Summer vacation is right around the corner, which means your child's screen time is likely to increase exponentially. However, that doesn't mean their tablet-obsessed moments can't provide some value. There are plenty of free apps out there that can make you feel good and, in some cases, even help them avoid the summer slump.
PBS kids games
A favorite of both my kids, this game app features over 250 educational and entertaining games for toddlers and older kids from a variety of PBS KIDS products, including Wild Kratts , Sesame Street , and Odd Squad . My youngest is a fan of doodle and ink drawing games which bring his art to life.
iOS/Android
Breathe, think, act with sesame
This app was created to help kids find ways to stay calm and mindful when their emotions start to become overwhelming. It has five activities involving a monster who must sit down and help them think of solutions to seemingly huge problems. Parents can personalize the app with supportive phrases to encourage children to take a step back and calmly find solutions, while there's also a section to help caregivers reiterate the lessons the app teaches in their child's life.
iOS/Android
Go to noodles
During the pandemic, my family watched a lot of GoNoodle videos to keep the kids active, and we would often hear each other singing catchy songs like “Banana, Banana, Meatball.” When my kids went back to school, their teachers would play these videos in class, only to have them go home singing "Purple Stew" at the top of their lungs. These videos are about physical activities and entertainment, and they never seem to get old. It's great to have the GoNoodle library of over 300 songs and exercises in one place so my kids can discover their next favorite or find classics like "Clap It Out."
iOS/Android
NASA
This app will satisfy your child's space curiosity with updates on ongoing space missions and the International Space Station. It also provides free access to podcasts, NASA+ videos, interactive augmented reality experiences, galactic journeys with real astronauts, and more than 20,000 images directly from the space agency.
iOS/Android
aardman animators
While my family eagerly awaits the arrival of the next Wallace & Gromit movie, we wanted to learn more about bringing this adorable duo to life through this easy-to-use app from their studio process of life. There are plenty of tutorials to get kids started, and easy-to-use tools, including a dialogue and sound effects recorder, will let them unleash their creativity and create stop-motion masterpieces in no time.
iOS/Android
Duolingo
Learning a new language doesn’t have to be boring and repetitive, as evidenced by how this popular app gamifies the process of learning and understanding Spanish, French, and German. Duolingo has some drawbacks - it makes most of its revenue from advertising. Still, its small lessons are a great starting point for children (and adults) who are just starting to communicate in a different language.
iOS/Android
ScratchJr
Designed by Tufts University, MIT Media Lab, and PBS Kids, the app won't teach you code from five to seven years ago. Instead, like its counterpart developed for children aged eight and above, it will introduce and reinforce programming concepts to create stories using drag-and-drop puzzles that control characters. Parents who have used the app say that when their children first start building their own stories, parents should work with them, but once they get the hang of it, they have a ton of creative fun.
iOS/Android
sushi monster
If players don't want to make the titular monster angry, then they must feed it numbered plates of sushi that reach the creature's assigned number. It takes someone with excellent math skills to reach the next level in this addictive game, but kids can always ask for hints if they get stuck.
iOS system
Khan Academy Kids: Learn!
Are you a parent who wants to give your child a head start in education? Or maybe you're looking for a fun way to review the reading and math lessons your first grader or second grader is learning in school. If so, many consider it the standard for educational applications. A bear named Kodi and her friends guide users through more than 5,000 games and activities that teach reading, writing and numbers. There's also a library of books about dinosaurs, vehicles, and other kid-friendly topics, all without ads or subscriptions.
iOS/Android
Choose your plate!
Developed by the Smithsonian Institution, users can travel the world with a magical plate, learn about food and create healthy meals. While planning breakfast, lunch and dinner, children can explore baobab fruit or how the Finns prepare reindeer. They will also learn about the music and monetary systems of countries such as Cambodia and Argentina.
iOS/Android
