The Seven Best Learning Apps For Children

June 7, 2018

As a home-schooling family, we’re grateful that the days of stodgy old textbooks are gone and that an age of technology has ushered in a new way to learn (even if the parents have to ask their children to show them how it works first).

A short survey of the apps available to us revealed a treasure chest of great content and these are our top seven picks across subject ranges.

1. GEOGRAPHY – The Barefoot World Atlas - produced by Amphion Limited.

A three-dimensional globe interacts with our intrepid world explorers from the comfort of their home (on iPad). Packed full of interactive features, it is possible to explore our planet while listening to BBC’s Nick Crane present facts about every country and its people. Amazing mini-videos and beautiful photography – this is a highly recommended app for children of all ages. Available from the AppStore at $4.99.

2. HISTORY – Virtual History – Roma – produced by Mondadori.

Awe-inspiring aerial views of famous Roman landmarks, interactive video features highlighting the great events in Ancient Rome, three-dimensional explorations of structures, sculptures, and war machines make this virtual application a real discovery of the Roman world. Including a digital book that acts as a telescope into the three-dimensional images presented in this app. Our boy never tires of watching Gladiators in combat and this is a visual feast for him. Discover all that Rome had to offer. Available from the AppStore at $9.99.

3. ART APPRECIATION – MoMA Art Lab App – produced by MoMa.

Interacting with the Museum’s collection, MoMA Art Lab App for iPad offers a Modern Art experience for children aged seven and up. Creating their own modern art with interactive tools, this app is packed with all sorts of goodies for aspiring artists. $4.99 at the AppStore.

4. ART APPRECIATION – Art Project – produced by Google.

Brought to you by Google, take a virtual tour of our world’s museums. We took a trip through the mountains of Mongolia with the Kazakh people. Beautiful photography by Jimmy Nelson in high definition brings Western Mongolia and the people that live there to life. This was just one aspect of Art Project celebrating a great work by a photographer but the site offers everything in celebration of our world’s artists. Not specifically a children’s site, but for learning, the visual high-definition content is second to none. Available free to use.

5. SPACE EXPLORATION – NASA App – Produced by NASA.

If you want to know anything about anything, the best people to ask are the experts! NASA brings us an app filled with up-to-date photographs, a satellite tracking feature, and so much more. This app is for older children. Available free on Google Play.

6. SCIENCE – Dr. Seuss – Inside Your Outside App.

Produced by The Cat in The Hat’s Learning Library, set to rhyme as only Dr Seuss can, Inside Your Outside explains the human body in great detail. Interact with your own body and with Thing 1, Thing 2. Read by the Cat in the Hat. Taken from the book of the same title, kids of all ages will love this app. Available at the AppStore for $5.99.

7. READING - Dr. Seuss Treasury – Produced by Oceanhouse Media.

Dr. Seuss is an all-time favorite in most households and with over 50 of the most loved Dr. Seuss books available in this app, story-time becomes an interactive delight as kids get to explore each book with Cat in The Hat imagery. A wonderful app for toddlers. Available Free in the App Store (offers In-App Purchases).

With all the wonderful apps available (many are free), there isn’t time to get bored with learning. The internet is filled with great apps explaining every subject in great detail and interactive learning means smarter kids really are able to go to infinity and beyond!