APP STORE AWARDS

Cultural Impact winner: Pok Pok

Pok Pok | Montessori Preschool

Toddler Learning Games 2-7+

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Pok Pok offers a universal space for preschoolers of all backgrounds and abilities to play, explore and see the world as one.

– App Store editors

Curiosity is the driving force in the learn-through-play app Pok Pok. There are no instructions or storylines to follow, just gears to twirl, blobs to plop together, bells to ring – and those are just a handful of the interactive animations that make the app feel like a handcrafted toy.

In this playroom, kids might find an elaborate marble run that’s propelled by both wind and gravity. They might try their hand at creating (surprisingly subdued) loops with a sequencer. We smiled as ours experimented with washing loads of (virtual) laundry – although we wondered how the tomatoes they washed would fare in a real-life spin cycle.

Children will meet a beautifully diverse range of characters in Pok Pok.

Inclusivity is at the app’s core. Because there’s no text or speech, anyone can play, regardless of their language or reading level. And almost all of the digital toys start off soundless and still (it’s the child who brings them to life), letting those who are neurodivergent or easily overstimulated the opportunity to play their own way.

Pok Pok also paints a world where everyone belongs. Characters span races, ages, cultures, abilities – and the play itself draws from different customs. Kids might bob to the beat of a dragon dance at Lunar New Year, see the elements of a Holi celebration or celebrate Pride Month throughout the app.

So tap around and see what you stumble upon. To explore Pok Pok – as an adult or a child – is a happy reminder there’s always something new to be discovered.

Quick tip

While Pok Pok was designed for children to explore on their own, grown-ups can enhance their little one’s experience. Visit the app’s Grown-Up Area for questions, written by educators, to facilitate your child’s playtime.

Fun fact

Early on in the process of creating the app, Pok Pok’s developers worked closely with a peadiatric occupational therapist and enlisted a large cross section of playtesters, including many neurodivergent kids.

Meet the creator

Co-founders Mathijs Demaeght and Esther Huybreghts made a vow soon after they began creating Pok Pok: parents shouldn’t need to mute the app in a restaurant. “We didn’t want media and jingles and jangles that get stuck in your head,” Huybreghts says. “We wanted a quieter experience.”