As more and more schools become information and tech savvy, integrating technology into the classroom is becoming ever more important. Thanks to the fast-growing app development community, learning apps for kindergarten can help supplement the traditional teachings in classrooms. In this blog, we share about 5 best apps for kindergarten that we loved using in our own homeschool.
Table of Contents
Best Apps For Kindergarten
Best Overall App for Kids: ABCmouse.com
best apps for kids abcmousecom
ABC MOUSE
This pick is an overwhelming favorite among all of our testers. ABCmouse.com is available both as an app and a website. It uses fun storyline-based videos, quizzes, and activities — there’s even a virtual map outlining your child’s learning path to keep kids and toddlers engaged. Our parent testers said they loved ABCmouse.com even before we started testing the best apps for kids!
• Ages: 2-8
• Cost: One-month free trial, then $10/month subscription
• Get it for: iOS, Android, or on the Amazon App Store
RELATED: The Best Toddler Apps That Teach Letters, Colors, Shapes, and Numbers
Best for All Ages: Khan Academy
best apps for kids
KHAN ACADEMY
Teachers, parents, and kids are all a fan of the Khan Academy app that features thousands of free resources on everything from early math to art history. From preschool to high school, children of all ages can enjoy and learn on this non-profit’s platform. All of its programming is entirely free, so you don’t have to worry about subscription fees. Parents of our testers say that the videos helped each kid learn at their own pace. For those with kids under 4, check out their child-friendly counterpart, Khan Academy Kids on iOS or Android, which features a lot of the great elements of the older app at an age appropriate level.
• Ages: 4+
• Cost: Free
• Get it for: iOS or Android
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Best Reading App for Kids: Epic!
Best Apps for Kids- Epic!
EPIC!
Epic! is an app for kids with an e-book library that contains over 35,000 children’s books (and it includes a read-to-me feature for little ones who are still learning to read). One of our parent testers says it’s “a great app to have when the kids want screen time, but you don’t!” This app is a perfect way to take reading wherever your device goes, and it’s great for families with kids of various ages.
• Ages: 2-12
• Cost: one-month free trial, then $8/month
• Get it for: iOS or Android
Best App for Kids in Preschool: Nick Jr.
Best Apps for Kids- Nick Jr.
NICK JR.
Nick Jr.’s app offers parents the chance to let their kids enjoy their favorite shows on the go — no TV required! The app has videos from all of Nick Jr.’s shows and a collection of games (both educational and not-so educational) based on Nick Jr. shows that feature your kids’ favorite characters.
To unlock some parts of the app, you’ll need to enter your cable provider’s information. Even without it, your kid will still be able to use the features they’ll be most excited about: full episodes and lots of games!
• Ages: 2-7
• Cost: free, some content requires cable provider information
• Get it for: iOS, Android, or on the Amazon App Store
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Best App for Kids in Elementary School: Quick Math Jr.
Best Apps for Kids- Quick Math Jr.
QUICK MATH
Kids know that math can be boring, but this app transforms numbers into something more creative and interactive. Quick Math Jr. is an app for kids with 12 different math games that feature fundamental math skills and concepts. It has unique graphics and buildable characters to keep kids engaged, and all answers are handwritten or drawn on the screen so kids can also practice handwriting.
• Ages: 4-8
• Cost: Free
• Get it for: iOS
Best App for Kids in High School: Duolingo
Best Apps for Kids- Duolingo
DUOLINGO
The Duolingo Owl (the app’s mascot and icon) has been popping up as a meme all over social media in recent months, so chances are your high schooler knows what Duolingo is. Encourage them to take it one step further and download the app so they can learn a different language.
They can practice through audio, word identification, and oral exercises for over 30 languages — it’s a great way for your child to keep their language-learning skills sharp over the summer. P.S.: Parents can use this app, too!
• Ages: 10+
• Cost: Free, optional ad-free Duolingo Plus is $6.99/month
• Get it for: iOS or Android
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Best App for Kids Learning the Alphabet: Starfall ABCs
Best Apps for Kids- Starfall ABCs
STARFALL ABC
This app gives kids a fun, animated introduction to learning letters, vowels, and words. It also includes the sign language alphabet. If you upgrade to the paid version of Starfall ABCs, you’ll get some extra perks like lessons on math and social skills — but the free version is still pretty impressive!
• Ages: 2-5
• Cost: Free, option to upgrade for $35/year
• Get it for: iOS or Android
Best App for Multiple Kids: Homer Learn & Grow
best app for multiple kids homer learn grow
HOMER
Homer Learn & Grow is great for families with lots of littles, since you can add up to four kid profiles on your account and not have to worry about messing up your customization. Testers love how personalized the learning experience is — while onboarding, you’ll fill out a series of questions about your child’s task performance skills. They also enjoy the cool features like the “record your voice” option in phonics. Kids get to learn thoughtfully about numbers, letters and social skills. Note, the free trial can be difficult to cancel if you’re not interested in paying for the subscription.
• Ages: 2-8
• Cost: $7.99/month
• Get it for: iOS or Android
Best apps for kids
Khan Academy
Khan Academy
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Key Specs
Price: Free
Ages/Grades: Grades K–14
Apple/Android: Both
Why We Chose It: Suitable for beginner and advanced students, Khan Academy offers learning opportunities for students of all ages across many subjects, including math, economics, and history.
PROS
Totally free
Offers a wide variety of subjects
Suitable for foundational or supplemental learning
Includes introduction math classes for 3rd grade and up
Available in more than 36 languages
CONS
Self-paced design might not be right for everyone
Lacks foreign language courses
Khan Academy is the gold standard for educational apps, particularly considering the wide range of courses it offers for students of all ages, and the fact that it’s free. Khan Academy’s YouTube videos cover most subjects at a range of levels: math, science and engineering, arts and humanities (which includes history and social studies), economics, AP courses, and test prep.
English language arts (ELA) seems to be one notable weakness of Khan Academy courses, though it has some beta (work-in-progress) offerings for second to ninth-grade students. There are also no foreign language courses, though Khan Academy instruction is available in dozens of languages, with varying numbers of course offerings.
Khan Academy is popular among students, parents, and educators because its videos are engaging and targeted at visual learners, using photos, maps, and other illustrations, and because it allows students to work at their own pace.
The courses include quizzes to test students’ comprehension. Khan Academy has also shifted toward developing materials in conjunction with Common Core. A junior version, Khan Academy Kids, targets young learners from two to seven years old. It’s a mobile device app that covers math, ELA, logic, and socio-emotional learning by using books, games, songs, and videos.
The 7 Best Apps for Toddlers of 2022
BEST FOR TODDLERS
Busy Shapes
Busy Shapes
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Key Specs
Price: $3
Ages/Grades: Ages 2–5
Apple/Android: Both
Why We Chose It: Your toddler will love moving the shapes around in this app, and you’ll love that it’s secretly teaching them spatial recognition and object awareness.
PROS
Easy for little hands to use
Gradually becomes more challenging
Encourages problem-solving skills
Available in 21 languages
CONS
Doesn’t display or say the name of the shapes
Some users reported glitchy or “unsolvable” levels
Busy Shapes is an app aligned with the Montessori method of self-directed, hands-on learning. As such, it’s perfect for the youngest kids just starting to interact with technology—it’s not rote learning. The app is designed to develop young children’s logic and reasoning skills by learning about how objects relate to each other and how they can manipulate them.
Busy Shapes is simple to play. Kids drag an object into a hole—they are challenged to match the shape of the object with the corresponding hole—and eventually, another object and hole will appear in a new setting.
Most importantly, there are no instructions, which is something toddlers can’t really handle—it’s all child-directed.
The challenge increases over time, with multiple objects and holes of different shapes. Busy Shapes costs $2.99.
Toddler Development
BEST FOR PRESCHOOLERS
ABCmouse.com
ABCMouse.com
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Key Specs
Price: $13 per month
Ages/Grades: Ages 2–8
Apple/Android: Both
Why We Chose It: ABCmouse.com has more than 10,000 activities available to play on its app or website. There are games for traditional subjects, like math, science, and language arts, as well as art activities, songs, and puzzles.
PROS
Designed by educators and experts in early learning
One account can have up to three profiles
Includes school subjects plus games and puzzles
Highly adaptable to age and skill levels
Advertisement-free website
Free 30-day trial
CONS
More expensive than other options
Only available in English and Spanish
More than simply an app, ABCmouse.com is essentially a well-rounded curriculum for preschoolers. It’s designed for children aged two through eight but is best for younger kids who haven’t started kindergarten.
It includes hundreds of interactive games, activities, and videos related to reading, math, science, and art. It’s also a multi-platform program that can be used on a computer or mobile device.
Skills Your Child Needs Before Starting Kindergarten
Because it’s a full-fledged curriculum, ABCmouse isn’t cheap—it costs $9.95/month. But if your child doesn’t attend preschool, the app is a great substitute to get them ready for elementary school, as parents can track their progress.
The only reservation some reviewers, such as Common Sense Media, have with ABCmouse is that it rewards children’s progress with tickets, which can be used to purchase virtual items. While this feature is sure to be successful in keeping kids using the program, some would argue it encourages consumerism instead of learning for learning’s sake.
BEST FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL KIDS
Prodigy
Prodigy Math Tutoring
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Key Specs
Price: Free for basic; premium memberships cost $10 to $15 per month and $75 to $100 per year
Ages/Grades: Grades 1–8
Apple/Android: Both
Why We Chose It: Prodigy helps students learn math while having fun by providing interactive games that align with the curriculum they’re learning at school.
PROS
Features math curriculum standards for grades 1–8
Play online or via app
Can be used for practice or initial learning
CONS
Ads encourage membership and in-app purchases
Fantasy theme might not be for everyone
Prodigy is one of the most popular math games on the market, largely because it’s set up like a video game. It’s a fantasy-based web and app game that covers math topics for kids from first to eighth grade.
Prodigy is more designed to test kids’ knowledge rather than introduce math topics to them for the first time. Kids earn spells by answering questions correctly and get to do monster battles as they move through different fantasy worlds.
The basic app is free, but a paid subscription offers more features. The premium fee is $8.95 per month, which is discounted if you buy an annual subscription. Despite the fact that Prodigy is widely loved by kids, one drawback for parents is that there seems to be significant pressure within the game to make in-app purchases.
The 5 Best Tablets for Kids of 2022
BEST FOR TWEENS
Google Arts and Culture
Arts and Culture
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Key Specs
Price: Free
Ages/Grades: Ages 12 and up
Apple/Android: Both
Why We Chose It: Google’s interactive Arts and Culture lets students explore art, history, geography, and cultures from all over the world by allowing them to tour museums, learn about international foods, and much more in the palm of their hands.
PROS
Designed for project research or just for fun
Transform your own photos into artwork
Virtual tours of museums around the world
Lots of information on art and culture
Entertaining and educational for tweens and adults
CONS
Database isn’t very user-friendly
Some content is restricted by location
A free mobile app has been developed to accompany the well-known website, which offers a treasure trove of virtual travel and sight-seeing. The app lets you search by keyword or category and read relevant editorials about the art collections.
While Google Arts and Culture became famous for its selfie feature, which allows you to compare your face to great works of art, the site and app contain a wealth of information on museum collections, artists, theater and performing arts, historic figures, and events.
Google Arts and Culture is an invaluable resource for tweens who are assigned research projects, as it can provide in-depth information that goes far beyond the written word to include images and videos. While the app can truly be enjoyed by people of many ages, the amount of information available can be overwhelming for younger kids who may not know how to use search terms efficiently.
Extracurricular Activities for Your Tween
BEST FOR TEENS
Quizlet
Quizlet
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Key Specs
Price: Free
Ages/Grades: Ages 13 and up
Apple/Android: Both
Why We Chose It: Quizlet makes it easy to prepare for tests by letting you create as many flashcard sets as you want on your phone or computer. It offers different testing methods, such as multiple choice and true/false questions, plus it has millions of sets available that students have already designed.
PROS
Offers flashcards, games, diagrams, and study guides
Can be used by students or teachers
Seven study modes allow for personalized instruction
Millions of flashcards sets available
CONS
Users say that editing flashcards can be difficult
Interface can be hard to organize
Self-directed study is an important skill for high schoolers, and Quizlet is one of the most effective apps on the market for review of material a student will be tested on. Teachers and students can create study sets/flashcards on many topics—from the periodic table to U.S. presidents to vocabulary words.
The Quizlet Learn feature provides different types of testing, such as true and false questions and multiple-choice, and based on the user’s performance, increases in difficulty over time. Quizlet is particularly good for foreign language study, and its audio pronunciation is better than many other apps.
Quizlet also has 500 million archived study sets already created by users, so new users can search within those to see if a study set has already been created that matches up with their needs.
Conclusion
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