Families Education Ten Great Educational Apps for Children
by Claire Winter Children learn in many different ways including outside of the classroom. This is where educational apps can come in very useful as the best of these engage even the most reluctant learner. As well as being fun ways to learn, educational apps also turn screen time into a positive experience, rather than something you are constantly arguing with your children about. Here are Families top ten educational apps that will keep any child ‘appy!’
Cursive Writing Wizard
(£4.99) by L’Escapadou, Age 6-8 This version provides a UK-friendly cursive font, and is ideal for teaching young primary kids how to write. It’s based upon a tracing system and there are 50 plus animated stickers, sound effects and interactive games that animate letters at the end of the tracing. You can also print off writing PDFs for the kids to practice on and even import their current spelling list.
Safari Tales
(£2.99) by Kuato Games, Age 6-8 Children can develop their storytelling skills with this beautiful and fun animal-themed app. Safari adventurers can explore the Savannah and learn interesting facts about the five baby animals. The game is so much fun they won’t even notice that they are boosting their reading and litearacy skills at the same time.
Endless Wordplay
(Free + In App Purchase) by Originator Inc, All ages This app focuses on learning simple spelling patterns while reinforcing letter names and sounds. Each stage is a different rhyme, with the user spelling three words from the same word family. Once you complete all three words, you are taken to a sentence screen with a silly sentence and cute animation that will encourage and delight the player. It’s free to download but to play more than three levels you have to pay £4.99.
Toca Lab: Elements
(£3.99) by Toca Boca, Age 6-8 This funky app is a virtual chemistry set to inspire future scientists. It introduces your child to all 118 elements of the periodic table as cool, fun characters. It also presents the concepts of what happens during chemical reactions when they are warmed, cooled, combined and much more. Your kids can induldge in exciting virtual experiments that won’t blow up your house!
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Hoopa City
(£3.99) by Dr. Panda Ltd, Age 6-8 This engaging app allows children to let their imaginations run wild building cities and towns with a combination of different materials. The game will boost their understanding of mechanics and engineering and also help them develop their problem-solving skills.
The Human Body
(£3.99) by Tinybop Inc, Age 6-8 If you have a budding biologist or child with a ‘why’ imagination then this is the app for them. Explore the human body and learn about how our amazing internal organs perform.
Artie’s Magic Pencil
(£2.99) by Minilab Ltd, Age 3-5 Boost your child’s drawing skills with this creative app. It shows 3-6 year olds how to draw by means of an engaging game in which a monster destroys everything in its path and Artie has to rebuild the world with his magic pencil.
Squeebles Times
Tables (£3.99), by KeyStageFun If you are tired of getting your child to repeat their times tables again and again, then get these lovable characters on hand to inspire your child to sit and practice them. There are several engaging games to play and a training area that also teaches and tests maths skills too.
EduGuru Maths
Specifically created for children ages 3 to 5 years, this app brings maths to life with cute animated graphics which will get them engaged straight away. It concentrates on basic maths skills, shapes, sequences, coins and number recognition.
Toddler Counting 123
Learn to count for kids (Free) by GiggleUp Kids Apps Teach your toddler to count with this fantastic free app. Designed for pre-schoolers this simple game gets them to tap and count a variety of real life objects.
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