July 18, 2023 by Marjorie R. Rogers, MA (English), Certified Consultant

Screen time is inevitable and keeping your children engaged otherwise is harder. 

With the schools closed for summer break, it is difficult to keep them entertained all day round. Eventually, you have to let them sit on their tabs or phones to get some reprieve. In today’s technology-dominated era, it can be difficult to protect your kids from it. The best solution to this is to use it constructively. That is why it’s important to make sure your kids are making good use of their screen time by learning new things or honing their skills.

In this guest post, we will discuss the importance of having educational apps and also list some of the best-rated apps that you can install on your child’s phone to keep them engaged and help them to enhance their knowledge and skills. 

Importance of educational apps 

Summer should be a time of fun and excitement. An opportunity for families to get out, spend time together and have fun. Although schools get closed for the summer, many parents still want their children to learn and get more knowledge. 

Educational apps are critical, in this regard, for children as they help them spend their time in a more beneficial manner. Screen time does not have to be about just about gaming or watching videos that you may not be able to monitor. Instead, children will be able to access new content and learn in creative ways. This does not even require too much effort, just a good internet. We would recommend using Cox internet, which is a popular Internet Service Provider (ISP), to avoid any issues with app usage. 

Best apps for learning 

Summer learning loss has become a common term as parents struggle with their children experiencing ‘knowledge reversal’ during the summer break. The ‘use it or lose it’ phenomenon holds true. Here are some apps you can use to avoid that:

1. DoodleMaths

DoodleMaths is a subscription-based app available on Android and iOS devices. This app uses Doodle Stars as an incentive method designed to encourage kids to complete daily activities. These stars are then used for upgrades for their chosen avatar. 

First, children take a basic test for each application. This is a short set of exercises to help Doodle to start customizing your program. The children are then asked to complete a 10-minute personalized Doodle task each day. This helps to close gaps in learning and consolidate knowledge.

2. Epic 

Epic is a subscription-based reading app for kids ages 2-12. This gives families access to a vast library of thousands of high-quality books, audiobooks, and videos that can be accessed through several devices. Epic’s collection of affordable and exceptionally well-designed books, audiobooks, storybooks, and instructional videos is extensive and skillfully chosen to ensure quality.

3. Toca Boca

This app may seem like a video game, but it’s actually not. It is more of a way for kids to use their imagination to create characters and bring the environment to life. Almost everything in the game can be customized, and after you create something, you can record it on screen and add an audio narration that describes the world you created from scratch. This helps children to think spontaneously and learn to rely on themselves for inspiration and guidance. In addition, when they record talking about their newly built environment, they’re actually improving on their speaking and writing skills. 

4. Science360

Science360 for iPad from the National Science Foundation (NSF) provides easy access to breathtaking images and videos about science and technology from around the world. This is a great app when children have free time to practice on their own. They can choose the videos they are interested in and watch them on their own. It is a very fun and engaging app with a plethora of information. 

5. Spelling Stage 

Spelling Stage is a great app for all those aspiring spelling bees or any parent who wants to help their children improve their spelling. 

You and your children can become immersed in challenging spelling games and spend hours of fun together! They can also enjoy a funny story and amazing characters! This spell-check app will help you learn the spelling of words in a unique way. Your kids can also compete in global competitions, collect prizes as they progress through each competition to customize their look, and even use their own photos for the perfect selfie!

6. Brilliant

Brilliant.org is an online learning app purely dedicated to STEM-related topics. The platform is suitable for learners of all ages, and over 60 courses are designed to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills. The content is stimulating and engaging and requires learners to interact with the content through active learning. This online learning platform has been launched in recent years as a Herculean effort of making STEM learning fun. 

Wrapping it up 

All in all, technology isn’t going anywhere, so you might as well make the best use of it. Children are fast learners and coupled with their curiosity for technology use, it is the perfect combination to encourage learning and creativity.