Best Early Learning Apps for Kids

By Tracey Dowdy

Our early years of life should be measured in dog years. The amount of knowledge kids absorb before they even start school is staggering. They’re developing motor skills and language, learning to recognize shapes and letters, mastering basic math skills, and learning self-care and independence.

Building that foundation puts your child on the path to academic success. Before you think I’m suggesting hours of daily flashcard drills for your toddler, understand that not only does each child learn differently, they learn virtually all the time. They’re learning spatial relations while they build a tower with blocks or put together a puzzle. They learn social skills while they play house; physics while they play with their trains or cars; geology and nature while they dig for worms in the backyard.

A child’s love for math, reading and language can start at home and you are your child’s first teacher. These apps can help you plant those seeds, so your little ones will have a solid start to a lifetime of learning.

Doodle Critter Math Shapes

doodle-critterDoodle Critters Math Shapes has six learning activities including tracing, solving puzzles, and matching that teach kids to recognize shapes onscreen and then see examples of them in the real world. Along with simple math skills, the tracing activities in particular will help your child develop their fine motor skills. (iOS – $2.99)


Bugs and Numbers

bugs-numbersBugs and Numbers spans a wide range of math skills and takes kids from preschool through early elementary. Kids explore places like a diner or a circus from a bug’s perspective while they learn about shapes, counting, sequencing, addition, subtraction, fractions, telling time and more. The graphics are beautiful and the bugs are fairly realistic and kids can earn more bugs by completing activities and can even zoom in to see their bugs in action. (iOS – $2.99)


Reading Raven

ravenReading Raven takes kids from pre-reading to reading short sentences through activities like letter tracing and recording their own voice reading words, all self-paced with sticker rewards to celebrate successes. Kids will love having a raven with a backpack guide them through adventures and meeting fly-eating frogs and circus performers, and parents will appreciate the step-by-step lessons. (iOS – Free/$3.99)


Starfall Learn to Read

starfallStarfall Learn to Read is the app version of the Starfall Learn to Read website. Kids will develop reading skills through 15 mini books, each focusing on a different vowel sound that teaches by using games, songs, and videos. Each book features its own song to reinforce the vowel sound and each page offers kids the opportunity to read the sentence themselves, get help with pronunciation or have it read to them. (iOS, Android, Kindle Fire – $2.99)


Endless Alphabet

alphabetEndless Alphabet uses clever monsters to teach kids letters and build vocabulary through fun animations. A monster has a mouth full of words in alphabetical order and when kids select a word they hear how it sounds, get to put it back together using phonics and watch an animation of the word’s meaning. Kids work at their own pace and the app is “endless” because new words are constantly added. (iOS, Android, Kindle Fire, Windows – Free/$6.99)


Monkey Preschool Lunchbox

monkeyMonkey Preschool Lunchbox is a collection of seven games that teach kids colors, matching, counting, letters, and shapes by helping a cheeky monkey pack his lunch. The app is designed specifically for preschoolers so there are no confusing menus, making it easy for your child to play independently. Kids can earn stickers for winning a game and each game flows easily into the next. (iOS, Android – $1.99)


Drawing Pad

drawing-padDrawing Pad is an art studio in your hands. Kids use photo-realistic crayons, markers, paint brushes, colored pencils and other media to create one of a kind artwork. Kids can save their work and go back to edit or add to it later. The app features one-touch connectivity with Facebook and Twitter, so parents can show the world what their budding Picasso has created. (iOS, Android, Kindle Fire – $1.99)


Toca Lab

toca-labToca Lab introduces kids to science. Kids will love putting on their lab coat and safety goggles to play with the centrifuge, heat elements with a Bunsen Burner, or make them magnetic with the oscilloscope. The app introduces kids to the 118 elements of the periodic table by giving each element its own personality. (iOS, Android – $1.99)

Tracey Dowdy is a freelance writer based just outside Toronto, ON. After years working for non-profits and charities, she now freelances and researches on subjects from family and education to pop culture and trends in technology. Follow Tracey on Twitter.

Comments:

  1. Just to follow up on the update of this matter on your web site and would like to let you know how much I appreciated the time you took to publish this
    beneficial post. Within the post, you spoke regarding how to actually handle this challenge with all convenience.
    It would be my pleasure to get some more tips from your blog and come up to offer other people what I learned from you.
    Thank you for your usual terrific effort.

    Feel free to surf to my web page Spark Aura Serum Review

  2. I am extremely inspired together with your writing skills and
    also with the structure in your weblog. Is that this a paid subject matter or did
    you modify it yourself? Anyway keep up the nice quality writing, it’s rare
    to peer a nice weblog like this one these days.

    Feel free to visit my web page :: True Keto 1800 Reviews

  3. Some really nice and useful information on this internet site, too I conceive the
    style and design has good features.

    Feel free to surf to my site :: Xoth CBD

  4. I just couldn’t go away your website before suggesting that I actually loved the standard information a person supply for
    your guests? Is going to be again continuously to investigate cross-check new posts

    Also visit my web-site best belly busting

  5. I believe that is one of the most important info for me.
    And i’m satisfied studying your article. However want to statement on few normal issues, The web site taste is wonderful, the articles
    is in point of fact nice : D. Excellent process,
    cheers

    Here is my website … better sex life

  6. What’s Taking place i’m new to this, I stumbled
    upon this I have discovered It positively helpful
    and it has aided me out loads. I’m hoping to contribute & aid other customers like its aided me.
    Good job.

    My blog post – gaining muscle

  7. Why users still make use of to read news papers when in this technological world the whole
    thing is accessible on web?

  8. I am really impressed with your writing skills and also with the
    layout on your blog. Is this a paid theme or did you modify it
    yourself? Anyway keep up the excellent quality writing,
    it’s rare to see a nice blog like this one nowadays.

  9. Everyone loves what you guys are up too.
    Such clever work and coverage! Keep up the very good works guys I’ve incorporated
    you guys to blogroll.

    Feel free to visit my web blog: deposit pulsa

  10. Hello very cool website!! Man .. Beautiful ..

    Superb .. I will bookmark your web site and take the
    feeds additionally? I’m glad to find numerous helpful info here
    within the publish, we want develop extra techniques on this regard, thanks for sharing.
    . . . . .

    Feel free to visit my blog http://www.livebanteng.net

  11. I’m really enjoying the theme/design of your website. Do you
    ever run into any internet browser compatibility issues?

    A few of my blog readers have complained about my website not working correctly in Explorer but looks
    great in Chrome. Do you have any solutions to help fix this problem?

  12. You actually make it seem so easy together with your presentation but I find this matter
    to be actually one thing which I feel I would never understand.
    It kind of feels too complicated and extremely large for me.
    I’m looking forward for your next post, I’ll attempt to get
    the hold of it!

  13. Hey! Quick question that’s entirely off topic.
    Do you know how to make your site mobile friendly?
    My website looks weird when browsing from my iphone.
    I’m trying to find a theme or plugin that might be able
    to correct this problem. If you have any suggestions, please share.
    Cheers!

  14. Hello there! I know this is kinda off topic nevertheless I’d
    figured I’d ask. Would you be interested in exchanging links or maybe guest authoring a blog article
    or vice-versa? My site covers a lot of the same topics as yours and I believe we could greatly benefit
    from each other. If you’re interested feel free to send me
    an email. I look forward to hearing from you! Superb blog by the way!

  15. Hello there I am so thrilled I found your site, I really found you by mistake, while I was researching on Google for something else, Nonetheless I
    am here now and would just like to say thank
    you for a remarkable post and a all round enjoyable blog (I
    also love the theme/design), I don’t have time to read through it all at the minute but I have book-marked it and also included your RSS feeds, so
    when I have time I will be back to read a great deal more, Please do keep
    up the fantastic work.

  16. I was recommended this web site by means of my cousin.
    I am not positive whether this put up is written through him as no one
    else recognize such targeted approximately my trouble.
    You’re incredible! Thanks!

  17. Thank you for some other wonderful article. The place else may just anybody get
    that type of information in such an ideal means of writing?
    I have a presentation next week, and I’m at the look for such
    info.

  18. Do you have a spam issue on this blog; I also am a blogger, and I was wanting to know your situation; we have developed some nice practices and we are looking
    to trade methods with others, please shoot me an e-mail if interested.

  19. Greetings! Very helpful advice within this post! It’s the little changes that produce the biggest
    changes. Thanks for sharing!

  20. Hi, Neat post. There’s an issue together with your website in internet explorer, might test
    this? IE still is the market chief and a large portion of
    other folks will pass over your magnificent writing
    due to this problem.

  21. Good post. I learn something totally new and challenging on sites I stumbleupon on a daily basis.
    It will always be useful to read articles from other writers and
    use something from other sites.

  22. Hello, this weekend is good for me, as this moment i am reading this fantastic informative post here at my house.

  23. Hi, I do think this is a great blog. I stumbledupon it 😉 I may
    return yet again since I book marked it.
    Money and freedom is the best way to change, may you be rich and continue to help other people.

  24. obviously like your website but you have to test the spelling on several of your posts.

    A number of them are rife with spelling problems and I to find
    it very bothersome to inform the reality however I’ll surely come
    back again.

  25. I do agree with all of the ideas you have introduced for your post.
    They are really convincing and can certainly work.
    Nonetheless, the posts are very short for beginners.
    May just you please lengthen them a bit from subsequent time?
    Thanks for the post.

  26. Spot on with this write-up, I seriously believe that this web site needs
    far more attention. I’ll probably be back again to read more, thanks for the information!

  27. Excellent post. I used to be checking constantly this weblog and I’m inspired!
    Extremely helpful information particularly the ultimate section :
    ) I care for such information much. I was looking for
    this certain info for a long time. Thanks and best of luck.

  28. This design is steller! You obviously know how to keep a reader entertained.
    Between your wit and your videos, I was almost moved to
    start my own blog (well, almost…HaHa!) Great job.
    I really enjoyed what you had to say, and more than that, how you presented
    it. Too cool!

  29. obviously like your web site however you need to check the spelling on quite a few
    of your posts. A number of them are rife with spelling problems and I
    in finding it very troublesome to tell the reality
    nevertheless I’ll surely come back again.

  30. I don’t know if it’s just me or if perhaps everyone else encountering
    issues with your site. It looks like some of the text within your content are running off the screen. Can somebody
    else please comment and let me know if this is happening to
    them too? This might be a issue with my browser because
    I’ve had this happen previously. Thanks

  31. Greetings! I know this is kind of off topic but I was wondering which blog platform
    are you using for this site? I’m getting tired of WordPress
    because I’ve had issues with hackers and I’m looking at alternatives
    for another platform. I would be awesome if
    you could point me in the direction of a good platform.

  32. Hi just wanted to give you a quick heads up and let you know a few of the pictures aren’t loading properly.
    I’m not sure why but I think its a linking issue. I’ve tried it in two different web browsers and both show the same results.

  33. of course like your web-site but you have to test the spelling on several of your posts.
    Many of them are rife with spelling problems and I find
    it very troublesome to inform the truth on the other hand I’ll certainly come back again.

  34. I’m amazed, I must say. Seldom do I come across a blog that’s equally educative
    and engaging, and let me tell you, you’ve hit the
    nail on the head. The issue is something that too few men and women are speaking intelligently about.
    Now i’m very happy that I found this during
    my search for something concerning this.

  35. Undeniably believe that which you said. Your favorite reason seemed to be on the internet
    the easiest thing to be aware of. I say to you, I definitely get annoyed while people consider worries that they plainly don’t know about.

    You managed to hit the nail upon the top and also defined out the whole thing without having
    side effect , people can take a signal. Will probably be back to get more.

    Thanks

  36. After looking into a handful of the blog posts on your blog, I truly appreciate your technique of writing a blog.
    I saved as a favorite it to my bookmark website list and will be checking back soon. Take a
    look at my website too and let me know how you feel.

  37. Wow, superb blog layout! How long have you been blogging for?
    you make blogging look easy. The overall look of your
    website is fantastic, let alone the content!

  38. First off I want to say terrific blog! I had a quick question in which I’d like to ask if you
    do not mind. I was interested to find out how you center yourself and
    clear your thoughts prior to writing. I have had a difficult time clearing my mind in getting my thoughts out there.
    I do take pleasure in writing but it just seems like the first 10 to 15 minutes are wasted simply just trying to figure out how to begin. Any suggestions or tips?
    Appreciate it!

  39. Today, while I was at work, my sister stole my iphone and tested to see if it can survive a
    30 foot drop, just so she can be a youtube sensation. My iPad is
    now destroyed and she has 83 views. I know this is completely off topic but I had to share it with someone!

  40. Thank you for the auspicious writeup. It in fact was a amusement account it.
    Look advanced to more added agreeable from you!

    However, how could we communicate?

  41. Do you mind if I quote a couple of your articles as
    long as I provide credit and sources back to your blog?
    My website is in the very same niche as yours and my visitors would certainly benefit from a
    lot of the information you present here.
    Please let me know if this ok with you. Regards!

  42. Hello! This is kind of off topic but I need some advice from an established blog.
    Is it very difficult to set up your own blog? I’m not very techincal but I can figure things
    out pretty fast. I’m thinking about creating my
    own but I’m not sure where to begin. Do you have any points
    or suggestions? Cheers

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *