Although many of us want to limit our kids' screen time as much as possible, there are some applications that make that scheduled device time worth it. Our friends at Common Sense Media found 20 of the best and most creative apps to maximize your kid's learning potential while keeping them well occupied and entertained.
Sometimes you need to come at learning from a new direction, and all of these apps take an inventive approach. Whether they involve reading, puzzles, or vocabulary, they all invite kids into weird worlds, have unique characters, or break the mold on an old model. If your kids are bored by the more obvious educational apps, try one or two of these to spice up their screen use. Even though some don't look like "learning apps," they do encourage critical thinking, problem-solving, and other important skills.
age 3+
Innovative combo of paper, app, and ABCs.
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
(2015)
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age 3+
Learn letters and words through amazing animations.
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
(2015)
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age 5+
Fairy tales inspire fun, challenging puzzler.
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android, Fire phone, Kindle Fire
(2016)
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age 6+
Solve and create puzzles that gush with STEM learning.
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
(2016)
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age 6+
Clever math resource-management game requires some patience.
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android
(2016)
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age 6+
Stellar sandbox tool drives kids to improve designs.
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
(2015)
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age 6+
Budding chemists freeze, spin, and explode 118 elements.
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android, Kindle Fire
(2014)
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age 7+
Beautiful, brain-twisting puzzle game.
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android, Kindle Fire
(2014)
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age 7+
Imaginative journey through surreal, richly drawn puzzles.
Devices: iPad
(2015)
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age 8+
Explore light, sound, and motion to bring the museum home.
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
(2016)
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age 8+
Solve puzzles, explore rich visuals in cool storybook.
Devices: iPad
(2016)
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age 8+
Save cute creatures with fun, complex puzzles.
Devices: iPad, Mac, Android, Kindle Fire, Apps for Windows
(2015)
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age 9+
Artistic, atmospheric, tough puzzle adventure.
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
(2016)
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age 10+
Stunning visuals and tough puzzles delight and challenge.
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Mac, Apps for Windows
(2016)
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age 10+
Maze of words makes creating illogical sentences fun.
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android, Fire phone, Kindle Fire
(2015)
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age 10+
Visually beautiful puzzles center on escape story.
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
(2016)
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age 11+
Gorgeous, captivating puzzle game will draw you in.
Devices: iPad
(2012)
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age 11+
Vocabulary-building word puzzle game shines on iOS.
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android, Kindle Fire, Apps for Windows, Windows Phone
(2011)
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age 11+
Go inside history with stunning visuals, critical decisions.
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
(2015)
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age 12+
Inventive, interactive story puzzler has thrills and chills.
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
(2016)
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