FOR KIDS
What to look for in kids’ apps
There’s a world of wonder for children on the App Store. Budding artists, film critics, coders, architects and scientists can start honing their craft from a young age with the help of some terrific apps.
To help parents pick the best safe, fun and educational apps, we’ve selected some of the top picks available in the App Store for young’uns (2–5) and a-little-older’uns (5+). Digital literacy advisor Joanne Orlando (PhD), long committed to helping families make the best choices when it comes to technology usage by children, explains what makes these so great for your little ones.
Make and do
With some crafty apps to hand, your little ones can become mini musicians, artists and film-makers. “Look for creativity apps that are imaginative, playful and encourage your child to come up with lots of their own ideas,” says Orlando.
We’ve picked a selection that are well-designed and interactive – and will unleash loads of creativity and fun times!
For young’uns
For a-little-older’uns
Watch and explore
There are a lot of streaming platforms out there, but which is best for your child? According to Orlando, “The best streaming apps have quality fresh content, provide a safe and self-contained online environment and are easy to navigate.” These apps contain a great range of sleek and fresh entertainment, and a sprinkle of educational content, too.
For young’uns
For a-little-older’uns
Think and learn
“Learning apps should be fun and offer new and interactive ways of learning that a child can’t get from a text book,” says Orlando. The below choices are entertaining, the right amount of challenging and, best of all, you can play along with your little ones and aid their learning.
For young’uns
For a-little-older’uns
Have fun
Sometimes kids just want to have fun. And the App Store is the place to get it. Games, says Orlando should “provide entertaining characters and stories to be involved in; use fun gamified elements that have the player actively trying ideas; keep advertising and social media links to a minimum; and make your child feel included and empowered.”