Occasionally I get asked about what app I can recommend installing on a tablet for kids. I do not recommend apps, but I usually tell them what apps we install on our kids’ tablets. There are so many great apps out there, paid, and free for children of every age level. It is up to the parent to choose which one to pick that will work for their child. At the time of this post, my kids are 3 and 8 years old.
My 3 years old has a Samsung tablet and here are the apps we installed on his tablet.
- Khan Academy Kids
We like this app because it has books, videos, and lessons that are curated for children based on their age group. The interface is very easy to use and navigate. Our 3-year-old son knows where to go in the app if he wants to learn his ABC or want to learn his numbers. Our daughter loved the app when she was the same age as him.
If you want to learn more about this app and how to support khan academy, here is the link to their website. https://learn.khanacademy.org/khan-academy-kids/ - PBS Kids Video
We like this app because of the shows that are kid-friendly and at the same time adult friendly. Shows that we can watch with our kids together. Shows like Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Sesame Street, Curious George, and many more.
If you want to learn more about this app and how to support PBS Kids, here is the link to their website. https://pbskids.org/apps/pbs-kids-video.html - PBS Kids Games
If you want to learn more about this app and how to support PBS Kids, here is the link to their website. https://pbskids.org/apps/pbs-kids-games.html - YouTube Kids
We like this app because it is the kid-friendly version of youtube. You can customize and filter content based on age and you can monitor what they are watching. There are a lot of good youtube content providers out there that are educational and entertaining like Blippi, GoNoodle, Alphablocks, and Monica J Sutton. However, you still need to check the shows and make sure it is appropriate or in line with your content standards. With so many content providers on this platform, we find that some post videos and content that we find inappropriate.
If you want to learn more about this app, here is the link to their website. https://www.youtube.com/intl/ALL_us/kids/ - Disney Now
This app is free to download but you will need to sign in to your TV providers, like Verizon or Cox Cable to view select content.
If you want to learn more about this app, here is the link to their website. https://disneynow.com/apps - Nick Jr.
This app is free to download but you will need to sign in to your TV providers, like Verizon or Cox Cable to view select content.
If you want to learn more about this app, here is the link to their website. https://www.nickjr.com/ - Incredibox
I have this app on my phone. It is an app that lets you create music by dragging and dropping beatboxer characters. This is an app that our children can play with without an internet connection. It is very entertaining and they have different versions that will get them pretty occupied when traveling.
If you want to learn more about this app, here is the link to their website. https://www.incredibox.com/demo/ - Bible for Kids
We like this app because it helps us introduce to our children the stories of the bible. You can download the story so they can use the app without an internet connection. This works well if you are traveling and don’t have an internet connection.
If you want to learn more about this app, here is the link to their website. https://www.bible.com/kids - Pokemon Quest
This is a game that we enjoy playing. Collecting pokemon and comparing our pokemon.
If you want to learn more about this app, here is the link to their website. https://pokemonquest.pokemon.com/en-us/
My 8 years old has an iPad and here are the apps we installed on her tablet.
- Khan Academy Kids
- PBS Kids Video
- PBS Kids Games
- YouTube Kids
- Disney Now
- Nick Jr.
- Incredibox
- Bible for Kids
- Pokemon Quest
Regardless of what app you install on your child’s tablet, you need to make sure to set up some type of parental control. Set an approval process when your kids try to install new apps on their devices. Almost all of the apps listed here will need a parent to set up the right age level for the content. What do you think of our list? Do you have apps that you use that you want to share with us?