Kids' Learning Apps That Put the Learning Before the Ads
In most kids' apps, an ad shows up before your child learns anything. Here are six simple learning apps we made, plus similar apps worth a look.
Hand a child a learning app and, more often than not, an ad pops up before they’ve learned anything. That’s the part that puts many parents off: the screen time is meant to be for learning, and the ads get there first.
I make small apps for kids, so I’ll say it plainly: the six apps below are ours. They started as things I built for my daughter, and they have a few things in common: simple, useful content to learn from, and ads that stay out of the way. I’ve added a few similar apps from other developers under each one, so you can compare.
Kannada Alphabet (Aksharamale)
Kannada is our native language. In many parts of the world, English is taking over, and kids are losing touch with their native language. It’s slipping out of a lot of children’s daily lives, and this Aksharamale app is an easy way to bring it back if you are a Kannadiga. This one is built to help kids learn the Kannada alphabet, and it’s the only app of ours with no ads at all. I am so glad that so many parents have downloaded this app and trust it, and I’m glad it has helped many kids.
Get it on Google Play. If you want more Kannada apps and content, visit Kannada Prapancha. If you want to compare, Learn Kannada Akshara by Kabett is another Kannada alphabet app with tracing and sounds.
Xylophone
A simple xylophone that lets kids tap the screen and make music(or pure noise :) sometimes), play along with songs, and practise music. It’s Teacher Approved on Google Play and has crossed 50k downloads. There’s nothing to figure out, which is exactly why small children go back to it. I built this for my daughter, who just enjoys bashing my phone and making music. Now her younger sister has also joined the band and creates music.
Get it on Google Play. Similar options: My 1st Xylophone and Piano lets kids play children’s songs on either instrument, and Kids Musical Instruments by Lucas & Friends covers a wider set of instruments for babies and toddlers.
ABC Flashcards
Flashcards for learning the alphabet, built for kids to learn and explore at their own pace. My daughter was initially hesitant to speak in her Montessori, and I don’t blame her, nor was I worried. But I created this app so she could hear some words, get confident in school, and respond to her teachers’ questions.
Get it on Google Play. Similar options: ABC Flashcards Games PRO is another straightforward way to learn the English alphabet, and ABC Learners Kids Flash Cards adds words, numbers, and colours.
Guess the Dash
Daily word puzzles that build spelling and vocabulary. It’s Teacher Approved on Google Play. It hasn’t found many players yet though. I suspect the name doesn’t make clear what it’s for. But these are some fun, silly questions that young minds should be able to think about and answer, so it’s fun. When your kids are bored, hand them this app and let them think, learn and have fun.
Get it on Google Play. Similar options: Word Search for Kids builds vocabulary through word searches, and Spelling Bee: Spelling Quiz suits older kids who like spelling.
Country Flags
In school, my daughter had a class where they learnt about the Indian flag, and she got curious. She started asking me how many flags there are, which countries have them, and what their designs are. I got tired of showing them on Google, so I built an app for her to learn about flags.
Flags, countries, and a few facts about each. A quiet way to learn some geography, and a good fit for kids who like atlases.
Get it on Google Play. Similar options: Flags of All World Countries is a well-known option, and Flag Quiz: Countries & Capitals is a daily puzzle that works offline.
Match This
A simple matching activity that builds memory and recognition. Honestly, this is the one that hasn’t taken off. Very few people have downloaded it, probably for the same reason as Guess the Dash: the name doesn’t say what it teaches.
Get it on Google Play. If matching activities are what you’re after, Matching Games for Kids ABC covers letters, numbers, shapes, colours, and animals.
A word on ads
Kannada Alphabet has no ads. The others do have ads, but since my kids use them on a daily basis, I know how annoying it would be. So I have kept the ads to a bare minimum and unobtrusive, not an ad on every tap, which is what I’d want for my own child. Whichever app you pick, check its Play Store listing first, because ratings, ads, and descriptions change.