Educational Apps for Toddlers that Foster Learning and Fun

Toddlers love exploring and learning through play, and educational apps can be a great way to foster this curiosity. ABCmouse, for example, offers a comprehensive curriculum that covers reading, math, science, and art, tailored to a child's age and skill level.

Many educational apps for toddlers are designed to be both fun and educational, making learning a seamless experience. ABCmouse, for instance, has a vast library of interactive games and activities that keep kids engaged.

Toddlers are naturally drawn to bright colors and engaging sounds, which is why apps like PBS Kids Video are so effective at capturing their attention. With a vast collection of popular children's shows, kids can learn while watching their favorite characters.

These apps are designed to be easy to use, even for young children, making them perfect for parents and caregivers who want to encourage learning at home.

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Toddlers love playing games, and educational apps can be a great way to make learning fun. Little Stars Toddler Games asks toddlers to find the correct letter or shape, earning virtual stickers for correct answers.

Many educational apps are designed for toddlers and are available for download on various platforms. Lingokids, for example, is a play-based learning app that offers over a thousand activities around core subjects like mathematics and reading, plus emotional learning touchpoints.

Some educational apps are free, while others require a subscription or purchase. ABC Mouse, for instance, offers a free trial month, then costs $15/month or $45/year.

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Lingo is a vital part of a toddler's language development, and there are many educational apps that can help.

Lingokids is a great option, offering a free trial week and then a subscription-based model for $16/month or $75/year. It's available on Android, iOS, and Amazon, and doesn't require Wi-Fi after download.

This app is designed for toddlers through second graders and features over a thousand activities around core subjects like math and reading, as well as emotional learning touchpoints.

The characters and lessons are engaging, with one mom saying her daughter loves them as much as those from a favorite TV show or movie.

Lingokids is an excellent choice for parents looking for a comprehensive and interactive learning experience for their child.

Daniel Tiger's Feelings is a fantastic app that helps toddlers understand and manage their emotions. It's available on Android, iOS, Amazon, and Windows devices.

The app features games, sing-alongs, art exercises, and a "feelings photo-booth" that lets kids take pictures of themselves to better understand expressions. This is a great way to encourage self-awareness and self-regulation.

Kids can also practice calming down with Daniel Tiger, using techniques like a squeeze and a deep breath or counting to four. This can be a lifesaver on tantrum-filled days.

Daniel Tiger's Feelings is suitable for kids aged 2 to 5, and it's a great way to introduce emotional intelligence at a young age. The app is also very affordable, costing just $3 to download.

One of the best things about this app is that it can be used offline, so you don't need a Wi-Fi connection to play. This makes it perfect for car rides or travel.

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The Sesame Workshop apps are a great choice for toddlers, teaching math concepts in a fun and interactive way. Elmo Loves 123s is a favorite, covering numbers 1 through 20 with games, videos, and activities like number tracing and basic addition and subtraction.

Elmo Calls is another great option, allowing toddlers to receive video or audio calls, or voicemail, from Elmo. This can be a great way to help toddlers practice their communication skills.

Elmo Loves 123s is a great app for teaching math concepts to toddlers, covering numbers 1 through 20 with activities like number tracing, counting, and basic addition and subtraction.

This app is perfect for young learners because it's colorful, interactive, and easy to follow, making math fun and engaging.

Elmo Loves 123s is part of the Sesame Workshop apps, which are all great for helping kids learn various skills, from letters to using the potty.

The app is also a great way to introduce basic math concepts in a fun and interactive way that kids will love.

The Sesame Workshop apps are all highly recommended by parents for their effectiveness and entertainment value.

Toca Boca Jr is a free-play app that lets little ones prepare food and feed a friendly monster. This app is perfect for kids who love imaginative play and exploring different roles.

The app is great for beginners, and its free-play format allows kids to learn at their own pace.

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To ensure your toddler's safety while using educational apps, it's essential to check the app's rating and reviews on the Apple or Google Play store. Consider how much information the app is requesting from you and whether it feels necessary.

When evaluating an app's features, look for personalized learning plans or features that let multiple kids track their progress at the same time. Some apps offer fun games to keep your kids entertained, but be cautious of apps that may be too low or too high of a level for your child.

To avoid unnecessary frustration and get the most benefit out of each app experience, pay close attention to age recommendations. Here are some key things to consider when testing and choosing educational apps for your toddler:

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children ages 2 to 5 have no more than one hour of screen time per day.

The AAP discourages media use for babies under 18 months, except for video chatting with relatives. It's essential to introduce screen time in a way that's interactive and engaging, with a parent present to ensure it's not a solitary play experience.

High-quality programs like PBS Kids and Sesame Street are not linked with developmental delays or behavior problems. They can be a great way to keep your child occupied while also learning something new.

If you need to exceed the recommended one hour of screen time, make sure the extra time is spent on a high-quality show. This way, you can ensure your child's screen time remains educational and positive.

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We've tested nearly 50 popular kids' apps over the last five years. Our team has a thorough approach to evaluating these apps.

We try out apps with our consumer panel to get a firsthand look at how they work. We also gather feedback from our staff parents who have kids. This helps us understand how real parents use these apps.

We look at a variety of factors when evaluating an app, including how easy it is for a toddler to understand. We also consider whether parents think the app is worth its price.

Our team has decades of experience writing lifestyle content and evaluating home and parenting products. This expertise helps us make informed decisions about which apps are worth recommending.

When selecting apps for toddlers, it's essential to consider their safety. Parents can check the app's rating and reviews on the Apple or Google Play store, and look over the permissions list and app description before downloading.

The age recommendation of an app is crucial to avoid unnecessary frustration for both you and your child. Make sure they're logged in at an appropriate level to get the most benefit out of each app experience.

Many apps offer personalized learning plans or include features that let multiple kids track their progress at the same time. Others simply offer fun games to keep your kids entertained.

Engagement is key to a good app. If your kid isn't excited to hop on and spend time learning new things, then it's not worth keeping it on your device.

Here are some key considerations to keep in mind:

Interactive apps are best for toddlers, as they're responsive to the child's tapping or swiping on the screen. This can be simple, like turning a page, or repetitive, like popping bubbles.

Parents should stay involved in the play, ideally in the same room as the child, and occasionally check in on what they're seeing. This allows the parent to monitor the app's quality and redirect the child if necessary.

Co-viewing an app with your toddler is helpful, just like reading a book together. Ask questions that connect the dots between what they're seeing on the screen and their real-life experiences, like "Oh, there are flowers in that garden, like the flowers we saw in the park yesterday."

Using screens with toddlers requires some thought and planning. The American Academy of Pediatrics discourages media use for babies under 18 months, except for video chatting with relatives.

For toddlers older than 18 months, it's essential to choose interactive and engaging apps that encourage learning and exploration. A parent should always be present to comment on the experience and ensure it's not a solitary play experience.

Introducing a phone or tablet app to a toddler can be a great way to encourage learning and development, as long as it's done thoughtfully and with parental involvement.

Interactive apps are the way to go when it comes to engaging toddlers and young children. Dr. Radesky recommends apps that are responsive to the child's tapping or swiping on the screen, making it a "minds-on" play experience.

These apps can be simple, like turning a page or touching words on an e-book, or more complex, like composing music or solving multi-step puzzles. Dr. Radesky's own patients have played apps where they tap or swipe to remove barriers that allow water or slime to move down an obstacle course.

Parents should stay involved in the play by being in the same room as the child and occasionally checking in on what they're seeing. This allows parents to monitor what the child is playing and redirect them to another app if necessary.

Co-viewing an app with your child is a great way to engage with them and ask questions that connect the dots between what they're seeing on the screen and their real-life experiences. Dr. Radesky suggests asking questions like, "Oh, there are flowers in that garden, like the flowers we saw in the park yesterday."

Dr. Radesky prefers specific apps over YouTube because they offer more balanced and positive experiences, especially for educational purposes. She notes that YouTube's algorithm recommends content that's trendy and attention-grabbing, but can also introduce unexpected content that parents need to monitor.

PBS Kids Games is a free app with over 250 games themed around popular shows, and it's available on various platforms including Android, iOS, and Amazon. The app is frequently updated with new games, but some may be too hard for 2-year-olds to follow.

You can find games suitable for 2-year-olds in the "grownups" tab, where you can click on characters to access games that start at age 2. Another option is Baby Games, which is a simple set of baby games created by a dad, featuring interactive entertainment like balloon-popping and playing virtual instruments.

Some other notable learning tools include Fish School, which features colorful little fish that create different shapes, numbers, and letters for toddlers to identify, and Basic Skills Preschool, which offers 14 interactive games to learn basic skills like counting, numbers, colors, and letters.

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Toddlers can learn and have fun with creative play using free apps like the one that lets kids adopt adorable pets and practice caring for them. There are more than 30 pets to choose from, plus hours of creative games and activities.

This app is available for download from both the Apple App Store and Google Play. You can also check in with your child as they play to help them develop their problem-solving skills.

For a more educational experience, consider apps like Hungry Caterpillar Play School, which introduces preschoolers to basic math, problem-solving, and science through Montessori-inspired games.

The Hungry Caterpillar Play School app is a great way to introduce preschoolers to educational themes, with Montessori-inspired games that tackle basic math, problem-solving, and science. These games are designed to be engaging and interactive, with beautiful animations that bring Eric Carle's characters to life.

If you're looking for a more comprehensive problem-solving experience, the Basic Skills Preschool app offers 14 different interactive games that cover a range of skills, including basic shapes, counting, numbers, colors, letters, and more. This all-in-one app is a great way to keep your toddler engaged and learning on the go.

Toddlers can develop their problem-solving skills by playing interactive games that challenge them to think critically and come up with creative solutions. For example, the Baby Games app features five games that help toddlers strategize, learn first words, practice basics like colors and animal names, and even create their own music.

Here are some problem-solving skills apps that are suitable for toddlers:

By providing your toddler with these types of interactive games and apps, you can help them develop the problem-solving skills they need to succeed in preschool and beyond.

Some free learning tools are available for download on various devices, including Android, iOS, and Amazon. These apps can be a great way to keep your little ones learning without breaking the bank.

PBS Kids Games is a free app that offers over 250 games themed around popular shows, which can be played offline after download.

For parents with multiple children, Homer Learn & Grow offers a free trial month, followed by a subscription-based model, and allows for customization of learning for each child.

Another option is Baby Games, which features five games to help toddlers learn and develop important skills.

The PBS Kids Games app also has a "grownups" tab that allows you to filter games by age, so you can find ones suitable for your 2-year-old.

Hungry Caterpillar Play School is another free app that offers a range of educational games and activities, although some content requires a subscription.

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Toddlers can also enjoy the free Baby Games app on their Kindle Fire or other Amazon device, which features interactive games like balloon-popping and playing virtual instruments.

These free learning tools can be a great way to introduce your child to new concepts and skills, and can be a fun way to spend quality time together.

The Khan Academy Kids app offers mini lessons in reading, writing, math, and social-emotional skills for toddlers.

This app is free, with no subscription fee or ads, and is constantly updated with new educational content.

You can create a personalized learning path for your child, with lessons getting harder as they progress and master new skills.

The app also has hundreds of games and lessons to help kids get an early education in math, reading, phonics, writing, and social-emotional development.

PBS Games are a great way to keep kids entertained and learning. You can download the PBS Kids Games app for free on various platforms, including Android, iOS, Amazon, and Windows.

The app offers over 250 games based on popular PBS shows, which can be played without Wi-Fi once downloaded. It's a favorite among parents, who appreciate the frequent updates with new games.

However, some games may be too challenging for younger kids, with a 2-year-old needing help to follow. Fortunately, the app has a "grownups" tab that allows you to filter games by age.

Another great option is the PBS Kids app, which has a section called "Kodi's Stuicase" that offers games that can be played offline. This is perfect for kids who don't always have access to Wi-Fi.

Khan Academy Kids is also an excellent choice, offering hundreds of games and lessons to help kids learn math, reading, and social-emotional skills.

PBS Videos is a great way to keep kids entertained and learning. This app provides tons of free educational video content for kids.

You can easily find videos that fit your child's age and interests, making it a perfect option for busy parents.

For preschoolers, it's essential to find apps that are both fun and educational.

The Endless series is a great option, with apps like Endless Alphabet and Endless Reader helping kids learn the basics of reading and language. These apps are interactive and engaging, making learning a fun experience for little ones.

If you're looking for a comprehensive educational app, ABCmouse Early Learning Academy is a great choice. It offers over 8,500 interactive activities across multiple subjects, including math, reading, science, and art.

Other great options for preschoolers include Moose Math, which features 5 math activities, and the Smart Baby Sorter 2, which is a puzzle and sorting game geared towards younger kids.

Here are some top picks for educational apps for preschoolers:

These apps are all highly rated and can be a great addition to your child's educational routine.