{"id":6988,"date":"2015-03-07T20:45:19","date_gmt":"2015-03-08T03:45:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/?p=6988"},"modified":"2024-01-14T08:11:10","modified_gmt":"2024-01-14T14:11:10","slug":"best-educational-apps-for-kids","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/best-educational-apps-for-kids\/","title":{"rendered":"7 Brain Food Games: The Best Educational Apps for Kids"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"meta-desc\">Inside: Playing the best educational apps for kids will engage your kid&rsquo;s brain, instead of turning it to mush. Plus, your kid will have fun while they&rsquo;re learning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A few months ago, we noticed that after our 7-year-old spent any significant amount of time on the iPad, she turned into a zombie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But that wasn&rsquo;t the <strong>worst<\/strong> part.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After playing &ldquo;educational&rdquo; apps for kids, she couldn&rsquo;t answer the most basic of math problems. It&rsquo;s like her brain stopped working.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I did some research and discovered the phenomenon wasn&rsquo;t just my imagination, so we implemented a <a title=\"A Simple Trick to Limit Screen Time &ndash; And Get a Happier Kid, Too\" href=\"https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/2015\/01\/limit-screen-time-kids-and-technology\/\">simple trick to limit screen time<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Our little trick is still working well, months later. <strong>Not only<\/strong> has it helped her mood when she does have screen time, but she&rsquo;s asking for the iPad less and less.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After I shared our <a title=\"A Simple Trick to Limit Screen Time &ndash; And Get a Happier Kid, Too\" href=\"https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/2015\/01\/limit-screen-time-kids-and-technology\/\">Brain Food vs. Junk Food trick<\/a>, a lot of parents wrote to tell me they tried it&hellip;and it worked for them, too. SCORE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But they had another question I wasn&rsquo;t expecting.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.kb-table-of-content-nav.kb-table-of-content-id6988_c566d0-ba .kb-table-of-content-wrap{padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.kb-table-of-content-nav.kb-table-of-content-id6988_c566d0-ba .kb-table-of-contents-title-wrap{padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.kb-table-of-content-nav.kb-table-of-content-id6988_c566d0-ba .kb-table-of-contents-title{font-weight:regular;font-style:normal;text-transform:uppercase;}.kb-table-of-content-nav.kb-table-of-content-id6988_c566d0-ba .kb-table-of-content-wrap .kb-table-of-content-list{font-weight:regular;font-style:normal;margin-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px;}<\/style>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-real-question\">The Real Question<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Most parents wanted to know: &ldquo;What are your favorite Brain Food apps for kids?&rdquo;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And I totally get why.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Because anytime we&rsquo;ve gone in search of a new kids&rsquo; app for the phone or tablet, we&rsquo;ve been completely <strong>overwhelmed<\/strong> by the options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I typically search in iTunes for something like &ldquo;math game,&rdquo; read the reviews for a handful of apps, and get frustrated because nothing stands out as a clear winner. I&rsquo;ll either give up and install nothing &ndash; or install an app with mixed reviews because I&rsquo;m tired of searching.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A classic case of <a title=\"How to be Happier and More Productive by Avoiding Decision Fatigue\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.bufferapp.com\/are-you-too-tired-to-make-good-decisions-the-rise-of-decision-fatigue\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">decision overload<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>We&rsquo;re conditioned to think that more choice is always a good thing, but in the past few years, studies have discovered something called <strong>decision fatigue<\/strong>. The research helps explain why decisions are so much harder at the end of a work day and why we&rsquo;re tempted by the candy in the checkout lane after a marathon grocery trip.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>Maybe it seems silly to put so much weight on which app to install for your kid to zone out on, but we couldn&rsquo;t deny the <strong>difference<\/strong> in my child&rsquo;s attitude and mental state after playing a <a title=\"A Simple Trick to Limit Screen Time &ndash; And Get a Happier Kid, Too\" href=\"https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/2015\/01\/limit-screen-time-kids-and-technology\/\">Brain Food app versus a Junk Food app<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you&rsquo;re looking for the best educational apps for your kids, let me save you from decision overload by sharing what I&rsquo;ve learned. Maybe it will even save you from the temptation of candy in the checkout lane. (Instead, I recommend an entirely intentional and therefore entirely healthy purchase of a sinful ice cream flavor you&rsquo;ve never tried before.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Related: <a title=\"A Simple Trick to Limit Screen Time &ndash; And Get a Happier Kid, Too\" href=\"https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/2015\/01\/limit-screen-time-kids-and-technology\/\">A Simple Trick to Limit Screen Time &ndash; And Get a Happier Kid, Too<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignwide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/best-educational-apps-for-kids-ice-cream.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"428\" src=\"https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/best-educational-apps-for-kids-ice-cream.jpg\" alt=\"Save yourself the hassle of searching for the best educational apps for your kids - eat ice cream instead\" class=\"wp-image-6998\" srcset=\"https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/best-educational-apps-for-kids-ice-cream.jpg 640w, https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/best-educational-apps-for-kids-ice-cream-300x201.jpg 300w, https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/best-educational-apps-for-kids-ice-cream-437x292.jpg 437w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/best-educational-apps-for-kids-ice-cream.jpg\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Photo by <a href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/donnieray\/14581168505\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Donnie Ray Jones<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-learn-from-my-mistakes\">Learn From My Mistakes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Over the years, we&rsquo;ve installed hundreds of kids&rsquo; apps &ndash; and uninstalled the ones that turned out to be horrible, which was <em>most<\/em> of them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But a handful of phone and tablet apps have proven to be high-quality, educational, and fun games for our little ones to play.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Plus, you remember the zombie effect after our 7-year-old is on the iPad for a while? When she sticks to these Brain Food apps, the zombie effect is <strong>nonexistent<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And I think <a title=\"Can Your Preschooler Learn Anything From an iPad App?\" href=\"http:\/\/www.slate.com\/articles\/technology\/future_tense\/2012\/05\/interactive_screen_time_for_kids_do_educational_ipad_apps_teach_toddlers_anything_.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">this is the reason why<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>Child development specialists say young children <strong>learn best<\/strong> when they are fully engaged and imbued with a feeling of control. They encourage parents to seek out more open-ended games and toys in which children could explore and create at their own pace. Yet at the moment, not many apps are built with this approach in mind. A recent Australian study showed that only 2 percent of &ldquo;education&rdquo; apps in the iTunes Store allow for open-ended discovery and exploration.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>Playing these Brain Food apps will engage your kid&rsquo;s brain, instead of turning it to mush.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignwide\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/pouting-kid-happy.jpg\" alt=\"Our kid gives these educational games a big thumbs up!\" class=\"wp-image-5401\" srcset=\"https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/pouting-kid-happy.jpg 600w, https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/pouting-kid-happy-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/pouting-kid-happy-438x292.jpg 438w, https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/pouting-kid-happy-200x133.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/pouting-kid-happy.jpg\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Photo by <a href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/amandasphotographs\/4606737272\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Amanda Bowman<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-7-best-educational-apps-for-kids\">7 Best Educational Apps for Kids<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>My husband and I are a big fan of these apps. In fact, we&rsquo;ve been known to sit next to our child and play them with her. (Especially number 3! That&rsquo;s a fun one to play with the whole family.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But it&rsquo;s not just us parents who love these learning games. I reviewed the list with my child, and they all have her <strong>enthusiastic<\/strong> seal of approval.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>First, a few caveats about this list of best apps for kids:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>These are Brain Food apps, meaning they&rsquo;ll force your kid to <strong>use her brain<\/strong>. So the first time she sits down to play them, I recommend sitting next to her and watching for when she gets stuck so you can help. Otherwise, you risk her getting frustrated and <a title=\"What to Do When Your Kid Gives Up\" href=\"https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/2014\/11\/kid-gives-up\/\">giving up<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>This roundup is geared toward elementary-aged kids because most of the apps assume a basic comfort level with reading. (Later, maybe I&rsquo;ll share another roundup of educational apps for preschoolers.)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>These are high-quality apps, so <strong>most<\/strong> of them aren&rsquo;t free. In my experience, the majority of the free apps for kids we&rsquo;ve downloaded have been buggy, boring, or closer to the <a title=\"A Simple Trick to Limit Screen Time &ndash; And Get a Happier Kid, Too\" href=\"https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/2015\/01\/limit-screen-time-kids-and-technology\/\">Junk Food category<\/a> &ndash; or all three. In the category of educational games for kids, it seems that you generally get what you pay for.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Just in case you&rsquo;ve already got these or they aren&rsquo;t exactly what you&rsquo;re looking for, check out <em>3 Secrets to Finding Awesome Apps for Your Kids<\/em> at the end of this post for tips on how to select a good quality educational app.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Now, onto the Brain Food!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1-flow-free\">1. <a title=\"Download for iPad\" href=\"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/app\/flow-free\/id526641427?mt=8&amp;uo=4&amp;at=10l5G8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Flow Free<\/a><sup>&dagger;<\/sup><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"meta-desc\"><sup>&dagger;<\/sup> This site is reader-supported. When you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright\"><a href=\"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/app\/flow-free\/id526641427?mt=8&amp;uo=4&amp;at=10l5G8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"270\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/best-educational-apps-for-kids-flow-free.jpg\" alt=\"Flow Free\" class=\"wp-image-7001\" srcset=\"https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/best-educational-apps-for-kids-flow-free.jpg 270w, https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/best-educational-apps-for-kids-flow-free-169x300.jpg 169w, https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/best-educational-apps-for-kids-flow-free-164x292.jpg 164w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 270px) 100vw, 270px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/best-educational-apps-for-kids-flow-free.jpg\"><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>This puzzle game starts out simple and gets increasingly more challenging as you move up each level. To solve the puzzles, you have to use spatial reasoning and think ahead a few moves &ndash; kind of like chess.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You may even find yourself borrowing this game to play on your own. It&rsquo;s <strong>super<\/strong> addictive!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Quick heads up: <a title=\"Download for iPad\" href=\"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/app\/flow-free\/id526641427?mt=8&amp;uo=4&amp;at=10l5G8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Flow Free<\/a> gives you more than 1,000 free levels, with the option to get additional levels through in-app purchases. If you haven&rsquo;t talked to your child about how to handle in-app purchases, be sure to do that before getting him set up with this game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Download: <a href=\"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/app\/flow-free\/id526641427?mt=8&amp;uo=4&amp;at=10l5G8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">iPhone<\/a> | <a title=\"Download for iPad\" href=\"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/app\/flow-free\/id526641427?mt=8&amp;uo=4&amp;at=10l5G8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">iPad<\/a> | <a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B008JGSM6G\/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=B008JGSM6G&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=idealmom-20&amp;linkId=LO7HPS563C5OMZIK\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Android<\/a> | <a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B008JGSM6G\/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=B008JGSM6G&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=idealmom-20&amp;linkId=LO7HPS563C5OMZIK\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Kindle Fire<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. <a title=\"Download for iPad\" href=\"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/app\/spelltower\/id476500832?mt=8&amp;uo=4&amp;at=10l5G8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">SpellTower<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This is my personal favorite when it comes to word game apps, and I&rsquo;ve tried a lot. With five different modes, <a title=\"Download for iPad\" href=\"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/app\/spelltower\/id476500832?mt=8&amp;uo=4&amp;at=10l5G8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">SpellTower<\/a> is great for a wide range of ages. Kids can start out in the no-pressure beginning &ldquo;tower&rdquo; mode and move up if they need more of a challenge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>My daughter was playing this word game even <strong>before<\/strong> she could read independently, picking out the sight words she already knew. She also loved just trying to make words and see what worked &ndash; a fun way for a beginning reader to play with language.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/app\/spelltower\/id476500832?mt=8&amp;uo=4&amp;at=10l5G8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"535\" height=\"465\" src=\"https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/best-educational-apps-for-kids-spelltower.jpg\" alt=\"SpellTower\" class=\"wp-image-7004\" srcset=\"https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/best-educational-apps-for-kids-spelltower.jpg 535w, https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/best-educational-apps-for-kids-spelltower-300x261.jpg 300w, https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/best-educational-apps-for-kids-spelltower-336x292.jpg 336w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 535px) 100vw, 535px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/best-educational-apps-for-kids-spelltower.jpg\"><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Download: <a href=\"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/app\/spelltower\/id476500832?mt=8&amp;uo=4&amp;at=10l5G8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">iPhone<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/app\/spelltower\/id476500832?mt=8&amp;uo=4&amp;at=10l5G8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">iPad<\/a> | <a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B00BM7DV6K\/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=B00BM7DV6K&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=idealmom-20&amp;linkId=3FBBIAWI6PCXLCIC\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Android<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. <a title=\"Download for iPad\" href=\"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/app\/stack-the-states\/id381342267?mt=8&amp;uo=4&amp;at=10l5G8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Stack the States<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright\"><a href=\"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/app\/stack-the-states\/id381342267?mt=8&amp;uo=4&amp;at=10l5G8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"245\" height=\"435\" src=\"https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/best-educational-apps-for-kids-stack-the-states.jpg\" alt=\"Stack the States\" class=\"wp-image-7006\" srcset=\"https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/best-educational-apps-for-kids-stack-the-states.jpg 245w, https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/best-educational-apps-for-kids-stack-the-states-169x300.jpg 169w, https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/best-educational-apps-for-kids-stack-the-states-164x292.jpg 164w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 245px) 100vw, 245px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/best-educational-apps-for-kids-stack-the-states.jpg\"><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>This U.S. geography trivia game is a family favorite. Over the holidays, we had our extended family hooked on it, too! (For world geography, check out <a href=\"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/app\/stack-the-countries\/id407838198?mt=8&amp;uo=4&amp;at=10l5G8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Stack the Countries<\/a>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In <a href=\"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/app\/stack-the-states\/id381342267?mt=8&amp;uo=4&amp;at=10l5G8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Stack the States<\/a>, for each trivia question you get right, you earn a state to stack on a platform.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The goal is to stack states until you reach the goal line &ndash; without all the states toppling over. In another mode, you fill in all the states on a blank U.S. map.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Note: There is a <a href=\"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/app\/stack-the-states-lite\/id390058619?mt=8&amp;uo=4&amp;at=10l5G8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">free version<\/a> you can download to try first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Download: <a href=\"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/app\/stack-the-states\/id381342267?mt=8&amp;uo=4&amp;at=10l5G8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">iPhone<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/app\/stack-the-states\/id381342267?mt=8&amp;uo=4&amp;at=10l5G8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">iPad<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. <a title=\"Download for iPad\" href=\"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/app\/drawing-pad\/id358207332?mt=8&amp;uo=4&amp;at=10l5G8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Drawing Pad<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Sure, making art is fun for kids. But it&rsquo;s also an <strong>important<\/strong> activity for a growing brain. Creating art builds <a title=\"Top 10 skills children learn from the arts\" href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/blogs\/answer-sheet\/wp\/2013\/01\/22\/top-10-skills-children-learn-from-the-arts\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">creative thinking skills<\/a>, <a title=\"Arts and Smarts\" href=\"http:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/article\/item\/arts_smarts\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">focus<\/a>, and even a child&rsquo;s <a title=\"Arts and Smarts\" href=\"http:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/article\/item\/arts_smarts\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">ability to empathize<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When you don&rsquo;t have time to pull out the messy art supplies, or you&rsquo;re not at home, <a href=\"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/app\/drawing-pad\/id358207332?mt=8&amp;uo=4&amp;at=10l5G8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Drawing Pad<\/a> is a great app that gets your child creating and expressing herself through art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Download: <a href=\"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/app\/drawing-pad\/id358207332?mt=8&amp;uo=4&amp;at=10l5G8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">iPad<\/a> | <a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B004WGGQPQ\/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=B004WGGQPQ&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=idealmom-20&amp;linkId=RF6D2MCTOCKJCQLO\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Android<\/a> | <a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B004WGGQPQ\/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=B004WGGQPQ&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=idealmom-20&amp;linkId=RF6D2MCTOCKJCQLO\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Kindle Fire<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. <a title=\"Download for iPad\" href=\"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/app\/monster-physics\/id505046678?mt=8&amp;uo=4&amp;at=10l5G8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Monster Physics<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This is our 7-year-old&rsquo;s current favorite. In one mode of this science game for kids, you get a mission to solve by building a contraption. You have different building materials, and it takes some trial and error as you refine your design to accomplish the task at hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Which is exactly what I love <strong>most<\/strong> about <a href=\"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/app\/monster-physics\/id505046678?mt=8&amp;uo=4&amp;at=10l5G8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Monster Physics<\/a>. It encourages &ndash; even requires &ndash; the attitude of <a title=\"What to Do When Your Kid Gives Up\" href=\"https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/2014\/11\/kid-gives-up\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">try, try again<\/a>. Not to mention the app teaches your kid basic physics concepts like speed, velocity, mass, and density.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/app\/monster-physics\/id505046678?mt=8&amp;uo=4&amp;at=10l5G8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"520\" height=\"293\" src=\"https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/best-educational-apps-for-kids-monster-physics.jpg\" alt=\"Monster Physics\" class=\"wp-image-7009\" srcset=\"https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/best-educational-apps-for-kids-monster-physics.jpg 520w, https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/best-educational-apps-for-kids-monster-physics-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/best-educational-apps-for-kids-monster-physics-518x292.jpg 518w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 520px) 100vw, 520px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/best-educational-apps-for-kids-monster-physics.jpg\"><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Note: You can try before you buy with this <a href=\"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/app\/monster-physics-lite\/id525417784?mt=8&amp;uo=4&amp;at=10l5G8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">free version<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Download: <a href=\"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/app\/monster-physics\/id505046678?mt=8&amp;uo=4&amp;at=10l5G8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">iPhone<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/app\/monster-physics\/id505046678?mt=8&amp;uo=4&amp;at=10l5G8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">iPad<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">6. <a title=\"Download for iPad\" href=\"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/app\/google-earth\/id293622097?mt=8&amp;uo=4&amp;at=10l5G8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google Earth<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Using satellite images from around the world, this app gives your child the opportunity to explore the world without ever leaving home. Start by zooming in to your home address, then search for famous landmarks your kid has heard of.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/app\/google-earth\/id293622097?mt=8&amp;uo=4&amp;at=10l5G8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"568\" height=\"320\" src=\"https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/best-educational-apps-for-kids-google-earth.jpg\" alt=\"Google Earth\" class=\"wp-image-7011\" srcset=\"https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/best-educational-apps-for-kids-google-earth.jpg 568w, https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/best-educational-apps-for-kids-google-earth-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/best-educational-apps-for-kids-google-earth-518x292.jpg 518w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 568px) 100vw, 568px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/best-educational-apps-for-kids-google-earth.jpg\"><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>The open-ended nature of <a href=\"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/app\/google-earth\/id293622097?mt=8&amp;uo=4&amp;at=10l5G8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google Earth<\/a> is what makes it such a powerful learning tool, but you may find that it works best if you give your kid nudges to keep exploring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are a few ideas:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Pick a favorite picture <strong>book you&rsquo;ve read<\/strong> together or a chapter book your kid is reading, and ask him what city, state, and\/or country the story is set in. After he looks that up, ask him to think about any places or landmarks mentioned in the story. If you need some ideas for books with a strong geographical setting, check out <a href=\"http:\/\/www.notimeforflashcards.com\/2010\/09\/books-to-check-on-a-map.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Books to Check on a Map<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Print a <a title=\"How Your Kids Can Have a Global Scavenger Hunt Without Leaving Home\" href=\"http:\/\/www.mykidsadventures.com\/global-scavenger-hunt\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">scavenger hunt sheet<\/a> and have your child fill out a <strong>travel journal<\/strong> of the places she &ldquo;visits.&rdquo;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Do you have a <strong>vacation<\/strong> planned? Your child can explore where you&rsquo;ll be visiting, as well as the path along the way to get there.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Download: <a href=\"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/app\/google-earth\/id293622097?mt=8&amp;uo=4&amp;at=10l5G8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">iPhone<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/app\/google-earth\/id293622097?mt=8&amp;uo=4&amp;at=10l5G8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">iPad<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/apps\/details?id=com.google.earth&amp;hl=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Android<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">7. <a title=\"Download for iPad\" href=\"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/app\/dragonbox-algebra-5+\/id522069155?mt=8&amp;uo=4&amp;at=10l5G8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">DragonBox Algebra 5+<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>I actually regret buying this app&hellip;individually. You can buy the <a href=\"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/app-bundle\/dragonbox-family-pack\/id928410442?mt=8&amp;uo=4&amp;at=10l5G8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">family pack<\/a> of the DragonBox apps and save money compared to if you buy them individually.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/app\/dragonbox-algebra-5+\/id522069155?mt=8&amp;uo=4&amp;at=10l5G8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">DragonBox Algebra 5+<\/a> is so well made and is the perfect combination of fun and educational, so I know we&rsquo;ll be buying their other apps in the future. This math app for kids teaches the basic concepts of algebraic equations as you solve increasingly more challenging problems. It&rsquo;s a great workout for my daughter&rsquo;s brain, and she has a blast at the same time!<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/app\/dragonbox-algebra-5+\/id522069155?mt=8&amp;uo=4&amp;at=10l5G8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"520\" height=\"293\" src=\"https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/best-educational-apps-for-kids-dragonbox.jpg\" alt=\"DragonBox Algebra 5+\" class=\"wp-image-7013\" srcset=\"https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/best-educational-apps-for-kids-dragonbox.jpg 520w, https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/best-educational-apps-for-kids-dragonbox-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/best-educational-apps-for-kids-dragonbox-518x292.jpg 518w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 520px) 100vw, 520px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/best-educational-apps-for-kids-dragonbox.jpg\"><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Download: <a href=\"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/app\/dragonbox-algebra-5+\/id522069155?mt=8&amp;uo=4&amp;at=10l5G8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">iPhone<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/app\/dragonbox-algebra-5+\/id522069155?mt=8&amp;uo=4&amp;at=10l5G8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">iPad<\/a> | <a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B008ZCWFEE\/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=B008ZCWFEE&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=idealmom-20&amp;linkId=AIO2MPUJISRV3U5A\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Android<\/a> | <a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B008ZCWFEE\/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=B008ZCWFEE&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=idealmom-20&amp;linkId=AIO2MPUJISRV3U5A\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Kindle Fire<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3 Secrets to Finding Awesome Apps for Your Kids<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>But what if you&rsquo;ve already tried those educational apps and you&rsquo;re looking for something fresh?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Use these tips to find the <strong>best<\/strong> apps for your kids. Junk Food apps need not apply!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Use Common Sense<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>No, not your own common sense. This <a href=\"https:\/\/www.commonsensemedia.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Common Sense<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This nonprofit group helps parents make smart media choices for their kids. Their searchable library of ratings and reviews for apps is an absolute <strong>goldmine<\/strong>. Not to mention the ratings and reviews for movies, games, TV shows, websites, books, and music, too! Their ratings are conducted by experts and are not influenced by the media creators or by the group&rsquo;s funders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When you&rsquo;re searching for new apps, you can start with one of their <a title=\"Best apps: Our recommendations for families\" href=\"https:\/\/www.commonsensemedia.org\/app-lists\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">age-specific lists of the best kids&rsquo; apps<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Or you can search their huge <a href=\"https:\/\/www.commonsensemedia.org\/learning-ratings\/reviews\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">database of reviews<\/a> for educational apps and games.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For each app, Common Sense tells you:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Which age range the app is best for<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The quality of the app, using a 5-star rating<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The educational value of the app, using a 5-point system<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Which skills kids will learn<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How easy the app is to play<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>And a ton more, plus reviews from real parents like you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As just one example, check out the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.commonsensemedia.org\/app-reviews\/monster-physics\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">review of Monster Physics<\/a>, which made our list of <a title=\"7 Brain Food Games: The Best Educational Apps for Kids\" href=\"https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/best-educational-apps-for-kids\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">7 best educational apps for kids<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the same vein, you can also check out the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.ala.org\/aasl\/standards\/best\/apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">best apps list from the American Library Association<\/a> or apps that have won <a href=\"http:\/\/www.parents-choice.org\/award.cfm?thePage=mobile&amp;p_code=p_sof\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Parent&rsquo;s Choice awards<\/a>. Their selection criteria doesn&rsquo;t seem as extensive as the Common Sense evaluation, so I would still look up each app you&rsquo;re evaluating in Common Sense to make sure it&rsquo;s high-quality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignwide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/apps-for-kids-caution.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"478\" data-pin-id=\"128000814385481638\" data-pin-description=\"When your kid plays high-quality educational apps, you`ll see a HUGE difference in their attitude after screen time. Check out these 3 tips for picking out the best tablet and phone apps for your kids!\" src=\"https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/apps-for-kids-caution.jpg\" alt=\"Watch out for These Apps for Kids\" class=\"wp-image-7333\" srcset=\"https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/apps-for-kids-caution.jpg 640w, https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/apps-for-kids-caution-260x195.jpg 260w, https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/apps-for-kids-caution-300x224.jpg 300w, https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/apps-for-kids-caution-391x292.jpg 391w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/apps-for-kids-caution.jpg\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Photo by <a href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/cogdog\/5753710309\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Alan Levine<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Beware of These Apps<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Free apps are a marvelous thing for a family on a budget.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But sometimes you get what you pay for. It seems like most of the free apps for kids we&rsquo;ve downloaded have been buggy, boring, or closer to the <a title=\"A Simple Trick to Limit Screen Time &ndash; And Get a Happier Kid, Too\" href=\"https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/limit-screen-time-kids-and-technology\/\">Junk Food category<\/a> &ndash; or all three.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Let&rsquo;s say you luck out and happen to find a well-made free app. Does this sound <strong>familiar<\/strong>? Your kid plays it for a few minutes, then comes up asking you to buy another app or an add-on for the free app. Because the &ldquo;free&rdquo; app you downloaded was just a high-quality ploy to <a title=\"6 Tips for Buying Children's Apps\" href=\"http:\/\/www.pbs.org\/parents\/childrenandmedia\/article-6-tips-for-buying-children%27s-apps.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">get your kid to nag you<\/a> to buy stuff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In-app purchases are the WORST.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When you&rsquo;re evaluating a free app for your kids, take it for a test run yourself for a few minutes to make sure it&rsquo;s not going to lead to your kid <a title=\"A Simple Trick to Run Errands With No Whining From Your Kids\" href=\"https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/run-errands-no-whining\/\">begging for more stuff<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then to be on the safe side, <a title=\"How to turn off in-app purchases\" href=\"http:\/\/www.telegraph.co.uk\/technology\/mobile-phones\/9800299\/How-to-turn-off-in-app-purchases.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">follow these steps<\/a> to turn off in-app purchases on your kid&rsquo;s device.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignwide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/apps-for-kids-driving.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" data-pin-id=\"128000814385481638\" data-pin-description=\"When your kid plays high-quality educational apps, you`ll see a HUGE difference in their attitude after screen time. Check out these 3 tips for picking out the best tablet and phone apps for your kids!\" src=\"https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/apps-for-kids-driving.jpg\" alt=\"The Best Apps for Kids Put Your Kid in the Driver's Seat\" class=\"wp-image-7335\" srcset=\"https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/apps-for-kids-driving.jpg 640w, https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/apps-for-kids-driving-550x413.jpg 550w, https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/apps-for-kids-driving-350x263.jpg 350w, https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/apps-for-kids-driving-260x195.jpg 260w, https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/apps-for-kids-driving-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/apps-for-kids-driving-389x292.jpg 389w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/apps-for-kids-driving.jpg\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Photo by <a href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/boedker\/1212170500\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Mads B&oslash;dker<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Pay Attention to Who&rsquo;s in Charge<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Does the app put your child in the driver&rsquo;s seat, or does it lead them through a rigid, pre-determined path?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The answer to that question matters <a title=\"Can Your Preschooler Learn Anything From an iPad App?\" href=\"http:\/\/www.slate.com\/articles\/technology\/future_tense\/2012\/05\/interactive_screen_time_for_kids_do_educational_ipad_apps_teach_toddlers_anything_.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">because<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>&ldquo;Child development specialists say young children learn best when they are fully engaged and imbued with a feeling of control. They encourage parents to seek out more open-ended games and toys in which children could explore and create at their own pace. Yet at the moment, not many apps are built with this approach in mind.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>Let&rsquo;s back up and think about it from your kid&rsquo;s point of view. <strong>Imagine<\/strong> that she&rsquo;s sitting in class and the teacher&rsquo;s going through a lesson on all the different geographic shapes. But your kid already KNOWS all the shapes, so she&rsquo;s bored out of her skull. You can&rsquo;t hit fast forward on the teacher.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Or let&rsquo;s say your kid doesn&rsquo;t know all the shapes yet, and the teacher&rsquo;s going too fast through the material. Your child can&rsquo;t keep up, and that&rsquo;s frustrating. So she checks out mentally and ends up not learning anything new.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is also what happens when an app doesn&rsquo;t let a child play at their own pace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When you&rsquo;re reading reviews at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.commonsensemedia.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Common Sense<\/a> or in the app store, look for comments about pace or how much the user is in control. If an app lets your child play at her own pace, that&rsquo;s the one you want!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">More Lists of Educational Apps for Kids<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Need more ideas? Check out these lists:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.forbes.com\/pictures\/fhjg45elfe\/dragonbox-6\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">7 Great Educational Apps and Games<\/a> (Forbes)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/lifehacker.com\/the-best-educational-apps-and-games-for-kids-1302569890\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">The Best Educational Apps and Games for Kids<\/a> (Lifehacker)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Want More?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If your kid needs a little more balance in the screen time department, check out <a title=\"A Simple Trick to Limit Screen Time &ndash; And Get a Happier Kid, Too\" href=\"https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/2015\/01\/limit-screen-time-kids-and-technology\/\">A Simple Trick to Limit Screen Time &ndash; And Get a Happier Kid, Too<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<h6 class=\"wp-block-heading after-entry-cta\" id=\"h-before-you-go-get-my-free-cheat-sheet-75-nbsp-positive-phrases-every-child-needs-to-hear\">Before you go, get my FREE cheat sheet: <a href=\"#get-printable-positive-words\" class=\"modal-trigger\">75&nbsp;Positive Phrases Every Child Needs to Hear<\/a><\/h6>\n\n\n<style>#kt-modal19878_ef407f-13 .kt-blocks-modal-link{color:var(--global-palette2, #2B6CB0);border-radius:0px;font-size:16px;line-height:24px;border-width:0px 0px 0px 0px;padding:0px 0px 0px 0px;margin:0px 0px 0px 0px;}#kt-modal19878_ef407f-13 .kt-blocks-modal-link:hover, #kt-modal19878_ef407f-13 .kt-blocks-modal-link:focus{color:#f96d60;}#kt-modal19878_ef407f-13 .kt-modal-overlay, #kt-target-modal19878_ef407f-13 .kt-modal-overlay, .kb-modal-content19878_ef407f-13 .kt-modal-overlay{background:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.6);}#kt-modal19878_ef407f-13 .kt-modal-overlay, #kt-target-modal19878_ef407f-13 .kt-modal-overlay, .kb-modal-content19878_ef407f-13 .kt-modal-overlay{-ms-flex-pack:center;justify-content:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;}#kt-modal19878_ef407f-13 .kt-modal-container, #kt-target-modal19878_ef407f-13 .kt-modal-container, .kb-modal-content19878_ef407f-13 .kt-modal-container{width:100%;max-width:700px;-ms-flex-pack:flex-start;justify-content:flex-start;text-align:left;-ms-flex-align:flex-start;align-items:flex-start;}#kt-modal19878_ef407f-13 .kt-modal-container, #kt-target-modal19878_ef407f-13 .kt-modal-container, .kb-modal-content19878_ef407f-13 .kt-modal-container{padding-top:30px;padding-right:30px;padding-bottom:30px;padding-left:30px;margin-top:10px;margin-right:10px;margin-bottom:10px;margin-left:10px;}#kt-modal19878_ef407f-13 .kt-modal-container, #kt-target-modal19878_ef407f-13 .kt-modal-container, .kb-modal-content19878_ef407f-13 .kt-modal-container{background:var(--global-palette9, #ffffff);border-top-left-radius:3px;border-top-right-radius:3px;border-bottom-right-radius:3px;border-bottom-left-radius:3px;border-top:0px solid var(--global-palette3, #1A202C);border-right:0px solid var(--global-palette3, #1A202C);border-bottom:0px solid var(--global-palette3, #1A202C);border-left:0px solid var(--global-palette3, #1A202C);}#kt-modal19878_ef407f-13 .kt-modal-close svg, #kt-target-modal19878_ef407f-13 .kt-modal-close svg, .kb-modal-content19878_ef407f-13 .kt-modal-close svg{width:24px;height:24px;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){#kt-modal19878_ef407f-13 .kt-modal-container, #kt-target-modal19878_ef407f-13 .kt-modal-container, .kb-modal-content19878_ef407f-13 .kt-modal-container{width:100%;border-top:0px solid var(--global-palette3, #1A202C);border-right:0px solid var(--global-palette3, #1A202C);border-bottom:0px solid var(--global-palette3, #1A202C);border-left:0px solid var(--global-palette3, #1A202C);}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){#kt-modal19878_ef407f-13 .kt-modal-close svg, #kt-target-modal19878_ef407f-13 .kt-modal-close svg, .kb-modal-content19878_ef407f-13 .kt-modal-close svg{width:24px;height:24px;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){#kt-modal19878_ef407f-13 .kt-modal-container, #kt-target-modal19878_ef407f-13 .kt-modal-container, .kb-modal-content19878_ef407f-13 .kt-modal-container{width:100%;border-top:0px solid var(--global-palette3, #1A202C);border-right:0px solid var(--global-palette3, #1A202C);border-bottom:0px solid var(--global-palette3, #1A202C);border-left:0px solid var(--global-palette3, #1A202C);}#kt-modal19878_ef407f-13 .kt-modal-close svg, #kt-target-modal19878_ef407f-13 .kt-modal-close svg, .kb-modal-content19878_ef407f-13 .kt-modal-close svg{width:24px;height:24px;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-modal aligncenter kt-modal-linkalign-center\" id=\"kt-modal19878_ef407f-13\"><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Your Turn<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>What&rsquo;s your favorite educational app for kids? Share your pick in a comment below!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Inside: Playing the best educational apps for kids will engage your kid&rsquo;s brain, instead of turning it to mush. Plus, your kid will have fun while they&rsquo;re learning. A few months ago, we noticed that after our 7-year-old spent any significant amount of time on the iPad, she turned into a zombie. But that wasn&rsquo;t&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":7018,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6988","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-parenting-tips"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v25.0 (Yoast SEO v25.0) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>7 Brain Food Games: The Best Educational Apps for Kids<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Playing the best educational apps for kids will engage your kid\u2019s brain, instead of turning it to mush. 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