with a finger, clambering inside the Apollo 10 Command Module, or sending coded messages using an Enigma machine. Packed with insight and spectacular imagery, it’s the best educational tome on the iPad.

• Price: Free ( Kodable on the App Store )

One of the most valuable skills for a youngster to learn in the digital economy is coding, which is where Kodable comes in (at a very basic level).

SurfScoreLLC’s premise is very simple: “The fuzz family have crash-landed on Smeeborg and they need your help navigating the Technomazes.” The commands to get the fuzzballs through the mazes are all drag and drop so with a little trial and error we can easily find our way through, earn the rewards and get to grips with the fundamentals of coding.

Read our full Kodable review .

Lego DC Super Heroes Chase

• Price: Free ( Lego DC Super Heroes Chase on the App Store )

There’s not much educational content here, but our six-year-old reviewer literally cannot get enough of it. Very useful for rewarding good behaviour.

It’s a simple racer in which you navigate a superhero through the level, avoiding obstacles and collecting coins, then take down the baddy du jour by chucking batarangs or similar. There doesn’t appear to be any significant chance of failure, but kids still appear to get a kick out of succeeding, and from collecting the various characters.

• Price: £3.99/$3.99 ( Loopimal on the App Store )

The idea behind Loopimal is to teach children the basics of making music by way of a colourful and simple-to-use loop sequencer.

That might sound complicated, but it really isn’t. You get a bopping animal, and drag coloured shapes to a looping timeline. When the playhead moves over one of the shapes, the animal performs an animation that alters the music in some way.

Once your child has figured out how it all works, you can split the screen into two or four, creating an oddball four-track menagerie-cum-band that will entertain for hours.

• £2.99/$2.99 ( Math Bingo on the App Store )

Play the game that’s all about numbers to learn how to add, subtract, multiply and divide. Yes, bingo.

Math Bingo’s questions vary according to your child’s maths abilities and personal preferences. There’s a timer, but to start we’d advise disregarding the clock as this can put on undue pressure.

Math Bingo is colourful and features a collection of weird bug aliens to make things more fun. Kids love to win the Bingo Bugs and they can then use them in a game of Bingo Bug Bungie – a sort of pinball game where you fire your collected bugs to knockout coins to beat your highest score. It’s enough to make even reluctant mathematicians give multiplication another chance.

Metamorphabet

• Price: £4.99/$4.99 ( Metamorphabet on the App Store )

This Apple Design Award winner transforms letters into words, often by way of surreal animations. If you fancy seeing a caterpillar gamely driving a car that you can fling about the screen (complete with crashing noises when it lands) or an ostrich tentatively playing with a very solid-looking orange, this is the app to buy.

For kids, it’ll almost certainly captivate more than traditional fare in this space, because of its playful, interactive design. And although the app was created for the 6-to-8 age range, it’s perfectly suitable for younger children (or, for that matter, much older parents).

Monument Valley

• £3.99/$3.99 ( Monument Valley on the App Store )

One of the most beautiful and captivating games ever released, Monument Valley will keep children and adults engaged for hours working our how to help the silent princess Ida through mysterious and mind-bending, fantastical architecture, uncovering hidden paths, unfolding Escher-like optical illusions of impossible geometry, and outsmarting the barking Crow People.

Monument Valley is both surreal and serene exploration and will surely go down in game history as one of the unique greats.

And once you’ve finished it, Monument Valley 2 is available too.

Novation Launchpad

• Price: Free + IAP ( Novation Launchpad on the App Store )

Although we’d argue GarageBand is an approachable and accessible music-making app, it’s perhaps a bit too much for very young children, if only because of the sheer wealth of options. For an initial foray into making a noise, Novation Launchpad is a better bet.

On selecting a genre, you simply tap pads to trigger loops that repeat until they’re turned off or another in its group is selected. Performances can be recorded and shared, and for older kids intent on making their own loops, there’s a one-off IAP that unlocks import capabilities.

(Just make sure with very young kids that you don’t miss them hitting record and merrily leaving the app open for ages, or you’ll wonder where your device’s free space has all gone!)

• Price: Free ( Pure Math on the App Store )

Pure Math has a simpler and cleaner interface than many of the colourful apps in this round-up (hence the ‘pure’ in its name), and a faster difficulty progression, too, so it suits older children best.

You start each level with a score of 1,000, which decreases as time ticks by, and each time you get a question wrong. To begin, the sums are very easy, but with each level, they get harder and harder until even the adults will struggle.

The addition mode is free, but to unlock the subtraction, multiplication and division modes you’ll need to upgrade to the full version for £1.99/$1.99.

Squeebles Times Tables 2

• £3.99/$3.99 ( Squeebles on the App Store )

Squeebles Times Tables 2 features an expanded reward system, fun mini game, six tables modes, unlimited players and plenty of stats and reporting for parents and teachers – thankfully without any in-app purchases or adverts. It’s great for testing kids on their times tables and rewarding them for getting them right.

There are other Squeebles apps for addition, division and so on. See the Key Stage Fun Squeebles website for details of all on offer.

Star Walk Kids

• Price: £2.99/$2.99 ( Star Walk Kids on the App Store )

There are quite a few apps that transform your iPhone or iPad into a virtual means to explore the heavens, but the interfaces can be too complex for young children. Star Walk Kids strips back the popular Star Walk app, simplifying how everything works, thereby optimising it for younger users.

That doesn’t mean it’s bereft of information, however: you can still explore the solar system’s planets, constellations, the ISS and Hubble; and there are nine animated films that enable you to delve a bit deeper into the facts and figures behind some of these objects.

Toca Blocks

• Price: £3.99/$3.99 ( Toca Blocks on the App Store )

Toca Blocks has the appearance of a platform game, but it’s really more about world-building and discovery. You add blocks to a large 2D plane, crafting a chunky world to explore. You can then take control of one of the three characters, each of which has unique abilities that affect how they travel about your tiny world (one can sort of fly, for example, while another smashes through blocks).

Much of the joy in the game comes from experimentation and just seeing what happens, such as when blocks combine to form something new, or a character starts dancing when walking over a glittery floor.

• Price: £3.99/$3.99 ( Toca Dance on the App Store )

We’ll fully admit a sense of bafflement on first opening up Toca Dance, with its icon-heavy interface that doesn’t appear overly concerned about telling you how anything works. But then perhaps that’s the point – you play and figure out what everything does.

On doing so, a strange world of choreography opens up, with you helping a trio of dancers fashion a routine to be performed on stage. The show itself can be interacted with, too, by way of sound effects, or lobbing things at the stage (money; confetti; tomatoes). And everything’s recorded, so you can share a video with friends.

Toca Nature

• Price: £3.99/$3.99 ( Toca Nature on the App Store )

The developers of Toca Nature aim with their app to capture some of the magic of the great outdoors, and we reckon they’ve succeeded. You get a little square of land, raising mountains or digging rivers with a swipe of a finger. You then tap to plant trees and watch as an ecosystem comes to life.

Brilliantly, you can use a magnifying glass to explore your tiny world, collecting fruit and fish, and using them to feed the animals and birds you find. The blank canvas aspect whenever the app restarts is a pity – it would be nice to have a save slot for ‘your’ world, but otherwise this is one of the finest children’s apps on iOS.

Best iPhone & iPad apps for kids: Ages 9 and over

Finally, here are our recommendations for children aged 9 and over. (Almost all of these focus on the ages 9-11, but we couldn’t resist including Dumb Ways To Die, which is for those aged 12 and over.)

One last time, we will emphasise that age recommendations are approximate. Have a look at screenshots, preview videos and descriptions on the App Store before spending any money, to see if the difficulty, complexity and reading level are appropriate for your youngster.

Comic Life 3

• Price: £4.99/$4.99 ( Comic Life 3 on the App Store )

There are plenty of photo apps that enable you to slap on a couple of stickers, or use filters to transform the look of any image. Comic Life, though, is for the more ambitious storyteller. You select a theme (several are included, from elaborate takes on classic comic styles through to bare-bones pages), and import photos into the panels.

You can then add sound effects, speech balloons and other stickers, thereby creating your very own comic book. For those who get really into the apps, there’s a script editor and the means to add multiple pages. Whatever you make can then be exported to a range of formats, including PDF and flat images.

Dumb Ways to Die

• Price: Free ( Dumb Ways to Die on the App Store )
• Age rating: 12+

Originally conceived as a public safety animation for an Australian metro company, Dumb Ways To Die morphed from a brilliant cartoon and maddeningly catchy tune that kids love to sing into an equally fun game of lethal possibilities. Kids love it and learn how not to get themselves killed at the same time. There are numerous sequels and spinoffs, should the idea appeal.

All together now: “Set fire to your hair, Poke a stick at a grizzly bear. Eat medicine that’s out of date, Use your private parts as piranha bait.”

Earth Primer

• Price: £9.99/$9.99 ( Earth Primer on the App Store )
• Age rating: 4+ (made for 9-11)

This beautifully designed app is essentially an interactive textbook, explaining how our planet works. As you leaf through the digital pages, you create volcanos and sculpt mountains, along with, of course, reading through the succinct but informative text alongside the simulations. That should be enough to keep most kids engrossed, but Earth Primer also includes a sandbox that enables you to create and shape a landscape with tools that are only unlocked as you progress through the rest of the book.

We’d say experiencing Earth Primer is reward enough, but turning a textbook into a game is a clever move if a reader needs a little extra encouragement.

• £4.99/$4.99 ( MathBoard on the App Store )

Although more expensive than most maths apps MathBoard can be easily configured for school children of all ages, beginning with simple addition and subtraction problems, multiplication and division, and algebra.

The blackboard theme is cute, although most kids won’t come anywhere a blackboard in school these days.

It is built around multiple choice but encourages working out solutions with a neat scratchboard area where pupils can chalk their sums.

MathBoard’s Problem Solver walks students through the steps required to solve the addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division equations. There are also quick reference tables to hand.

We especially like the configurable nature of MathBoard, where you can determine number ranges, omit negative answers, etc. Activities and quizzes can be timed, either as a countdown timer or elapsed time.

There’s a free version that tackles addition only so you can have a play before forking out for the full version. You don’t need to be a maths boffin to see the value in that!

• Price: £1.99/$1.99 ( Mathmateer on the App Store )

Mathmateer is a fun space-themed maths game in which children can build and customise their own rockets using money they’ve earned while soaring through space.

There are 56 different games ranging from simple counting to division and multiplication, so kids of all ages can enjoy playing. Five player profiles can be created, so you can set up one for each child depending on their skill level.

The only downfall (depending on where you live) is that the money system (used to buy extra rocket parts) is in dollars rather than pounds.

• Price: £3.99/$3.99 ( NAMOO on the App Store )

The idea behind NAMOO is to encourage children to explore the life of plants. The main screen features a tree and component parts you can tap and then interact with by way of 3D simulations. Each is twinned with some simple but engaging text that explains what’s going on.

The app is perhaps a little slight – it doesn’t take long to work through – but it looks and sounds gorgeous. Most notably, the artwork has a striking low-poly design that helps it stand out from more traditional textbook fare, helping it feel modern; this might rope in a few younglings who’d otherwise give it a pass.

Operation Math

• £2.99/$2.99 (App Store links: iPad version and iPhone version )

The Americanism in the app’s name might be mildly objectionable to British buyers, but this action-packed maths app has a lot to recommend it. The app mixes basic maths skills for children with a time-based spy game.

You’re a secret agent battling the evil Dr Odd, and you get new uniforms and spy gear for each mission completed. This game is all about beating the clock, so try it first in training mode when the player has more time to think about the addition, subtraction, multiplication and division equations.

The spy theme is a great idea for making maths a fun adventure.

• Price: £8.99/$8.99 ( Redshift on the App Store )

And here’s another delightful astronomical option. Redshift uses your current location to show you which stars, constellations and planets you should be able to see. If you enable the Follow Sky option, RedShift will update what you should expect to see as you point your iPad or iPhone at different spots in the sky while you pan around. It’s not a cheap option at £9.99, but a deep and rewarding experience.

• Price: £4.99/$4.99 ( Solar Walk on the App Store )

If your kids are feeling bored later tonight, how about a spot of astronomy? The amazing Solar Walk is a great app to get you started. The £4.99/$4.99 app lets you explore the solar system in exquisite detail. You can pinch and zoom around the heavens, examining celestial bodies in an immersive 3D environment from any angle or perspective.

Read our full Solar Walk review .

Xooloo Messenger

• Price: Free ( Xooloo Messenger on the App Store )
• Age rating: 4+ (designed for 6-13)

Xooloo proved a big hit with a six-year-old who was required to stay home from school during the 2020 virus lockdown, and very much missed his friends. On the whole, however, it’s probably better suited to a slightly older crowd.

It lets you create an avatar and then safely and easily send messages, emoji, pictures and a small number of jokey visual effects (a custard pie, a kiss, confetti and more, gradually unlocking as you make more friends) and keep in touch with friends and family.

To make the app more child-friendly, parents are informed when their kids make new contacts, and can view the contacts list at any time (but not the contents of conversations); it complies fully with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act. The fact that the app is free yet contains neither advertising nor in-app purchases is a further advantage.

Warnings about iDevice use, and further reading

That concludes our roundup of the best kids’ apps for iPad and iPhone, but it’s certainly not our last word on the subject.

If you’re considering a tablet for your offspring, you should first ponder the question are iPads safe for young children?

Remember to protect the device with a kid-friendly case and protect it using parental controls . Be aware also that some apps are expensive to buy or contain in-app purchases designed to tempt unwary kids. Others aren’t appropriate for youngsters.

If you’re looking for more app recommendations, you’ll be delighted to discover that we’ve also compiled lists of the best iOS games , the best free iPhone games and the best free iPad games for the older kids (and adults) to enjoy.

Top 18 best educational kids games for iPhone and iPad (iOS)

Some scholarly kids games to play on your iPhone and iPad

Children are put in front of screens quite often these days, and with the variety of educational and kid-friendly apps, I totally understand why. However, note that none of these educational kids' games will substitute the real methodical education, they are rather here to keep them interested and hooked up to learn and educate themselves!

If you’d like your child to lean towards the more scholarly route when it comes to their screen time, we have compiled a list of the best educational games that are children friendly to play on your iOS device! That said, I’d also suggest picking up a strong case if you’re going to let young ones play!

• Take a quick glance at our list of the best free phone games in 2023 !

Click through below to find out what are, in our opinion, the 18 best educational kids' games on iPhone & iPad.

1 Metamorphabet

Metamorphabet is the most wonderful alphabet-learning game out there. Each screen shows you a letter that you can pinch, zoom, tap, and otherwise play with to reveal words that start with this letter. A calm voice reads you the words, tells you what the letter is called and allows you to explore.

Once you have discovered all the words that letter has to offer, a star appears, and in your own time, you can tap to move on to the next letter. It’s a very engaging way to look at the alphabet.

2 Ruffy the Husky: On Ice

Taking you into the article, Ruffy the Husky: On Ice gives you an adorable dog to help you solve a bunch of different little puzzles and games. This app can help children identify shapes, learn to count, listen to animal noises, practice speaking and more. There are a bunch of other cute characters that are also featured, from penguins to seals, which will keep any animal lover captivated as they learn more.

The top one, however, would have to be the husky. This smart dog has a super entertaining way of teaching toddlers and pre-schoolers the shapes, numbers and alphabet, and have a blast while doing so.

Tappity is a science game for ages 4 and up, which breaks down a variety of topics from outer space, to dinosaurs, to tectonic plates and explains them in bite-sized games that any child will enjoy. It's one of our top picks in terms of educational apps because it showcases a little bit of everything.

The game has its own teacher, who walks you through each area, explaining more as you go along. There are interactive experiences, choices to be made, and more in this game, which really brings a fun twist to education!

4 Oinky the Piggy: On Farm

More for toddlers and preschoolers, Oinky the Piggy: On Farm allows younger children to solve sliding puzzles, and then interact with animals. This game is completely focused on barnyard animals, introducing them to the player through these sliding puzzles, before allowing the player to watch them play around on the farm, eat, grow and make sounds.

It’s a familiar world as every child has grown up playing some sort of farmyard game, understanding animals, but this time it’s taken to the digital world. The best part, however, has to be the puzzles. They're as entertaining as physical puzzles and equally challenging.

5 Masha and the Bear Educational

Masha and the Bear Educational is a single app that has a lot of different mini-games within the app that showcase different learning skills. Masha and the Bear is a children's TV show, so this game has the two main characters of that TV show going on an adventure! On the main screen of the game, children can pick from a bunch of different categories; math-related games, spelling games, reading games, and even musical games. Each category then has a bunch of simple to play games within them, that showcase this skill. It's great for children who like playing a variety of games and jump between them quickly.

6 The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Based on the classic children’s book, The Very Hungry Caterpillar has a lot to offer in its 3D book form, providing a variety of games which help you learn to count, sort and about healthy eating (we wouldn’t want our caterpillar eating too many sweets!) Sprinkled between games are facts about real-life animals - which are just as fun to learn about after you’ve been playing.

This beautiful app is the equivalent of the physical 3D book, with pop-ups and what looks like stunning hand-drawn graphics. It's brilliant.

7 Coco – Educational Game

Another variety game for younger players, aged 5 to 10 years old, Coco focuses on a bunch of children’s puzzles, from math games to memory games to keep children entertained.

The interface for this game is quite soft in color and design, which is quite appealing for children both young and old, and the variety of puzzles and games are very nice - it is worth noting that the game does work for free for a week, then is subscription-based, depending on what you want to use it for.

8 Pinky the Hippo: In the Wild

Pinky the Hippo: In the Wild focuses on teaching children age two and up about colours, jungle animals, and languages. The interface is very child-friendly, with cute animals that can easily have their environment coloured and explored. You can see their shelters and their world, as well as learn about the noises they make. You can also learn different languages through the app, learning how words are said and should sound.

It's an app that will be well-liked by kids, with beautiful graphics and an entertaining play style. That's exactly what makes it one of the best educational kids games for iPhones even today.

9 Endless Alphabet

Endless Alphabet is an interesting app where you are able to select a word, then watch the letters run away, and bring them back to place. These letters are lifelike, wiggling and attempting to get away, but once the word is complete, they all animate together and the game explains what the word means, teaching you exactly what you have been creating.

This is much more than teaching the alphabet. It brings a lot of joy to reading, so it's on our list of best educational kids games for iOS for a reason. Make sure you check it out.

10 Baby Panda's School Bus

Baby Panda's School Bus is a bright and colorful game that has children taking on a bunch of different puzzles, that they can learn from! The game has a big focus on buckling up and driving the bus around, going to various locations where mini-games are waiting. Your child will be taking children to the hospital for check ups, rescuing people who have gotten themselves into dangerous situations, and even bringing your car to a car wash! There are little mini-games around understanding numbers and colors, as well as learning day to day skills. It's a really well made kid's game!

11 Montessorium: Intro to Colors

A look into coloring, Montessorium: Intro to Colors aims to teach you the basic foundations of primary and secondary colors, shades, gradients, names of colors, mixing colors, and practicing fine motor skills. You are able to paint canvases, bringing the world to life in your own way. There are recaps throughout the app, testing to see if you can listen to the name of a color, find it, and select it.

This game is not only beautiful but also oddly satisfying. You'll get to enjoy a world filled with colour and gradients, and let's be honest - it is great for adults too (if you want a beautiful and relaxing game)!

12 Star Walk Kids: Astronomy Game

Made for children aged 6 and above, Star Walk Kids teaches you more about the galaxy. Unlike other apps about the stars, this game is kid-friendly, providing a good interface for younger audiences. You can explore the solar system, see constellations, find the ISS and Hubble - as well as view different animated videos that give more facts and details about what can be found in outer space.

It’s a great dive into the world beyond ours. It should really be included on the list of educational games that you'd play with your kids on your iPhone.

13 Where's My Water? 2

What should you do when your kid does not want to play a regular educational game? That's right! You should find a game that will be both useful and exciting for your child. Where's My Water? 2 is a great game where your kid will have to solve puzzles and complete levels.

In the game, you will find more than 100 interesting levels, cute graphics, and an adorable soundtrack. Moreover, you will find challenge modes that make the puzzles more complicated for older children. Also, your kid can use the hints if he gets stuck.

14 Quick Math Jr.

Quick Math Jr. allows you to adjust the difficulty depending on the age, for 3 and up, learning through different maths games as you play. Questions can be answered in the form of multiple-choice or you can use your finger (or a stylist) to write in the answers, practicing handwriting as you learn.

Quick Math Jr. also has little monster characters that you can create, to help you connect with the games that you are playing. It's actually quite fun from an adult perspective and makes math pleasant and easy to learn for children.

15 Shape Gurus

Shape Gurus aims to teach younger children to identify shapes and place them into their slots, creating larger pictures that can then come to life. They can play mini-games where they must find the shape that doesn’t match the others and ones that can be sorted by size. Creating pictures is where the real fun begins, as shapes are placed into slots, creating more of a picture.

This is the ideal game for pre-schoolers, and it's easy to see why - it's simple to get into, it's fun, and it's highly educational. Everything you could want in one place.

16 Minecraft: Education Edition

Minecraft is a big platform that works like a game engine. Inside the game, you can make a bunch of different content, mechanics, and add interactive elements.

In addition, Minecraft is understandable to children. It is easy to learn due to its simplicity and accessibility, plus, it is convenient that the game has a large children's audience. That is why Minecraft has become a popular tool in education: it is a convenient platform for creating content, and the interest of children around the world in it is huge.

17 Math Bingo

Math Bingo does exactly what the name says - allows younger children to play bingo by answering math questions and putting little bugs on the correct number of a bingo card. To make things more challenging, a timer can be added to see if you can answer the math question in a swift manner. Though the game itself is simple, it’s a fun way to practice mental math.

And with Math Bingo we are closing our list of best educational kids' games for iPhone and iPad! Hopefully, you found the games you were looking for on this list, and if you've got some more title suggestions for us, make sure to let us know!

18 Sago Mini World

Sago Mini World is a game full of games - with over 40 to choose from, there is a lot to keep a young one busy! Instead of focusing on Math and Reading skills, Sago Mini World focuses on understanding feelings and being accepting. There are diverse characters that your child can meet and help out. They can learn what makes characters happy and what makes them frustrated or upset. There is also a lot of freeform play, so kids can build confidence while playing this game!

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Top educational apps for kids of all ages in 2023

From phonics and spelling to maths, languages and even recognising stars in the sky … these top educational apps will help kids learn while they're having fun.

From phonics and spelling to maths, languages and even recognising stars in the sky … these top educational apps will help kids learn while they’re having fun.

While you don’t necessarily want your kids to spend all day staring at a screen, if you can find ways to make their screen-time both fun and educational, so much the better!

• Looking for your child’s first tablet? Have a look at our best buys here.

That’s why we’ve put together a handy list of some of the best apps for both Android and iOS, with a good number of free options, to help you to find a new way to help your kids learn something new without getting bored.

Reading Eggs – Learn to Read

With interactive games, fun activities and thousands of digital story books this is a fun way for kids to practise reading. Designed by primary school teachers, it progresses with your child, with tasks suitable for ages 2-13.

30-day free trial.

Find it on Google Play

Find it on the App Store

DoodleMaths: Primary Maths

Designed by two teachers to help children develop their maths skills while having fun, DoodleMaths meets all UK curriculum criteria for reception, KS1, KS2 and KS3. It also designs a learning program for each child based on their ability.

A well-designed app that helps older kids and adults learn languages. There are more than 30 to choose from including Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Italian, and English. The game-like design makes it fun to play, too.

Sight Words & Phonics Reading

From tracing letters to blending sounds, there are more than 500 different reading activities for kids to enjoy in this fun app. Suitable for beginner readers aged 2-8, join Abby the monkey as she journeys through space and travels to magical islands completing learning activities along the way.

Free Find it in the App Store

Magic Piano by Smule

With everything from Bruno Mars to Mozart, this nifty little magic piano guides you through playing a variety of tunes on its three keyboards, by following beams of light with your fingers. Best for children aged 7+.

Lola's Alphabet Train

Lola the cute panda flies through the air on her train stopping to solve letter matching and reading puzzles. An engaging app designed for 3- to 7-year-olds.

£3.99-£4.99

The Wheels on the Bus

This fun app features 10 games, including an interactive sing-along, a colouring page, drawing activities plus much more! Toddlers will love to sing along and 'drive' the bus too... All together now...

Puzzingo Toddler Kids Puzzles

A great app for younger children, Puzzingo offers lots of fun learning puzzles for ABCs and 123s to help kids get to grips with the basics of letters and numbers.

Letterschool – Learn to Write!

Children learn how to trace letters (and the numbers 1-10). Once they've traced the letters they can watch them come to life with graphics and animations. The only downside is the American accent.

On Google Play, the app is known as LetterSchool: ABC Handwriting

A real favourite with Netmums parents, with many saying their children enjoy this app and it helps them get to grips with addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. Fun and quick moving. Children enjoy trying to move up the levels quickly.

99p-£1.99, Pop Math Lite is free.

Eggs on Legs

Solve the maths problems to crack open the quirky eggs on legs. Different levels of difficulty make this an app that'll last more than a few minutes.

99p Find it on the App Store

Music Sparkles

Learn to 'play' 14 different musical instruments. What's not to love?!

Free Find it on the App Store

Little Writer

A great app for tracing letters and learning all the sounds and letter formations of the alphabet.

89p Find it on the App Store

Star Walk 2

A great introduction to stargazing. Point your device to the sky and the app tells you which stars you can see. Stunning graphics.

For younger children, try Star Walk Kids (App Store) or Astronomy for Kids Space Game (Google Play) by the people behind Star Walk 2.

Free-£2.99

Endless Alphabet

This app uses cute monsters and interactive puzzles to help kids learn new words. The only downside is all letters are upper case.

Free-£7.99

Barefoot World Atlas

A really stunning app that allows children to explore an interactive 3D globe. It features the usual gorgeous illustrations you expect from Barefoot Books.

£4.49

This fun app is based on the Bee-Bot floor robot that's often used in classrooms to teach children about computer science and directions in maths. Designed for ages 4+.

A simple concept for testing children on their addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. Children have to get correct answers on a grid to complete their bingo square. Each right answer earns them a cute monster. A good mix of fun and challenge for kids aged 6 and over.

£2.49

Find it in the App Store

Reading Raven

An engaging app that teaches children phonics with a step-by-step programme, one lesson at a time. Designed for ages 3-7 it's engaging with illustrations to hold a child's interest as they learn.

£1.89-£3.49

SplashLearn

SplashLearn is a great app for helping kids from nursery age up to year 5 with maths. It's particularly good for kids who enjoy visual learning. There are also options for parents to track how their kids are doing with their learning, so it is well worth a look.

Free 7-day trial, subscriptions from £7.49 a month

Word Wizard for Kids

This award-winning app for ages 4-10, is used in some schools to help teach spelling and phonics. There are loads of different games and activities to try and you can even add your own words, to test kids on spellings they may struggle with.

Free-£3.99

Great fun for preschoolers, this app includes five different learning games with letters and shapes, plus sticker rewards to motivate little learners. They'll exercise creativity by building their very own train.

Squeebles Word Search

Perfect for primary schoolers, the app combines children’s natural love of word puzzles with the colourful Squeebles environment and a great reward system.

You can also add your own words and include any your kids want to practise.

£1.79-£3.59

Further reading

Looking for more educational resources? Check out all our homeschooling info here.

Take a look at : The top kid-friendly apps for 2021

If your kids are addicted to apps, make sure you know which ones they're using and that they're not only safe but age-appropriate. To help take the worry out of what they're looking at, try downloading these kid-friendly apps. From improving their reading and writing to pure fun and entertainment, you'll love them as much as they do!

Looking for more kid-friendly screen time ideas? Check out these ideas, or swap tips with other parents in our Forum below.

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Best iPad Games for 4-5 Year Old Kids (2021)

Do you own an iPad? Are your kids yearning for a chance to play on it? if so, we got you sorted! in this article, we feature 10 of the best games for your 4–5-year-old kids. Let’s get into it!

Quick links :

Crazy Gears

Dragonbox algebra 5+, monument valley, way of the turtle, angry birds 2, sago mini world, lego duplo world.

Price: $2.99

Crazy Gears is one of the best iPad games for toddlers thanks to its ease-of-play and scenes intended to marvel at a kid. The game is available on iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad. The game is based on STEM topics so you can rest assured that your kid will develop and hone his or her critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

The game takes the kid through numerous challenges through which they have to find a way to the next level. This involves dragging and dropping items to let the ball travel to the next stage. Items increase as the kid goes up the levels.

Price: $4.99

This is yet another stellar game for your 4- or 5-year-old kid. Supported on Android and iOS devices, the game allows the kid to learn the basics of algebra. It is easy to play and adds much-needed education value to your kid.

All that a kid needs to do is to drag and drop cards on trays in a bid to solve the x equation. As the kid progresses through the levels, mathematical concepts such as symbols, numbers, and letters begin to appear.

Price: $3.99

Monument Valley is one of the best iPad games for kids. In fact, it is also a favorite among Android users. Besides, it’s been around for quite a while and still boasts of unmatched popularity. In this game, the kid has to guide Princess Ida through a host of mazes and other objects. the artwork is also exceptional, guaranteed to keep the child hooked.

iPad Air 5 (2022) Accessories

Price: free

way of the Turtle is an adventurous simple game that involves the kid following the journey of two turtles in a bid to reunite them. Developed by Illusion Labs, the turtles are stranded on a strange island full of mystery and evil magic.

However, there are lots of good friends such as the gophers who will help your kid to get the turtles back home. As the kid goes through obstacles, he or she collects better shells with exceptional power. And your kid will love the colorful tropical island adventure and the 3D concept that bolsters the game’s cinematics.

if there is one of the most popular iPad games for toddlers, it has to be Angry Birds 2. Played by millions across the world, the game introduces your kid to lots of adventure and fun activities. It even allows the kid to team up with other players to create powerful clans. It has daily challenges that your kid can try when free.

And as he or she progresses through the levels, so do his powers, abilities, and followers. To prove his or her skills, there are lots of one-on-one competitions to proves who’s worth the buck. And the best part, they get to enjoy this for free.

Gathering over 8.2K reviews, Dr. Panda Town is no doubt one of the best iPad games for kids. The game needs the kid to follow through with Dr. Panda’s day and learn from his experience. The whole experience is based on the kid’s creativity whereby he or she is in charge of the town and other doctors’ belongings.

You can visit malls in your town, go for a shopping spree, and even take a vacation in more than seven of the available exotic islands. It allows the kid to experience real-life situations without having to pay a penny.

Dodo Peak game will have your kid play as a dodo bird who is trying to save its eggs. But it is not an easy endeavor, the kid will have to overcome obstacles such as snakes and monkeys that want its eggs. And as he or she passes the obstacles, coins are awarded.

It comes with lots of challenges such as returning the eggs within 30 seconds. What the kid gets is a beautiful mind-blowing interface, simple to use controls, numerous environments such as hills, islands, and volcanoes, and leaderboards for that competitive edge.

If your kids are into music, then this could be a perfect game for them. This musical puzzle game affords the kid with soothing rhythms as they seek solutions. In fact, this app teaches kids about problem-solving without them knowing it. they have to move spirits to the rightful places, and once in place, press the red button for the music to play. They don’t get bombarded with ads or timers.

Sago Mini World comes with lots of games such as Mini Friends and more. the game hones the creativity, problem-solving skills, and empathy of your kids through numerous challenges. They choose their desired character with whom they visit homes and play other games with them. The game series has gone on to win numerous awards such as the Parents’ Choice Gold Award.

Do your kids love car toys? Well, why not get them this game. It features lots of cars, trains, buildings, animals, and more allowing them to create a world of their imagination. The free “Number Train” arms your kid with necessary preschool mathematics skills. In short, the kid will have fun creating lots of towns, growing crops, and enjoying airplane adventures.

Final verdict

Well, while we don’t advocate your kids to replace their entire physical toys for iPad games, these games will no doubt improve your kids’ soft skills. As we have seen, they improve critical thinking and problem-solving skills. These are crucial whether in school or everyday life.

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The iPad can be the ultimate family entertainment system, with tons of games and entertaining apps that are perfect for kids of all ages. Every game for iOS has a minimum age rating so that you can tell if the game is right for your child.

Many games are free downloads that offer in-app purchases. Other games cost between $.99 and $2.99, with the expensive games rarely going for more than $6, so you don't have to break into your kids' piggy bank to pay for their entertainment.

Turn off in-app purchases before installing games on iPad for your kids. Some games can seem like a great deal until you get the bill with the in-app purchases. If you're looking for virtual reality games for kids, there's a list for that , too.

Candy Crush Saga

Fantastic artwork and unique board designs.

Hundreds of new stages.

A great take on the classic matching game.

It's easy to break the piggy bank on in-app purchases.

Some levels are nearly impossible to pass.

Cost of gold has risen, but the prizes have been reduced.

Appropriate for kids ages 4 and older.

Candy Crush has taken on a life of its own since its release. It mixes the classic connect-the-matching-symbols gameplay with everyone's favorite pastime: eating candy. Candy Crush Saga is good for toddlers, too, because just tapping the screen results in a lot of graphical fun. Older kids will enjoy the puzzles the game presents, and even adults will find it engaging.

Minion Rush

Great costumes.

3D environments based on scenes from the Despicable Me movies.

Download and play for free.

Can be glitchy.

Updates may wipe out progress.

Slow play without certain minions.

Appropriate for kids ages 9 and older.

The endless runner game has exploded since Temple Rush hit the app store, and although many games in this genre are just Temple Rush with new graphics or a new theme, Minion Rush adds fun new gameplay mechanics and includes the humorous charm of those cute little minions. Kids will enjoy this game because it's quick to play and fun to compete for the highest score.

Miracle Merchant

Great graphics and music.

Challenging daily tasks.

Solitaire-style gameplay.

Tutorial not much help.

Could use more variety.

Too difficult for younger children.

Appropriate for kids ages 12 and older.

Miracle Merchant players are apprentices of a master alchemist, where they learn to mix and match different ingredient cards to make potions for their customers. The cards change daily, and daily tasks keep players coming back for more. The gameplay is Solitaire-style and offers amazing graphics and fun music. The basics of the game are easy to learn, but mastering it is difficult.

Fruit Ninja 2

Fantastic graphics and sound effects.

Modes give lots of play options.

Solid folllowup to the original Fruit Ninja.

The game is a bit buggy.

Lots of ads, especially at higher levels.

Some in-app purchases reach $30.

Few games have as many customer reviews as Fruit Ninja 2 and manage to stay above 4 stars, and there's a reason for that. Fruit Ninja 2 is good old-fashioned slicing and dicing fun, with a simple concept and yet enough challenge to keep kids swiping. The goal: Slice as much fruit as you can without slicing through a bomb and blowing your virtual finger off.

Alto's Adventure

Gorgeous graphics.

Play as a snowboarder on never-ending mountains.

Interesting story line.

Is difficult in places.

More characters would be nice.

Alto's Adventure is a infinite runner-type game, where the player is on a snowboard racing down mountains and doing backflips. The game is not too hard and not too easy. The graphics are stunning and the story is interesting, if limited. This app is designated as an Editors' Choice game by Apple.

Where's My Water?

More than 200 puzzles for hours of gameplay.

Water moves realistically.

Easy-to-use controls.

Syncing with iCloud can be glitchy.

Paid app with in-app purchases.

Need in-app purchases for the best experience.

If cleanliness is next to godliness, Swampy is going to make one fun little deity. Rather than slinging birds at boards and stones, Where's My Water? concentrates on teaching kids the value of bathing by helping Swampy the alligator stay clean despite the actions of Cranky, the antagonist of this story. Where's My Water? is one of the best games for kids on the iPad.

Cut the Rope GOLD

Outstanding graphics.

Great way to learn about physics.

Lots of levels to keep you interested.

Difficult for children under 10, despite the rating.

Paid app contains ads.

Om Nom loves his candy, but he needs a little help getting it. Cut the Rope GOLD is a physics puzzle game in which kids use ropes to move a piece of candy, swinging it across the screen and — with luck — into Om Nom's mouth. Fortunately, it's not as simple as it sounds, forcing kids to think about how to get past the various obstacles standing between Om Nom and his candy.

Slice Fractions

Playful learning at its best.

Best for kids aged 5 to 12.

Teaches important math concepts.

Challenging for kids under 6.

Difficult for kids who learn by listening.

Some levels require abstract thinking.

Many kid-friendly games are about having fun, not about learning something new. Plenty of educational apps in the App Store can engage a child's mind, but when a game blends having fun with learning, it definitely deserves a mention on this list.

Slice Fractions manages to capture fun inside a game that's all about learning fractions. It's ideal for kids who are ready to move beyond whole numbers and conquer division.

Bubble Ball

Create your own levels or play levels created by others.

A fun way to learn physics.

The first 48 levels are free.

Won't challenge older kids.

Graphics aren't terribly sophisticated.

Rudimentary user interface.

What do you get when you have an addictive physics-based puzzle game made by a kid rather than just for kids? You get Bubble Ball. Developed by 14-year-old Robert Nay, Bubble Ball enjoyed a million downloads in its first two weeks on the App Store. The game doesn't have the fun graphics found in titles like Cut the Rope and Fruit Ninja, but it does contain engaging play that will please puzzle lovers ages 4 to 94.

AniMatch: Animal Matching Game

Great sound effects.

Really holds young kids' attention.

A great spin on the classic memory game.

Can't turn off sounds.

Not updated recently.

Appropriate for kids ages 2-3.

Would a list of the iPad games for kids be complete without a matching game? Whether you use playing cards spread out on a table or cute animals aligned on a tablet, there's just something about matching up pictures that can delight your little ones. AniMatch: Animal Matching Game is a great iPad game that a two- or three-year-old can enjoy — if you can get the iPad away from the older kids.

Drawing Pad

Has just about every drawing tool you can think of.

Print, share, and save your kids' drawings.

Great for kids of all ages.

The app can be unstable.

Parent's need to monitor the app's access to social media sites.

Can be challenging to fine-tune colors.

Last on this list is an app that's not a game. Drawing Pad is simply a vehicle for an activities that all kids enjoy: drawing and using their imagination. Not only can your kids use the virtual crayons in Drawing Pad , but they can save their work and even share it by email or on social media.

As of 2022, of the almost 3.6 million apps at the App Store, 984,000 are games. Games are the most popular App Store category and are downloaded twice as much as the 2nd most popular category (business).

Of all the apps at the App Store, 92.3 percent are free downloads (many with optional in-app purchases). The average price for an game that isn't free is under $3.

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Best iPad Games for Kids of All Ages

Check out CNET's list of age-appropriate iPad games for kids.

• She received the Renau Writing Scholarship in 2016 from the University of Louisville's communication department.

Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp is a dialed-down version of New Horizons, but still fun to play.

If you're looking for kid-friendly games, you might not know where to start. And how can you be sure what's safe and age-appropriate? 

We've got you covered with a list of the 30 best iPad games for kids, with Apple's age rating for each (scroll further down for games for older kids, even though a lot of the games for ages 4 and up would be fun for kids of all ages). Some, but not all, of these iPad games are available as part of Apple's $5 a month mobile gaming subscription service, Apple Arcade . Others are available to download free or for a price in the App Store.

Ages 4 and up

Monument Valley

In Monument Valley, you must help Princess Ida on a mission through Monument Valley -- a world of mazes, crow people and strange, impossible structures. The game uses the way you interact with the environment to play with perspective and reveal pathways. The artwork is also absolutely beautiful. 

If you like this one, the studio has a sequel -- Monument Valley 2 ($5) -- which stands on its own as an original story and takes a step forward as a more sophisticated narrative and style. In this one, you must guide Ro and her child through Monument Valley. 

Monument Valley and Monument Valley 2 are both available on Apple Arcade as well.

Way of the Turtle

Available through apple arcade subscription ($5 a month).

Way of the Turtle is a cute, colorful, single-player platform game. Navigate a beach obstacle course and gather coins while avoiding traps. As you continue, you'll earn shells that give you more abilities. The only trouble is that Mr. Turtle never stops moving, which might make him difficult to maneuver sometimes. 

Fledgling Heroes

Take to the skies as Biscuit the Brave, a young macaw, in this tropical platform game. Tapping the screen makes Biscuit fly. Too much tapping sends the macaw too high, while not enough tapping drops him too low. You must maintain the right altitude to avoid enemies and obstacles while collecting coins. As you explore more islands, you'll learn tricks and meet different characters including Penny the Penguin, who wants to be a pirate. 

Read more: The 10 best iPad apps of the past decade

Crayola Create and Play

Crayola Create and Play is loaded with fun features like coloring pages, tending to in-game creatures and plants, learning and arcade-style games, puzzles, and more. It encourages creativity and curiosity with digital versions of Crayola art supplies (remember stamp markers?), while encouraging kids to think about letters, numbers, problem solving and more. There are no "wrong" answers, just creativity. You can also find Crayola Create and Play in the App Store, but you'll encounter in-app purchases and ads.

Pok Pok Playroom

Available through pok pok subscription ($4 a month).

Pok Pok Playroom includes a collection of digital toys and activities that encourage cognitive and socio-emotional development, according to the team, with no winning or losing. The app includes colorful activities like a mix-and-match block game, a drawing pad, and a Busy Board packed with buttons, switches, bells and musical blobs. Pok Pok Playroom also has sections called Town, Forest and House, which further encourage exploration, curiosity and learning.

Run Sackboy! Run

Price: free.

Run Sackboy! Run is the mobile version of the Little Big Planet game series. It's a cute endless runner platformer in the original game's unique crafted-materials style. As you run, you can collect coins, bubbles and stickers to ultimately increase your score. Each level adds on different tasks, like jumping or dashing a certain amount of times. 

Eloh is a visually beautiful musical puzzle game that teases your brain without stressing you out. Each level features island spirits that you can move. Once you get them into the right spot, tap the red speaker and music will start. The goal is to bounce the "sound waves" off the spirits and hit the spiral icon, kind of like banking a shot in billiards. 

Frogger in Toytown

Embark on a quest inside a human's house to rescue lost "froglets" after they're blown away in a storm. You'll navigate a toy-filled terrain -- avoid toy cars, climb block buildings and collect jelly beans to save the froglets. When you rescue a froglet, it hops on Frogger's back, which is just as cute as it sounds. Carrying the froglets adds an extra challenge during the obstacle courses because they can fall off. If you liked the old-school Frogger, this game's worth a look. 

Enchanted World

The Enchanted World is about a young fairy whose world is wrecked by dark forces. You'll help her on a journey to repair and heal what's been damaged. With guidance from a red songbird along the way, you'll get help from a web-spinning spider, quirky robots, a hungry frog and others. Through sliding block-style gameplay , you'll redirect rivers, mend tree roots, rearrange gears on a factory floor and save your world from the darkness. 

Rayman Adventures

There are a number of Rayman games that have come out over the years, but there's a free mobile version called Rayman Adventures that your kids can try out. Adventures is an endless runner where players must find all the Ancient Eggs that keep the Sacred Tree alive. 

Read more: 11 nostalgic games to play on Apple Arcade if you miss your childhood

Sneaky Sasquatch

Available through apple arcade subscription ($5 a month.

In the infectiously cute game Sneaky Sasquatch, you'll play just that: A sneaky sasquatch. But you also get help from a clever raccoon. Sneak into the campsite and fill your backpack with snacks. Sometimes other animals, like the snoozing bear, are willing to pay for some picnic leftovers. You can use the money at the raccoon's shop. Just make sure you tip-toe so you don't get caught by the surly park ranger or scare any campers. 

Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp

In Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp -- the free mobile version of the original simulation game -- you're in charge of a campsite -- craft furniture, personalize your tent and customize your camper. You can travel to different recreation spots, meet animals and grow your friendships in exchange for rewards. While you're visiting, you can fish, gather fruit and collect bugs to trade later. All the friends you make can visit your campsite, too. 

Pocket Camp also offers a smaller world to manage compared with New Horizons. In addition, the tasks are easier on the mobile version, and update daily. Essentially, you're getting big rewards for picking up everything on the ground and shaking all the trees.

Pocket Camp also offers a smaller world to manage compared with New Horizons. In addition, the tasks are easier on the mobile version and update daily. Essentially, you're getting big rewards for picking up everything on the ground and shaking all the trees. It definitely helped me scratch the FOMO itch when most of my friends were playing Animal Crossing over the summer. 

Doomsday Vault

In this WALL-E style puzzle game, the Earth's climate has collapsed and you must rescue the remaining plant life. Explore what's left of the planet in your robot suit, collect plant life and return it safely to the Doomsday Vault. Just be careful -- there are AI bots that were left behind motivated by sentiments of corporate greed.  

Inbento is an adorable puzzle game about cats and bento boxes. Relax with these cute Japanese lunch box brainteasers. Rearrange the food to match the recipe to complete the box. Each level gets a little more difficult, but the whole game is set to soothing music. There are over 100 levels to beat and extra-challenging bonus levels. 

Gorogoa is a gorgeous puzzle game with an accompanying narrative. It's all hand-drawn panels that players have to combine in a certain way to solve the level. It's hard to explain this one without playing it yourself. The more puzzles you play, the more your mind acclimates to the puzzle style. Gorogoa transports players between realities full of strange creatures. Reviews suggest playing it multiple times for better understanding. 

The Pinball Wizard

In The Pinball Wizard, you play as a young apprentice who must bring peace back to your homeland by restoring a lost treasure in a high tower. Along the way, you must defeat enemies and collect keys to find the next room. The game works like a pinball game: The higher you go, the more health you lose if you fall out of the ring. 

Fruit Ninja

Fruit Ninja is an oldie but a goody. It's a simple concept -- as fruit is tossed up on the screen, you use your finger to slice it up as fast as you can. Just watch out for the bombs that start getting tossed into the mix as well. It's a fun way to pass the time and has different modes to play in, like Zen, where there's no bombs, but it's timed. If you lose on a level, you can sacrifice a life to continue, or watch an ad to progress for free.  

Donut County

This is an adorable, creative game. Donut County is taken over by raccoons who are stealing everyone's trash with remote-controlled holes. You play as the hole. The game's story takes a turn when one of the raccoons falls into the hole he's operating and has to answer for his actions. The trouble is, the holes keep growing and won't stop until the whole county has been gobbled up.

Spongebob: Patty Pursuit

Spongebob: Patty Pursuit is a fun platformer that takes you through the Spongebob universe. Jump on trampolines, speed down ziplines, avoid jellyfish, and collect coins and spatulas along the way to foil the infamous mini-villain Plankton's plans to steal the Krabby Patty secret formula. It's up to SpongeBob and his friends -- Patrick, Sandy, Squidward, Gary the Snail and Mr. Krabs -- to stop him. 

Age 9 and up

Blocky world-building game Minecraft lets players explore, gather resources, craft tools and engage in some mild combat. The game has different modes -- survival, creative, adventure, spectator and multiplayer -- so you have flexibility in how you play. For younger players, Minecraft teaches teamwork and the motivation to improve reading and math skills on top of creativity and self-direction. 

Down in Bermuda

A pilot named Milton crashes on a seemingly deserted island in Bermuda, where you must help him discover the island's secrets and solve puzzles to find a way home. It's a cute, colorful game that's perfect for just about everyone. I liked that there was just enough mystery and story mixed in with puzzle-solving. 

The Crossy Road series

The original Crossy Road asks the question "why did the chicken cross the road?" in the form of a classic infinite runner game. Think Frogger meets Flappy Bird. Crossy Road Castle joined Apple Arcade in February 2020, which adds a platforming element to the gameplay. 

If you grew up in the '90s, you might remember this game. You must guide the Zoombinis out of the evil Bloats' clutches and home to Zoombiniville. Each of the 12 levels such as Allergic Cliffs, Stone Cold Caves and Pizza Pass get progressively more challenging, with kids using logic and pattern identification to win. 

Lego Brawls

The Lego brand has stood the test of time, making the jump from plastic blocks to the silver screen to video games . Lego Brawls is a mobile fighting game that's easy to start playing. The game offers countless ways to create your Lego character in a fast-paced 4v4 multiplayer. Every stage of the game brings new challenges, goals and quirky power-ups, like a pie launcher, a cactus suit, a snake car or a hot dog stand. Jump into a party, join a brawl or keep training.

Oceanhorn 2: Knights of the Lost Realm

Oceanhorn 2 is an open-world action fantasy RPG that tells the story of a young knight on a quest with his friends to save the world from an evil warlock. The knight ventures out with Trin, the granddaughter of Arcadia's leader Archimedes, and Gen, a robot armed with a Samurai weapon. The trio must unite with the Owrus, Gillfolk and others to save the world from Warlock Mesmeroth's Dark Army.

Alto's Adventure Price: $5

Alto's Adventure is to endless runners what Monument Valley is to puzzle games. The game puts a new twist on sports adventure as you -- as Alto -- snowboard across scenic hills, down gorgeous mountainsides and through villages with day-to-night transitions. It's all set to a lovely soundtrack as well. Rescue animals, collect coins, outsmart mountain elders and brave the weather along the way.

You can also check out Alto's Odyssey ($5), the studio's follow-up game, as well as Alto's Odyssey: The Lost City, on Apple Arcade.  

Terraria  is similar to Minecraft, but it's 2D. You create a character, select your world size and start harvesting resources to craft items. Once you get a home, a worktable and a torch, the game really picks up. With a light, you can go underground and start mining resources there, in addition to treasure chests that can contain gear upgrades, and life crystals to raise your health. It's a pretty big open-world game and there are enemies you'll encounter, but if you die, you'll respawn with all your loot, sans a few coins. 

Butter Royale

Butter Royale is like Fortnite with food. The game is set in the near future, where weapons have been banned globally. In a cafe, a food fight erupted after two patrons began arguing over the last chocolate doughnut. Sensing an opportunity to capitalize on people's tension, mysterious company Butter Co. created a game show called Butter Royale. Contestants are air-dropped onto an island to duke it out with food. After upgrading from stale baguettes to Nutritionally Operated Machines, or NOMs, players engage in "culinary combat," and try to outrun floods of butter and get to safe zones in 5-minute matches.

24 incredible video games you can finish in one night

Age 12 and up

Miracle Merchant

This game caught my attention because it reminded me of the Adventure Time cartoon. Miracle Merchant is solitaire meets potion brewing with a cast of zany, colorful characters. All your "potion ingredients" are in the card decks and organized by color, a potion is a mix of four cards. How well you mix the potion -- your arrangement of cards -- determines how much money it's worth. It's a fun, unintimidating problem-solving game. 

Stardew Valley

Stardew Valley is a comfort classic in the vein of Animal Crossing . In the Super Nintendo-style simulation RPG, you've inherited your grandfather's farm plot in Stardew Valley. Start out with little money and old tools, then work your way up from there. You'll farm, live off the land as you see fit, explore Pelican Town and befriend its residents, search for treasure, decorate your home and maybe even fall in love.

Read more:  7 great, cheap kid-friendly gifts that aren't video games

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• Toddler Toys

The 9 best apps for toddlers that are educational and fun

In the "real" world, we would probably have no issue trying to keep our little ones away from screens and kids' tablets (we wish), but bear in mind, screen time doesn't have to be devoid of educational value; the best apps for toddlers can help keep your tiny tots entertained and happy, while stimulating their brains at the same time.

If you're a parent (or nana and grandad), then you probably know the battle of purely wanting to finish the washing up, or have brunch in your local restaurant, peacefully, without a shrieking two-year-old demanding all your attention and apps for toddlers can provide that bit of peace and quiet. Many of them are easy to use and don't require Internet connection, making them ideal for car journeys.

Best apps for toddlers at a glance:

• Best toddler app for reading: ABC Mouse, £12.99 • Best toddler app for counting numbers : Elmo Loves 123s, free • Best toddler app for objects: Beck and Bo, £5.99 • Best toddler app for learning colours : Goodness Shapes, £1.99

While it’s vital to reduce and manage screen time , there are so many [kids' video games]{href='https://www.motherandbaby.com/baby-and-toddler/more/toys-and-education/the-screen-time-debate-what-impact-does-it-really-have-on-children' } and children's games for tablets or mobiles, including digital literacy apps and counting games that will help give your child the boost in their imaginative skills and communication.

We have chosen our favourite best apps for infants and young children, from different characters like animals and Elmo, with some that will encourage your little one how to identify colours and sounds. And, with most of them free you will never have to worry about its cost, giving you more time to tick off and do the tasks on your to-do-list.

How we chose and tested the best apps for toddlers

Our mum testers assessed the best learning apps for toddlers based on usability, design, quality and value for money, as well as how engaged the children were when using the apps.

Find out more about how we test products for Mother&Baby on our 'how we test' page.

The best educational apps for toddlers 2024:

1. abc mouse, best toddler app for reading.

www.abcmouse.com

ABC Mouse is one of the best educational apps for kids, as it encourages early reading, from pronouncing the names of each letter, with the sounds they represent. Your little one will gradually be able to identify words, starting with a few and upgrading to paragraphs. It also includes sentence structure, punctuation, parts of speech, and practice writing.

One review said: "Love the progressive activities! I don't have to take the time to search for activities for my 3-year-old, and my 5-year-old just follows along when she's playing by herself... So I know everyone's doing the right things for their ages!"

2. Elmo Loves 123s

Best toddler app for counting numbers.

www.sesamestreet.org

When we think of the best free apps for toddlers, Elmo Loves 123s comes to mind. Learning numbers can be a little tricky for toddlers, but with this clever app, it will help put them onto the path of counting numbers and maths. The free preview will get your child confidently starting on their 123's, and allow you to download the full package to get some exciting games, videos and numbers from 1-20.

One review said: "Thanks for creating a fun and intuitive app. This has kept our daughter engaged, happy and on-top of her numbers throughout."

3. Beck and Bo

Berst toddler app for objects.

www.avokiddo.com

This bright and colourful animated app lets kids place characters in different scenes, encouraging their imagination. From real-life looking locations, like the corner shops to exotic locations like the zoo, your child will be able to use their own initiative, and tap on items while learning new phrases.

One review said: "My daughter love this cute little game which allows her to move and interact with elements in a variety of scenes; all the while learning what each is. The graphics are super cute with some very cute simple annimations. They were thoughtful of parents too, hiding the settings behind a protected area."

4. Goodness Shapes

Best toddler app for learning colours.

apps.apple.com

This app will teach your toddler new shapes, colours, pairing and sorting in this preschool-friendly and entertaining app. Kids can challenge their brains while identifying pattern recognition and playing some fun games.

One review said: "My son is two and I’ve scoured the internet trying to find good apps to help him learn. I read about this app I forget where, and when I found it on the App Store I wasn’t sure about spending the money, but figured what the heck. Well he has totally taken to this app, and searches for it on the iPad. It’s just little touches like when he touches the Sun it goes oOo :). He’s learning his colors and shapes, and enjoying it!!! I just bought the whole bundle, and hope the rest of this developers apps are also good!"

5. Peek-a-Zoo by Duck Duck Moose

Best toddler app for identifying animals.

www.duckduckmoose.com

Is your little tot a lover of animals? Come and play at the Peek-a-Zoo! Through a range of fun animal activities, kids will learn and recognise animals, emotions, actions, sounds, and colour.

One review said: "I just can't say enough good things about Duck Duck Moose apps, they are just great!"

6. Lego Duplo World

Best free learning app for kids.

Lego Duplo World is one of the best apps for 2 year olds all the way up to adult age (we know us parents get enjoyment out of these games too)! Jam-packed with fascinating play experiences featuring animals, buildings, exciting vehicles, and trains to help your child's imagination and creativity through fun learning. Your child can explore each scene to figure out what’s in it, discover how everything works and—of most importantly—play with it in 3D.

One review said: "This app is simply fantastic! My child loves them and so do I. The variety of game scenes, the promotion of early childhood skills and the opportunity to play together with my child make this app a real treasure. In addition, the regular updates and new content are a nice surprise."

7. Starfall ABCs

Best toddler app for learning the alphabet.

Your child will be able to learn and recognize letters while forming the skills they need to become bold and comfortable readers. It's recommended for all ages and anyone who needs help learning the alphabet, but we think it's particularly one best apps for 3 year olds, to get them ready with basic skills before school.

One review said: "My mom is an elementary school teacher and has this on her iPad. We were surprised to see my 17 month old son pick up the iPad and able to play the game despite never having used an iPad before. Fast forward a month later and my now 19 month old has his own fire tablet with this game being his favourite. He’s still so young, get he plays the game proficiently and repeats the letters and words clearly. Today, I even heard him saying the letter H when he heard the horn in the game.

8. Moo, Baa, La La La

Best toddler app for sounds.

Epic children's book writer Sandra Boynton is known for her many board books for little ones, and this app brings one of your favorite ones to life. With this app, her Moo, Baa, La La La! book involves interaction, and animal sounds, while magically tapping the screen to turn day to night.

One review said: "My kids have loved this book for a long time! There are many interactive elements of it!"

9. Baby Games

Best toddler app for movement.

Baby Games is a fun collection of fun toddler games to entertain your baby. Included are bursting the balloons, playing music until jack pops up, touching a mole before it disappears, listening to animal sounds, car noises, planes and trains.

One review said: "Very entertaining, even for a 1 year old. I like that they made it hard to back out of the game so little ones can play without mom having to re-enter the game (because of little fingers accidentally closing it).. The balloon pop is her favorite (she is 12 months old)! Starting out, little ones often just keep their hands on the screen. This doesn't affect the game, and the balloons popped as they rose up to her fingers. She eventually figured out how to pop them! Success! Great little App!"

How much screen time should my child have?

It's important to mange your child's screen time , even if they are on educational apps.“By its very nature, the internet provokes what we call a ‘Butterfly mentality’; where the brain flits from thing to thing without having to focus for very long,” says Martina Barrett, Managing Director at  VAKS: Tuition & Revision Centers .

"When children are constantly on iPads and smartphones, it’s no surprise they find it increasingly difficult to sit in a classroom and concentrate for up to an hour at a time. We are finding that children become tired quicker, their engagement with printed texts is not as great, and even their motor skills are suffering from the constant use of touch screens as opposed to toys and tools that require manual manipulation.”

Are educational apps good for toddlers?

Nowdays, there seems to be an app for everything, including colouring games and apps for toddler speech delay to name a few. Educational apps can be a great way to teach your child skills such as counting, shape-sorting, writing and colour recognition, as they turn the information into games and interactive formats. Many children's games apps feature popular characters from books and TV shows, which can also help to engage your tot.

However, apps don't replace human interaction and should only be used to reinforce learning, rather than be their only source of information. Chat to your child and use books, props and activities to teach them life skills - lead by example.

How to keep your toddler from exiting an app

It's not only frustrating when your little one exits an app for the hundredth time and gets you to open it again - it can be dangerous too (for example if they're using your mobile and start calling someone or manage to purchase something without your consent).

Mummy to a little girl,   Adejumoke Ilori   is Commercial Content Writer for Mother&Baby. With a BA hon in Creative Writing, she has worked for digital platforms, where she has empowered women from the inside and out, by sharing real life stories based on relationships, loving yourself and mummyhood.

Math Addition And Subtraction‪!‬ 4+

Kids games for learning math, smart kidz club inc., designed for ipad.

• 4.8 • 6 Ratings
• Offers In-App Purchases

Screenshots

Description.

• Complete Math Practice Drills for PreK & Kindergarten • Practice Mode and Test Mode • Master Math Skills • Comprehensive Feedback Back in Review Mode Smart Kidz Club Pre-K and KG Math App is curriculum-aligned for children up to 5 years old to practice and master all the required Pre-K and Kindergarten math skills. This app follows the US Common Core State Standards and consists of comprehensive math skills essential for pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students. Resources consist of both activity books and flash cards. Each Math Activity that requires complex solving, consists of a SCRATCH PAD option where the child can freely write on the screen (overlay) to solve the problems in writing if they so desire. Math Flash Cards cover counting from 1-20. The Flash Cards are highly interactive and have a sequential mode useful for learning and memorization and a random/shuffled mode for practice and memory recall. Math activities cover all the required skills for pre-K and Kindergarten such as counting, comparing, identifying and classifying shapes, size, positions, measurement, addition, subtraction, sum and difference, graphs, time, patterns, introduction to fractions, and probability. Math Activities consist of 2 modes, practice and test. Each of these modes comes with a choice of the number of questions/problems that the child wishes to solve— 1. Practice Mode: The Practice Mode allows the child to solve each problem before advancing to the next problem while prompting them to try again if they choose the wrong answer. The Practice Mode is not scored. At the end of the practice mode, the child can try again with a new set of problems. 2. Test Mode. The Test Mode is scored and does not prompt the child during their attempt to solve the problem. At the end of the Test Mode, the child can try again with a set of new math problems or review their answers with detailed feedback and explanation. This app supports maths learning in homes by helping kids in pre-K or Kindergarten with an introduction to early math concepts and practicing of mathematical skills without any harmful distractions or ads.

Version 1.4

Performance Improvement

Ratings and Reviews

App privacy.

The developer, Smart Kidz Club Inc. , indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy .

Data Not Collected

The developer does not collect any data from this app.

Privacy practices may vary, for example, based on the features you use or your age. Learn More

Information

• Math Practice for PreK & KG:3M $3.99
• Math Practice for PreK & KG:6M $4.99
• Lifetime access to all content $9.99
• Math Practice for PreK & KG:1M $2.99
• Math Practice for PreK & KG:1W $1.99
• App Support
• Privacy Policy

More By This Developer

Read-Along Books For Kids

Reading App for Kids with Math

Flashcards for Kids & Toddlers

Math Learning Games for Kids *

Math Games for 5th Grade Kids

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Apple unveils the redesigned 11‑inch and all‑new 13‑inch iPad Air, supercharged by the M2 chip

iPad Air: Now Available in Two Sizes

Landscape Front-Facing Camera

Even More Performance with M2

Powerful Device for AI

Faster Connectivity with Wi-Fi 6E and 5G

Versatile Accessories, Including Apple Pencil Pro

Power of iPadOS 17

• Users can customize the Lock Screen to make it more personal, taking advantage of the 11-inch or new, larger 13-inch display on iPad Air. This includes stunning wallpapers, fun ways to showcase users’ favorite photos, and expressive fonts and colors to personalize the look of the date and time.
• Interactive widgets take glanceable information further with the ability to get tasks done right in the moment with just a tap.
• Messages offers fun ways for users to express themselves, including a stickers experience with emoji stickers and the ability to create Live Stickers by lifting subjects from photos.
• In FaceTime , users can leave an audio or video message when someone doesn’t pick up a call. With Continuity Camera, users can take advantage of the camera and microphone on iPad Air and initiate a video call directly from Apple TV, or start the call on iPad and then hand it off to Apple TV.
• Freeform offers new drawing tools; support for hover, tilt, and snap to shape; the ability to add connection lines and new shapes to any object; and Follow Along to guide collaborators around the board.
• The Notes app gives users new ways to organize, read, annotate, and collaborate on PDFs. Working with PDFs is also easier with AutoFill , which intelligently identifies and fills fields in forms.
• With Stage Manager , users can work with multiple overlapping windows in a single view, resize windows, tap to switch between apps, and more.
• In addition to Visual Look Up , Subject Lift , and Live Text , users can take advantage of AI capabilities like Live Captions for real-time audio captions and intelligent accessibility features such as Personal Voice .

Vast Ecosystem of Apps

Better for the Environment

• Customers can order the new iPad Air with M2 starting today, May 7, on apple.com/store , and in the Apple Store app in 29 countries and regions, including the U.S. It will begin arriving to customers, and will be in Apple Store locations and Apple Authorized Resellers, starting Wednesday, May 15.
• The new 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Air will be available in blue, purple, starlight, and space gray, with 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB configurations.
• The 11-inch iPad Air starts at  $599  (U.S.) for the Wi-Fi model, and  $749  (U.S.) for the Wi-Fi + Cellular model. The 13-inch iPad Air starts at  $799  (U.S.) for the Wi-Fi model, and  $949  (U.S.) for the Wi-Fi + Cellular model.
• For education, the new 11-inch iPad Air starts at $549 (U.S.), and the 13-inch model starts at $749 (U.S.). Education pricing is available to current and newly accepted college students and their parents, as well as faculty, staff, and home-school teachers of all grade levels. For more information, visit apple.com/us-hed/shop .
• The new Apple Pencil Pro is compatible with the new iPad Air. It is available for $129 (U.S.), and $119 (U.S.) for education. Apple Pencil (USB-C) is available for $79 (U.S.) and $69 (U.S.) for education.
• The Magic Keyboard, available in black and white finishes, is compatible with the 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Air. It can be purchased for $299 (U.S.) for the new 11-inch iPad Air, and $349 (U.S.) for the new 13-inch iPad Air, with layouts for over 30 languages. For education, the 11-inch Magic Keyboard is available for $279 (U.S.), and the 13-inch Magic Keyboard is available for $329 (U.S.).
• The new Smart Folio, available in charcoal gray, light violet, denim, and sage, is $79 (U.S.) for the new 11-inch iPad Air, and $99 (U.S.) for the new 13-inch iPad Air.
• Logic Pro for iPad 2 will be available May 13 as a free update for existing users, and for new users, it will be available on the App Store for $4.99 (U.S.) per month or $49 (U.S.) per year, with a one-month free trial. Logic Pro for iPad 2 requires iPadOS 17.4 or later. For more information, visit apple.com/logic-pro-for-ipad .
• Final Cut Pro for iPad 2 will be available later this spring on the App Store for $4.99 (U.S.) per month, or $49 (U.S.) per year, with a one-month free trial.
• Apple offers great ways to save on the latest iPad. Customers can trade in their current iPad and get credit toward a new one by visiting the Apple Store online , the Apple Store App, or an Apple Store location. To see what their device is worth and for terms and conditions, customers can visit apple.com/shop/trade-in .
• Customers in the U.S. who shop at Apple using Apple Card can pay monthly at 0 percent APR when they choose to check out with Apple Card Monthly Installments, and they’ll get 3 percent Daily Cash back — all upfront.

Text of this article

May 7, 2024

PRESS RELEASE

Now available in two sizes, iPad Air is more powerful and versatile than ever with phenomenal performance and AI capabilities, a new landscape front camera, and faster Wi-Fi, along with support for Apple Pencil Pro

CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA  Apple today announced the redesigned 11-inch and all-new 13-inch iPad Air , supercharged by the M2 chip. Now available in two sizes for the first time, the 11-inch iPad Air is super-portable, and the 13-inch model provides an even larger display for more room to work, learn, and play. Both deliver phenomenal performance and advanced capabilities, making iPad Air more powerful and versatile than ever before. Featuring a faster CPU, GPU, and Neural Engine in M2, the new iPad Air offers even more performance and is an incredibly powerful device for artificial intelligence. The front-facing Ultra Wide 12MP camera with Center Stage is now located along the landscape edge of iPad Air, which is perfect for video calls. It also includes faster Wi-Fi, and cellular models include super-fast 5G, so users can stay connected on the go. With a portable design, all-day battery life, a brilliant Liquid Retina display, and support for Apple Pencil Pro , Apple Pencil (USB-C), and Magic Keyboard , iPad Air empowers users to be even more productive and creative. The new iPad Air is available in new blue and purple finishes, along with starlight and space gray. The 11-inch iPad Air still starts at just $599, and the 13-inch iPad Air is a fantastic value at just $799. Customers can order the new iPad Air today, with availability beginning Wednesday, May 15.

“So many users — from students, to content creators, to small businesses, and more — love iPad Air for its performance, portability, and versatility, all at an affordable price. Today, iPad Air gets even better,” said Bob Borchers, Apple’s vice president of Product Marketing. “We’re so excited to introduce the redesigned 11-inch and all-new 13-inch iPad Air, offering two sizes for the first time. With its combination of a brilliant Liquid Retina display, the phenomenal performance of the M2 chip, incredible AI capabilities, and its colorful, portable design with support for new accessories, iPad Air is more powerful and versatile than ever.”

The redesigned 11-inch iPad Air is super-portable, perfect for getting work done on the go. For users who want a larger display, the new 13-inch iPad Air offers 30 percent more screen real estate than the 11-inch model. The expansive display gives users more space to capture their ideas in apps like Freeform, or view multiple apps using Split View in iPadOS. Both models include advanced displays with a Liquid Retina design; an anti-reflective screen coating; True Tone technology; high brightness; and support for P3 wide color, resulting in content that looks remarkably rich and vibrant, and text that is sharp in all kinds of lighting conditions.

In the redesigned iPad Air, the front-facing Ultra Wide 12MP camera is now located along the landscape edge. The camera features Center Stage, which uses machine learning (ML) to automatically keep everyone in the field of view. This new camera location is perfect, since it has become the most common orientation for iPad users, whether they are connecting with friends and family over FaceTime, or joining a video conference while using iPad Air in a keyboard. The 12MP Wide back camera on iPad Air delivers high-resolution photos and detailed 4K video with support for 240-fps slo-mo. Dual microphones are designed to work in unison with the cameras, capturing audio from the camera being used and minimizing distracting background noise. The new iPad Air also has landscape stereo speakers with Spatial Audio. The 13-inch model delivers even better sound quality with double the bass, which is great for enjoying music and videos.

The M2 chip brings another big boost in performance to iPad Air, featuring a faster 8-core CPU and 10-core GPU. M2 is a powerful chip that offers a number of improvements over M1, delivering a huge leap in performance for those upgrading from previous-generation iPad Air models. When combined with faster memory bandwidth, the new iPad Air is nearly 50 percent faster than the previous iPad Air with M1 for a wide range of productivity and creative tasks. 1 And compared to iPad Air with A14 Bionic, the new iPad Air delivers up to 3x faster performance. From creating engaging content faster than ever in Affinity Designer, to playing demanding, graphics-intensive games like Zenless Zone Zero, users will feel the speed of M2 in everything they do.

With M2, the new iPad Air is an amazing device for AI, featuring a more efficient 16-core Neural Engine that is 40 percent faster than M1. Combined with ML accelerators in the CPU and a powerful GPU to boost on-device machine learning, along with Apple silicon’s unified memory architecture, iPad Air delivers exceptional AI performance. Taking advantage of this performance, users can enjoy intelligent iPadOS features such as Visual Look Up, Subject Lift, or Live Text. iPadOS also has advanced frameworks like Core ML that make it easy for developers to tap into the Neural Engine to deliver powerful AI features right on device. With the vast ecosystem of apps that include advanced AI features, users can do things like use the Auto Enhance tool in Photomator, which improves photos with a single click using AI models, or analyze athletic performance like never before with Onform and its motion tracking capabilities. iPad Air also supports cloud-based solutions, enabling users to run advanced productivity and creative apps that tap into the power of AI, such as Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365 and Adobe Firefly.

With faster wireless connectivity on the go, users can do even more on iPad Air. The new iPad Air supports Wi-Fi 6E, which delivers up to 2x increased performance than the previous generation, so users can download files, play games online, and stream movies. Wi-Fi + Cellular models with 5G allow users to access their files, communicate with peers, and back up their data in a snap while on the go. Cellular models of the new iPad Air are activated with eSIM, a more secure alternative to a physical SIM card, allowing users to quickly connect and transfer their existing plans digitally, and store multiple cellular plans on a single device. Customers can easily get connected to wireless data plans on the new iPad Air in over 190 countries and regions around the world without needing to get a physical SIM card from a local carrier.

Apple Pencil Pro features even more magical capabilities and powerful new interactions that take the Apple Pencil experience even further. A new sensor in the barrel can sense a user’s squeeze, bringing up a tool palette to quickly switch tools, line weights, and colors, all without interrupting the creative process. A custom haptic engine delivers a light tap that provides confirmation when users squeeze, use double-tap, or snap to a Smart Shape for a remarkably intuitive experience. A gyroscope allows users to roll Apple Pencil Pro for precise control of the tool they’re using. Rotating the barrel changes the orientation of shaped pen and brush tools, just like pen and paper. And with Apple Pencil hover, users can visualize the exact orientation of a tool before making a mark.

With these advanced features, Apple Pencil Pro allows users to bring their ideas to life in entirely new ways, and developers can also create their own custom interactions. Apple Pencil Pro brings support for Find My to Apple Pencil for the first time, helping users locate Apple Pencil Pro if misplaced. It pairs, charges, and is stored on the side of iPad Air through a new magnetic interface. iPad Air also supports Apple Pencil (USB-C), ideal for note taking, sketching, annotating, journaling, and more, at a great value.

iPad Air works with the Magic Keyboard, which includes a floating design, built-in trackpad, and backlit keyboard. The new Smart Folio for iPad Air attaches magnetically and now supports multiple viewing angles for greater flexibility. Available in charcoal gray, light violet, denim, and sage, the new Smart Folio complements the finishes of iPad Air.

iPadOS 17 brings new levels of personalization and versatility that elevate the iPad Air experience:

iPad Air also comes with exceptional apps built in, including Freeform, Notes, iMovie, GarageBand, Photos, and the iWork suite of productivity apps — Pages, Numbers, and Keynote. Logic Pro for iPad 2 and Final Cut Pro for iPad 2 bring new features that transform iPad Air into an even more flexible creative powerhouse. 2 Available Monday, May 13, Logic Pro delivers breakthrough professional experiences for songwriting, beat-making, producing, and mixing with powerful AI-driven features, including Session Players, ChromaGlow, and Stem Splitter. Coming later this spring, Final Cut Pro turns iPad into the ultimate mobile production studio, with Live Multicam to control and record with up to four iPhone or iPad devices with Final Cut Camera; 3 external project support; 4 and even more new content. And with over a million apps on the App Store, iPad Air users can find apps for anything they want to do, from advanced productivity to creativity.

The new iPad Air is designed with the environment in mind, including 100 percent recycled aluminum in the enclosure, 100 percent recycled rare earth elements in all magnets, and 100 percent recycled gold plating and tin soldering in multiple printed circuit boards. The new iPad Air meets Apple’s high standards for energy efficiency, and is free of mercury, brominated flame retardants, and PVC. The packaging is 100 percent fiber-based, bringing Apple closer to its goal to remove plastic from all packaging by 2025.

Today, Apple is carbon neutral for global corporate operations, and by 2030, plans to be carbon neutral across the entire manufacturing supply chain and life cycle of every product.

Pricing and Availability

• Testing was conducted by Apple in March and April 2024. See apple.com/ipad-air for more information.
• Logic Pro for iPad 2 will be available on iPad models with the A12 Bionic chip or later, and Final Cut Pro for iPad 2 is compatible with iPad models with the M1 chip or later.
• Final Cut Camera is compatible with iPhone X S and later with iOS 17.4 or later, and iPad models compatible with iPadOS 17.4 or later.
• External project support requires iPadOS 17.5 or later.

Press Contacts

Tara Courtney

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