Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Inspiration
  3. Evergreens

NewFolks may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

11 learning apps kids will love (and parents will approve of)

These apps will be a favorite of everyone's

By
Add as a preferred source on Google
Children looking at a tablet screen with their parent
Ketut Subiyanto / Pexels

From tablets and laptops to computers and phones, kids are on or near a screen almost from the second they wake up until they go to bed. Instead of Roblox, Minecraft, or YouTube being what the kids watch on their devices, try incorporating these kids’ learning apps into the rotation. Children won’t think of it as learning when playing games or solving puzzles, and parents will feel better about the quality of what the kids are doing on their devices.

All-around learning apps

Two girls sharing a cellphone in front of a laptop
fizkes / Shutterstock

PBS Kids

Apps & More | PBS KIDS Mobile Downloads | PBS KIDS

  • Best for kids ages 2 through 8 years old
Recommended Videos

PBS has been there for us for generations, and it continues to educate our kids. With games that teach you to read, spell, count, and more, the app updates every week, so there is always something new for your child to discover. From Arthur to Daniel Tiger, your child’s favorite characters cover literacy and the four childhood developmental areas.

ABCmouse

‎ABCmouse: Reading & Math Games on the App Store

  • Best for kids ages 2 through 8 years old

Another great all-around app that covers a range of educational aspects that kids and parents will love is ABCmouse. Your child can start at whatever level they are at, and the app will help advance them through over 850 lessons across different subjects.

BrainPOP

Apps – BrainPOP

  • Best for kids up to grade 8

For the older grades, BrainPOP is a wonderful way to incorporate multiple subjects with one app. Your child will be exposed to coding, games, quizzes, and even learning how to make movies. If you want to create a lesson plan, BrainPOP can help you with that so your child stays on a focused path. If you have multiple kids, this one is amazing because you can have them collaborate and engage together on the app.

Related

Language learning apps

Little girl using her laptop on the floor.
fizkes / Shutterstock

Duolingo

Duolingo: Language Lessons – Apps on Google Play

  • Best for children 13 years or older, but can be used by all ages

Children should be exposed to as many languages as they can. Not only does it improve their own speaking, but it gives them a more rounded sense of culture. Duolingo is easy enough for the kids to learn how to do on their own and keep track of their streaks. The free version is enough to learn a good deal of whichever language you pick, which makes it more affordable.

Mango

Mango Languages: Learning on the App Store

  • Best for all ages

If you have a library card (if you don’t have one, go get one), you have automatic access to the language app Mango. There are lessons to go through in a variety of languages that break everything down in a way that is easier for kids to understand.

Apps for improving math skills

Kids on a couch playing on smart devices.
VGstockstudio / Shutterstock

Monster Math

AdaptedMind

  • Best for ages 5 and older

Once your child has a basic understanding of numbers, Monster Math can be introduced. Children will work on early math, like addition and subtraction, all the way up to geometry. There are over 70 math skills ready for your child to master, and each game will motivate them to get to the next level. The app also changes and adapts to where your child is at, so no one gets frustrated.

Bedtime Math

Real-Life Math in an App! – Bedtime Math

  • Best for all ages up to 9 years old

If you have a bedtime story routine, throw in Bedtime Math for a few minutes. Your child will get to read a short story and then dive into three math problems related to what they just read. There are three challenge levels, so your child can build on their skills at their own pace.

Take on coding apps

Teenage girl using her tablet on kitchen table.
Monkey Business Images / Shutterstock

Swift Playgrounds

Swift Playgrounds – Apple Developer

  • Best for ages 4 years and older, also great for teens

We had MySpace to teach us how to code, but Swift Playgrounds is there for our kids. The courseware can be for kids as young as 4 years old to start to learn how to use, with interactive programming for beginners. Teens who are more advanced in coding can develop their own iPhone app or export their work into Xcode.

Lightbot

‎Lightbot : Code Hour on the App Store

  • Best for all ages

You know when you have so much fun learning something that you forget you were actually learning? The Lightbot app can do that for your children when it comes to coding. A favored app by teachers, it uses puzzles to show kids the basic programming practices. Using logical problem-solving through games, Lightbot will have your child coding level by level.

Apps for emotional and social health

Children on phones.
McKaela Taylor / Unsplash

Chill Panda

Chill Panda: Calm Play Today – Apps on Google Play

  • Best for all ages

If your child could use help regulating their emotions, understanding why they feel the way they do, and learning techniques to identify their feelings, Chill Panda should be downloaded today. Mini games, longer games, breathing exercises, and even family-friendly activities are all in there to help your child become more emotionally healthy. Let’s face it parents, this one would be great for all of us to do with the children.

Mind Moose

Mind Moose – Digital mental health & well-being tools for primary school children

  • Best for ages 7 through 12 years old

For emotional and social health development, Mind Moose uses interactive tools to focus on your child’s well-being. Teaching self-awareness and working on self-esteem, this app gives out badges and certifications as the child progresses through the animated activities. Your child will learn about managing all emotions while using mindfulness to relax and get back to a calm state.

Whether you want your child to get a little extra math time in, to learn about emotions, or  to learn a new language, these kids’ learning apps will be like an at-home tutor working with your child to move forward in their education. We can’t go back to the days without there being multiple devices in the home or at school, but we can make sure when kids get on them that they are getting some sort of educational value when you download these learning apps for them.

Topics

Editors’ Recommendations

Ear piercings for kids: A complete guide for parents
Thinking about ear piercings for your children, read this first
cute baby sitting in a box with pierced ears

Do you have ear piercings? Many people do. Most get their ears pierced for the first time as teens. For some, ear piercings are typically dictated by family and cultural traditions. Some parents believe strongly in getting their child's ears pierced as infants or toddlers.

While others wouldn't consider it until their children are older. For parents who don't have ear piercings, the decision may not even come up until your child asks. So, if you have questions about when, where, and how to go about getting your child's ears pierced, we've got your go-to guide.
Ear piercings for kids

Read more
Do men get paternity leave? Here’s what you need to know
We know women take time off for having a baby, but do men get paternity leave?
A parent holding a newborn baby in the hospital room

When a woman finds out she is pregnant, part of the initial planning is figuring out maternity leave, from when it will start to how long it will be. While we immediately think of the time the mom will take off work for the baby, what about the dad? Do men get paternity leave? Here's what you need to understand about dads taking time off work for the birth of a child.
If men get paternity leave, here's how they can take it

There are a few options for the dad to take time off work for the birth of a baby, and it's all pretty similar to how a mother would take maternity leave. There are types of leave dads can't take since they aren't the ones having the medical procedure or going through the actual birth, but there are some workarounds.
Take FMLA
FMLA (Family and Medical Leave Act) allows mothers, fathers, and non-birthing parents to take up to 12 weeks off work to care for a new child. The time off is unpaid, but your position will be there for you when you return. There are rules and stipulations to use FMLA depending on where you work and for how long, and you may not qualify to use it under certain conditions, so talk to your employer as soon as you find out your partner is pregnant to know your options. FMLA is amazing if you qualify, but please remember it is unpaid. 
Use your PTO and vacation time
Another way to take some time off (and still get paid for it) is to use your PTO and vacation time. The second you know your partner is pregnant, start saving up your time. Talk with your HR department to see how much time off you can stack together and see if they will work with you on how to best use your time. If you can't use it all at once, see about peppering days off throughout the week to get you down to only working one to three days a week so you can still be home quite a bit.
Use unpaid time
Another option is to talk to your HR department about unpaid time off. Depending on how long you have been with the company, you could be entitled to an extended unpaid leave or a sabbatical, or your work will let you take time off for certain things like a medical issue or the birth of a child. This is another unpaid way to take time off, so you need to plan appropriately. 
What is paternity leave?

Read more
The right age for makeup: What parents should consider
Advice for parents wondering how old a child has to be to wear makeup
Mother and daughter playing with makeup

Kids grow up so fast, and before you know it, your tween is asking to wear makeup. Loaning your lip gloss and giving your personal makeup tips to your teenager may be a rite of passage, but what about your younger kids? It seems that children are wearing makeup now at younger and younger ages, and as your child transitions into their tween years, and sometimes even younger, they may want to start wearing some makeup as a way to express themselves. Experimenting with makeup doesn't have to be taboo, and it can even be a safe and healthy way for your child to experiment with their creativity and express their personality.

You may find yourself wondering how old do you have to be to wear makeup, especially if your parents were strict about the matter. Take a look at our helpful parenting tips below as a guide for how to talk to your child about makeup.
At what age will my child turn to makeup? Should I be concerned?

Read more