The Best Educational Apps and Tools to Install on Your Child's Phone

Screen time gets a bad rap. We see our kids engrossed in their tech and think, 'Surely that can't be good for them?' But it's less about the screen and more about what they do with it. A little screen time can be good for kids – especially if they're learning as they tap and scroll.

That's why we've compiled this list of the UK's best educational apps for kids. Because, let's face it, kids won't give up their gadgets without a fight. If you can't curb screen time entirely, you may as well make sure they're making the most of it.

Why Bother with Educational Apps for Kids?

Apps are a bit like breakfast. A big daily fry-up is bad for you. But a bowl of muesli will leave you feeling healthy, satisfied and ready for the day ahead. In other words, it's not that breakfast is bad. It's what you choose to consume that matters.

Brainless games and vapid videos are the junk foods of the app world. However, by encouraging your kids to use educational apps, you feed their minds and turn their favourite gadgets into powerful learning tools.

For them, that means:

• Learning as they play: the best kids' educational apps make learning fun and interactive.
• A head start at school: using educational apps can help lay the groundwork for their school curriculum and reinforce lessons learned in class.
• Building important skills: a good app can fuel creativity and help build valuable problem-solving and digital literacy skills.

Remember that apps can't do everything, though. While tech can be a useful learning tool, it's still important to balance screen time with offline learning.

The Best Children's Learning Apps for Toddlers and Young Kids

What makes a good educational app for kids aged three to seven? For this age group, you want fun, colourful learning games that keep them engaged and teach them the basics of maths and literacy. If they spark creativity too, that's even better.

Khan Academy Kids

• For ages two to eight
• Available on Android and iOS
• Price: free

The original Khan Academy app is well-trusted by teachers and parents alike. This early-years version is just as good and is tailored for inquisitive young learners. Kids will follow the adventures of five happy animal characters as they get to grips with the basics of reading, writing and maths.

Teach Your Monster to Read

• For ages four and up
• Available on Android, iOS and PC
• Price: £8.99

Teach Your Monster to Read has a bit of a secret. It's not the monster who learns to read – it's your little brainbox. Parents will appreciate the structured teaching approach, which starts right from square one with simple letter sounds. Kids, meanwhile, will simply love playing with their new monster friend.

CBeebies Playtime Island

• For ages four and up
• Available on Android and iOS
• Price: free

This homegrown learning tool is considered one of the UK's best educational apps for younger kids – and for good reason. It's full of educational games and activities starring well-loved CBeebies characters like Duggee and the Teletubbies. Your kids will have so much fun, they'll hardly know they're learning.

Lingokids

• For ages two to eight
• Available on Android and iOS
• Price: free

If you want to keep your kids entertained and educated for hours, Lingokids is the way to go. The app is packed with games, shows, songs and even podcasts – all built for young, growing minds. There are 3,000 activities and lessons in all, but beware – some are locked behind in-app purchases.

How the Apps Compare

The Best School Apps for Kids Aged Eight to 12

As kids grow, it gets more important to make sure their learning aids align with their school curriculum. But that doesn't mean they have to give up fun and creativity. We've picked out four apps that strike the right balance.

DoodleMaths

• For ages five to 14
• Available on Android, iOS and PC
• Price: free version available

DoodleMaths has a few big benefits up its sleeve. First, it's made for the UK curriculum. Secondly, it's built by experts and proven to boost school progress. And thirdly, it's great fun. Bear in mind that you have to pay to unlock all of its lessons, though. The same developer offers apps focusing on English, spelling and times tables.

Duolingo

• For all ages
• Available on Android, iOS and PC
• Price: free

If you've ever wanted to learn a new language, there's a good chance you've tried Duolingo yourself. But did you know that the app also supports language learning for under-13s? Kids can create a child-friendly account that locks them out of social features, so they can learn risk-free.

Scratch

• For ages 8 to 16
• Available for Android, PC and Mac
• Price: free

Scratch is a powerful programming tool that kids can use to build games, interactive toys and just about anything else they can dream up. It takes a bit of getting used to. However, once they've got the knack, the sky's the limit. Who knows? This could be the start of a successful future career in app development.

Night Zookeeper

• For ages 6 to 12
• Available for iOS and PC
• Price: £69.99 per year

You might not guess it from the name, but Night Zookeeper is all about teaching kids literacy and creative writing skills through play. As they take part in games, lessons and challenges, they'll build their vocabulary and have a go at writing their own stories. The app is subscription-based and doesn't come cheap, but it has hundreds of positive reviews on its side.

How the Apps Compare

The Best Educational Apps for Teens

By the time your kids hit their teenage years, they'll have their own interests and ideas about the world. Our advice: encourage them. These apps will help grow their burgeoning passions while keeping them on track for their exams and future careers.

BBC Bitesize – Exam Revision

• For ages 14 to 16
• Available for Android and iOS
• Price: free

Like it or lump it, exam revision is a big part of teenage life. This trusted BBC app will give them a flying start. It covers all the key subjects – Maths, English, History, Science and Geography – and includes tailored content for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. It's not the most exciting app in the world, but it could be a very important one for your teen's future.

Quizlet

• For all ages
• Available for Android, iOS and PC
• Price: free version available

Quizlet uses flashcards to promote learning and help with exam revision in just about any subject. Quizlet lets users create personalised flashcard sets and share them with other learners. That means you'll find ready-made teaching tools that cover everything from the French language to Greek art. Great for self-directed learning.

Forest

• For ages 12 and up
• Available for Android and iOS
• Price: free version on Android

Does your teen need a helping hand to stay focused? Forest might be their new best friend. This simple app sees you plant virtual trees when you want to concentrate on a task. If you stay in the zone, the tree grows big and strong – just like your mind. Better still, the developers work with conservation organisations to plant real trees around the world.

Google Arts & Culture

• For all ages
• Available for Android, iOS and PC
• Price: free

Here's one for teenage culture vultures. Google Arts & Culture is a digital library of artworks and cultural artefacts sourced from some of the world's top museums. But this isn't the kind of library that's full of dusty books and shushing librarians. With videos, high-resolution images and 3D models to explore, it's easy to lose a few hours igniting your passions and discovering new ones.

How the Apps Compare

Tips for Parents: How to Choose the Right Learning Apps

• Keep an eye on age ratings: don't judge an app by its icon. Check age ratings on your app store of choice to make sure it's right for your little learner.
• Pay attention to reviews: if an app isn't up to scratch, you can be sure other users will let you know. Always check reviews to see unbiased opinions from fellow parents.
• Stay ad-aware: you don't want inappropriate ads polluting your child's learning time. Ad-free apps are best, but they often come with a price tag. If you can't go ad-free, keep tabs on those ads to make sure nothing dodgy pops up.
• Be vigilant on security: only download apps from trusted sources and beware of in-app purchases. You might end up with a hefty bill if your child lets loose on paid extras.
• Use parental controls: learn how to set up parental controls on phones and tablets. That way, you can set screen time limits and monitor their app usage.
• Learn and play together: the best children's learning apps are those you can explore together. Kids often stay more engaged if they've got someone to share the fun with.

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