20 Weirdest Apps That Can Help Your Kid Learn

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.

Browse 20 Weirdest Apps That Can Help Your Kid Learn

01
DRAWNIMAL by YATATOY

DRAWNIMAL by YATATOY

age 3+

Innovative combo of paper, app, and ABCs.
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
(2015)
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02
Metamorphabet

Metamorphabet

age 3+

Learn letters and words through amazing animations.
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
(2015)
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03
Thinkrolls: Kings & Queens

Thinkrolls: Kings & Queens

age 5+

Fairy tales inspire fun, challenging puzzler.
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android, Fire phone, Kindle Fire
(2016)
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04
Busy Water

Busy Water

age 6+

Solve and create puzzles that gush with STEM learning.
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
(2016)
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05
DragonBox Big Numbers

DragonBox Big Numbers

age 6+

Clever math resource-management game requires some patience.
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android
(2016)
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06
The Robot Factory by Tinybop

The Robot Factory by Tinybop

age 6+

Stellar sandbox tool drives kids to improve designs.
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
(2015)
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07
Toca Lab: Elements

Toca Lab: Elements

age 6+

Budding chemists freeze, spin, and explode 118 elements.
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android, Kindle Fire
(2014)
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08
Monument Valley

Monument Valley

age 7+

Beautiful, brain-twisting puzzle game.
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android, Kindle Fire
(2014)
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09
Windosill

Windosill

age 7+

Imaginative journey through surreal, richly drawn puzzles.
Devices: iPad
(2015)
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10
Sound Rebound

Sound Rebound

age 8+

Explore light, sound, and motion to bring the museum home.
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
(2016)
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11
Weirdwood Manor

Weirdwood Manor

age 8+

Solve puzzles, explore rich visuals in cool storybook.
Devices: iPad
(2016)
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12
Zoombinis

Zoombinis

age 8+

Save cute creatures with fun, complex puzzles.
Devices: iPad, Mac, Android, Kindle Fire, Apps for Windows
(2015)
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13
Isoland

Isoland

age 9+

Artistic, atmospheric, tough puzzle adventure.
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
(2016)
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14
Lumino City

Lumino City

age 10+

Stunning visuals and tough puzzles delight and challenge.
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Mac, Apps for Windows
(2016)
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15
Sleep Furiously

Sleep Furiously

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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16
Warp Shift

Warp Shift

age 10+

Visually beautiful puzzles center on escape story.
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
(2016)
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17
The Room

The Room

age 11+

Gorgeous, captivating puzzle game will draw you in.
Devices: iPad
(2012)
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18
Scribblenauts Remix

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)
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19
Think Like Churchill

Think Like Churchill

age 11+

Go inside history with stunning visuals, critical decisions.
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
(2015)
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20
DEVICE 6

DEVICE 6

age 12+

Inventive, interactive story puzzler has thrills and chills.
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
(2016)
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