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 [1] 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 [2], puzzles [3], or vocabulary [4], 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.
Browse 20 Weirdest Apps That Can Help Your Kid Learn
- All ages [5]
- Preschoolers (2-4) [6]
- Little Kids (5-7) [7]
- Big Kids (8-9) [8]
- Tweens (10-12) [9]
DRAWNIMAL by YATATOY
age 3+
Innovative combo of paper, app, and ABCs.
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
(2015)
Continue reading [10]
Download [11]
Metamorphabet
age 3+
Learn letters and words through amazing animations.
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
(2015)
Continue reading [12]
Download [13]
Thinkrolls: Kings & Queens
age 5+
Fairy tales inspire fun, challenging puzzler.
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android, Fire phone, Kindle Fire
(2016)
Continue reading [14]
Download [15]
Busy Water
age 6+
Solve and create puzzles that gush with STEM learning.
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
(2016)
Continue reading [16]
Download [17]
DragonBox Big Numbers
age 6+
Clever math resource-management game requires some patience.
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android
(2016)
Continue reading [18]
Download [19]
The Robot Factory by Tinybop
age 6+
Stellar sandbox tool drives kids to improve designs.
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
(2015)
Continue reading [20]
Download [21]
Toca Lab: Elements
age 6+
Budding chemists freeze, spin, and explode 118 elements.
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android, Kindle Fire
(2014)
Continue reading [22]
Download [23]
Monument Valley
age 7+
Beautiful, brain-twisting puzzle game.
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android, Kindle Fire
(2014)
Continue reading [24]
Download [25]
Windosill
age 7+
Imaginative journey through surreal, richly drawn puzzles.
Devices: iPad
(2015)
Continue reading [26]
Download [27]
Sound Rebound
age 8+
Explore light, sound, and motion to bring the museum home.
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
(2016)
Continue reading [28]
Download [29]
Weirdwood Manor
age 8+
Solve puzzles, explore rich visuals in cool storybook.
Devices: iPad
(2016)
Continue reading [30]
Download [31]
Zoombinis
age 8+
Save cute creatures with fun, complex puzzles.
Devices: iPad, Mac, Android, Kindle Fire, Apps for Windows
(2015)
Continue reading [32]
Download [33]
Isoland
age 9+
Artistic, atmospheric, tough puzzle adventure.
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
(2016)
Continue reading [34]
Download [35]
Lumino City
age 10+
Stunning visuals and tough puzzles delight and challenge.
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Mac, Apps for Windows
(2016)
Continue reading [36]
Download [37]
Sleep Furiously
age 10+
Maze of words makes creating illogical sentences fun.
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android, Fire phone, Kindle Fire
(2015)
Continue reading [38]
Download [39]
Warp Shift
age 10+
Visually beautiful puzzles center on escape story.
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
(2016)
Continue reading [40]
Download [41]
The Room
age 11+
Gorgeous, captivating puzzle game will draw you in.
Devices: iPad
(2012)
Continue reading [42]
Download [43]
Scribblenauts Remix
age 11+
Vocabulary-building word puzzle game shines on iOS.
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android, Kindle Fire, Apps for Windows, Windows Phone
(2011)
Continue reading [44]
Download [45]
Think Like Churchill
age 11+
Go inside history with stunning visuals, critical decisions.
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
(2015)
Continue reading [46]
Download [47]
DEVICE 6
age 12+
Inventive, interactive story puzzler has thrills and chills.
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
(2016)
Continue reading [48]
Download [49]