10 Best Learning Apps for Kids for a Productive Downtime

For busy parents, finding productive and educational ways to keep kids engaged during their downtime can be a challenge. Whether at home or on the go, learning apps for kids offer a way to enhance their academic skills engagingly. A well-designed learning app can help boost literacy, math, and executive functioning skills. Let’s explore the 10 best learning apps for kids that are sure to make their screen time both entertaining and educational.

1. Joon: Behavior Support Disguised as a Video Game

Designed for kids ages 6-12, Joon is a $13/month behavior support app cleverly disguised as a video game. It’s perfect for children with ADHD, ODD, Autism, or any child who struggles with the unstructured nature of downtime. Joon makes routines and tasks fun by requiring children to complete tasks set by a trusted adult to advance in the game.

2. Pixton: Comic Creation for Storytelling and Education

Pixton is a creative learning tool for older children to explore and develop writing skills. This comic creation app is user-friendly and comes with videos to support your budding comic book writer. Accounts are available for users over 12 years old, ensuring a safe and enjoyable learning experience.

3. Prodigy: Master Math and English Skills

Prodigy Math offers over 1,500 math skills for 1st to 8th graders in a game-based learning platform where players answer questions to win battles, complete quests, and earn rewards. The English version challenges players to answer questions to gain energy, allowing their character to build their own world. This app provides a safe, fun, and secure environment for learning.

4. Middle School Confidential: Building Confidence and Navigating Challenges

The Middle School Confidential graphic novel app helps tweens and teens understand and navigate the social expectations of middle school. Moreover, this interactive book app addresses important topics such as self-esteem and fitting in and includes quizzes to help kids work on social skills. The app costs $2.99 per book or $6.99 for a bundle of three and is available for iOS, Android, and other eBook formats.

5. Get the Math: Real-World Algebra Applications

Get the Math teaches kids to solve real-world problems with topics like “Math in Restaurants” and “Math in Basketball.” Each module begins with a video of people using math in their jobs and offers real-world challenges to solve, helping students see how math is used in various careers.

6. Vooks: Animated Storybooks for Early Readers

Created for children up to 9, Vooks is a kid-safe digital library of animated storybooks. Each story is read aloud with subtle animation, highlighted text, music, and sound. The videos are not overstimulating, making Vooks excellent for quiet downtime with an educational twist.

7. Instructables: DIY Projects and Tutorials

Instructables is a free website for older students looking for do-it-yourself projects. Some projects help build skills like organization, planning, time management, motor skills, and attention. However, it is designed mainly for older audiences, so supervision may be required.

8. DragonBox: Addressing Specific Learning Challenges

DragonBox apps offer stress-free ways for kids to master difficult subjects like algebra. These highly regarded educational apps address specific learning challenges, making complex concepts fun and engaging.

9. SuperBetter: Building Resilience and Achieving Goals

Over a million people have tried SuperBetter, a free, game-like tool that helps older students build confidence, connect with others, break negative patterns, and improve their self-image through gamification techniques.

10. DreamBox: Adaptive Learning for Math and Reading

DreamBox is an adaptive learning platform that offers math lessons aligned with school curricula. Finally, for about $13 a month, this app moves at your child’s pace, adjusts the difficulty level accordingly, and tracks progress.

These resources cover various educational and personal development needs, from math and literacy to mental health and creativity, and can help you make the most of your child’s downtime, turning screen time into valuable learning experiences!