While
the benefits of using educational apps are emerging (‘app-fluence’ being one of the latest buzzwords to describe the advantages app-savvy children have when starting school), anyone can build an app and label it educational.
“No one is going to check if the people who designed it have educational experience, or just want to make money off a ‘maths’ game that looks just like a poker machine does,” says psychologist Jocelyn Brewer.
With app stores on Android and IOS bursting with great looking choices, Brewer says many parents find it hard to separate the good from the bad. She recommends bookmarking a not-for-profit independent site that reviews apps – for example,
Common Sense Media so you can stay up to date with new apps, and find age appropriate choices as your children progress.
Here are our fave four from Common Sense Media’s extensive list to get you started:
Duckie Deck Collection
Age 2+
Buy it from Amazon, iTunes or Google Play
Capitalising on two things toddlers love most – control over their environment, and being able to flex their ‘helping’ skills, the app walks children through a series of tasks that allow them to care for pets, sweep the floors, and pick out healthy fruit and veggies (excellent for picky eaters!).
The focus is more life skills than educational skills, but it will build hand eye coordination, exercise kids’ imaginations, and practice visual matching skills.
Avokiddo ABC Ride
Age 3+
Buy it from Amazon or iTunes
Encouraging kids to problem solve and learn about letters with a big focus on alliteration, this app has users follow instructions and explore interactive scenes with characters Beck and Bo.
Riding along a path, users travel with the siblings to solve puzzles, revealing new letters and tasks as they go. There are 26 different activities and a variety of activities, and it’s customisable to suit different ages and skill set, and players can choose to work through the letters in alphabetical order, randomly, or by selecting a specific letter.