15 games to keep your kids entertained

Children are able to use and understand technology at an early age. They know how to operate smartphones and tablets correctly and get into their favorite apps before they can speak. There are a sea of apps available for every platform, but not all of them are appropriate for children. We have compiled a list of apps for kids, some are silly games while others are educational, but all of them are completely child-safe and fun.

Many of these apps come with in-app purchases. If your children don’t understand that they are paying with real money every time they tap one of these, it can cause real problems. Before handing a phone or tablet over to a kid, make sure they don’t know the password for your account, and that they need to ask before they click. You can also avoid any mishaps by following our guides to turn off in-app purchases in iOS or disable in-app purchases in Android.

Games

Super Why! ($1 for Android, $3 for iOS)

The Super Why! app features characters from the popular PBS show by the same name to help kids with reading and writing skills. It features three games that are led by different characters. Kids can help Alpha Pig follow the alphabet path to create words, Princess Presto lays out words kids can trace with their fingers to learn how to write, and Wonder Red teachers children how to find words that rhyme. The app also includes interactive storybooks where kids are instructed to plug in the correct words to complete sentences.

Monkey Preschool Lunchbox ($2)

One of several Monkey games, Monkey Preschool Lunchbox teaches preschoolers about shapes, counting, puzzles, and colors. Whenever he opens his lunchbox a new lesson comes out. The monkey asks for help in finding all the green fruit, grabbing only eight strawberries, or finding the fruit that starts with the right letter. You can’t lose points for messing up, so wrong guesses become part of the learning process instead of something scary. The bright colors and monkey mascot make it engaging for young kids, and the controls are easy for anyone to learn quickly.

Moonbeeps: Fireflies ($1 for Android, $3 for iOS)

Moonbeeps: Fireflies is a beautiful game that allows kids to discover luminous fireflies buzzing about the forest. The game is quite simple really — kids just need to catch fireflies and add them to their collection. You must tap a firefly to catch it, but it’s far more difficult than it sounds. There are four different fireflies to catch, each of which comes in a different color. You can also mix colors by catching different fireflies, and you can even tap on your screen rhythmically and the fireflies will tap back. The app features music from The Polyphonic Spree’s latest album, Psychophonic.

Cut the Rope (free)

An alien named Om Nom has come to earth and all he wants to do is eat candy. It’s up to your kids to figure out what ropes to cut and what bubbles to pop to get the candy to the creature with the least amount of moves. Cut the Rope is geared toward older kids because it is a puzzle game but it does force the player to problem solve and think critically. Two skills that are useful at any age. Each level is a little harder than the last and it is easy to become frustrated. There are a few different versions of this game including a sequel, Cut the Rope 2, Cut the Rope: Experiments, and Cut the Rope: Time Travel, so the fun can keep going even after you’ve completed all the levels on the original.

Angry Birds (free)

Shapes Toddler Preschool (free)

This app gets kids ready for preschool with puzzles and games involving shapes, colors, numbers, and letters. The app is laid out so that a young child can click around without getting out of the game or ending up at a menu, and the controls are easy enough for anyone to use. There are four ways to play but all of them are educational, and should help with development. Shapes Toddler Preschool features over 30 categories, which include shapes, colors, money, symbols, colors, and numbers. The game has puzzles, games, and flashcards to make learning easy.

Endless Alphabet (free Android, $7 for iOS)

Endless Alphabet is a unique, interactive, educational app that teaches kids their ABCs. The app uses adorable, colorful monsters to teach kids the alphabet and build their vocabulary. There are more than 50 words to explore and learn, each of which features an interactive puzzle with talking letters and short animations designed to illustrate the definition. Endless Alphabet is a fun and engaging way to teach your kids the alphabet without any pressures or limitations. The app allows kids to learn at their own pace, without any stress or pressure.

Rosetta Stone Kids (free)

Rosetta Stone Kids Lingo Letter Sounds is a fun, educational app that teaches preschoolers how to read and speak. This game is perfect for parents looking to teach their child more than one language, as the Rosetta Stone app reinforces English reading skills while simultaneously introducing Spanish. The app casts the child as a savior for trapped toys. Kids have to speak Spanish to control the actions of different characters on screen, matching the correct starting letter sound to release each toy. It’s a clever way to get them interested in speaking Spanish.

GazziliScience ($2)

Science can be a tough subject for some kids, but GazziliScience makes it easy and fun. There are six different areas of the game, each with a different aspect of science to learn. Different characters take kids through lessons about plants, seasons, water cycles, and more. Kids can plant a seed, watch the roots grow, and see the transformation into trees and flowers. Watch how the rotation of the earth changes the seasons and go under the sea to learn about the wildlife. The app has a lot of content, but the actions are repetitive, so there is a possibility children will outgrow the games. Each time a kid completes a lesson, they unlock another portion of the GazziliScience Fun Page, an interactive menu in which kids can get stickers and touch on-screen objects to make them move, talk, or dance.

Ubooly (free)

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