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Bookmark these fab educational games & apps (many of them are free!), plus online learning resources for kids from preschoolers to older kids for 2025
Looking for an engaging educational app that will satisfy your child’s desire for screen time and give them a fun learning boost? We are all for raising low-media kids, so we mostly reserve screen time for weekends.
But if the kids have had their fair share of exploring our green parks, playing outside in the playground and going to the library to stock up on books, you may be looking for extra educational fun. That’s why we’ve put together a list of online educational resources plus all the best learning apps for kids!
Psssst! If you are looking for live classes and private tutors, check out our Top Ranking Tuition Centre guide.
Note: The Ministry of Health has set guidelines on screen time for kids which you can view here. Hence, we recommend using this list at your discretion.
Jump to:
– Online Educational resources for kids
– Best Learning Apps for Toddlers
– Best Learning Apps for Preschoolers
– Best Learning Apps for Older Kids
Educational Games & Learning Apps for kids of all ages
Here’s our list of the best (mostly educational) learning apps for kids, categorised appropriately from toddlers to preschoolers to older kids too and why we love them as parents. Do note that the World Health Organization (WHO) is recommending children under age 5 spend one hour or less per day on digital devices and those under age 1 spend no time at all on digital devices.
Best Educational Games & Apps for Toddlers
Breathe, Think, Do with Sesame: Mindfulness games
Age appropriate: 3 and up
Why my kids like it: My littlest kid loves helping the monster take deep breaths, and problem solve plus there are calm breathing techniques and other encouraging ways to destress.
Why this parent likes it: We love this gentle app which gives kids tools to cope with problems. There’s even a parent section, with free resources for further advice. – Amy
App cost: Free!
Breathe, Think, Do with Sesame, available on Google Play and App Store
Dr Panda Series: Interactive games for kids
Age appropriate: 3 and up
Why my kids like it: Dr. Panda has so many games, from the airport game to the kitchen game but my daughter’s fave is the vet of course. And the daycare. She loves it cos she gets to do all the different steps to “achieve” the goal and then go to the next step. It’s just simple good fun!
Why this parent likes it: This app keeps my daughter engaged while I read a book on the plane. You can turn the music and sound effects off in the settings menu too for quiet play. – Nadia
App cost: Free!
Dr Panda Series, available on Google Play & App Store
The Very Hungry Caterpillar & Friends First Words: Educational game for literacy
Age appropriate: 2 and up
Why my kids like it: Any child who loves the Eric Carle classic will get something out of this learning app; from the time our daughter could point and swipe she enjoyed looking at the different animals (when you touch each one they make their respective sounds). As she’s gotten older she’s been able to respond to the instructions (“Touch here”, “Turn the page”, etc.)
Why this parent likes it: With calming music in the background and bright illustrations that bring the book to life, it’s as book-like and low-tech as apps can get. – Kate
Cost: US$3.99
The Very Hungry Caterpillar & Friends First Words, available on Google Play & App Store
Monkey Math School Sunshine: Math games for kids
Age appropriate: 3 and up
Why my kids like it: Very interactive and varied games covering topics such as shapes, number recognition, counting, patterns, addition, subtraction, comparisons, writing numbers, and recognising sets. For the prize when your kids answers something correctly they can choose a prize (fish, plants, and decorations) for their aquarium.
Why this parent likes it: Kids learn Maths while having fun! – Gemma
Cost: $6.99
Monkey Math School Sunshine, available on Google Play and App Store
Build a Truck – by Duck Duck Moose: Creative game for kids
Age appropriate: 3 and up
Why my kids like it: Kids get to design their own truck by selecting inventive parts with which to construct trucks, spray-paint and decorate and then they choose a race course, complete with obstacles.
Why this parent likes it: Great for strategic thinking and creativity. – Emilie
Cost: Free!
Build a Truck – by Duck Duck Moose, available on Google Play and App Store
Where’s My Water?: Physics-based puzzle game for kids
Age appropriate: 4 and up
Why my kids like it: This is a very clever game for little ones. The purpose of the game is to guide water to a shower by navigating through dirt through increasingly challenging scenarios!
Why this parent likes it: It’s fun plus each level is a challenging physics-based puzzle so I like that it’s educational too. – Emilie
Cost: Free!
Where’s My Water?, available on Google Play and App Store
Best Educational Apps for Preschoolers
Thinkrolls: Puzzle game for logical thinking
Age appropriate: 4 and up
Why my kids like it: This app has a great interface and really cute characters. Plus it’s easy to navigate and is a great puzzle game.
Why this parent likes it: Thinkrolls are the 26 smart characters in this award-winning app that is part physics platformer, part puzzle game for logical thinking. -Amy
Cost: $8.99
Thinkrolls, available on Google Play and App Store
Khan Academy Kids: Educational games for kids
Age appropriate: 2 to 7
Why my kids like it: The activities are fun and engaging — and seemingly endless. One minute she’s having a story read to her, the next she’s tracing letters, the next she’s practising sounds. And we’ve barely even scraped the surface on the math side of things!
Why this parent likes it: The curriculum seems thorough and covers topics including Math, Reading and Social-Emotional Learning. -Kate
Cost: Free!
Khan Academy Kids, www.khanacademy.org
Cut the Rope: Puzzle game for kids
Age appropriate: 5 and up
Why my kids like it: The games are problem-solving and challenging yet fun to play. Plus the little frog eating candies are super cute.
Why this parent likes it: If a game has an educational aim I feel better letting my kid have screen time. Cut the rope is a series of physics-based puzzle video games so that gets the green light from me. – Gemma
Cost: Free!
Cut the Rope, available on Google Play & App Store
Duolingo: Language games for kids
Age appropriate: 4 and up
Why my kids like it: They love the idea of learning a few words or sentences of a new language.
Why this parent likes it: This is a great vocab language app from basic to advanced levels and keeps the kids hooked on something educational and useful. My kids suddenly want to practice their Mandarin or learn French with this learning app! – Andrea
Cost: Free!
Duolingo, www.duolingo.com
ABCya: Educational games for kids
Age appropriate: 4 and up
Why my kids like it: ABCya’s educational games makes learning fun and interactive.
Why this parent likes it: “I can feel confident that the games are educational but fun too. Most of the time my boys don’t feel like they are doing work. We love the variety from reading, numbers and then just for fun games.” – Julia
Cost: Free with limited access. From $13.48 per month for full access.
ABCya, www.abcya.com
Best Educational Apps for Older Kids
Tinkercad: Coding games for kids
Age appropriate: 8 and up
Why my kids like it: Tinkercad offers kids a way into the editing world of 3D design, electronics, and coding.
Why this parent likes it: Tinkercad is a kid-friendly online computer-aided design (CAD) app that gets kids interested in CAD and engineering. Kids learn how to design, modify, and print 3D objects.
Cost: Free!
Tinkercad, available on Google Play and App Store
Typing Club: Typing games for kids
Age appropriate: 7 and up
Why my kids like it: This website teaches kids how to type using all fingers but also how to type faster. It is a gradual approach and has games in between levels to make it more fun.
Why this parent likes it: Free, easy to follow and teaches kids a skill they’ll all need. – Emilie
Cost: Free!
Typing Club, www.typingclub.com
Classic games turned into Apps like Scrabble: Word games for kids
Age appropriate: 7 +
Why my kids like it: These are great travel games for the whole family. We play the board games at home so the versions on the Apps just make it easy and portable. The App versions have options to play with another family member or solo versing the App.
Why this parent likes it: These are games I used to play with my brother or sister growing up. Just good old fashioned games that mum and dad can play too. – Andrea
Cost: Free!
Scrabble® GO-Classic Word Game, available on Google Play and App Store
Minecraft: Brain games for kids
Age appropriate: 9+
Why my kids like it: My son in particular loves this and tends to only play it when he goes on holiday as it can get quite addictive. He loves building his worlds using building blocks and resources. He is forever building houses and terrains for the family to live in. We each have our own room and pet!
Why this parent likes it: It doesn’t come with instructions, kids need to just figure out what to do by themselves. It encourages creativity in building, exploring and problem-solving. I would recommend being careful allowing kids to use a public server (as other players can create something potentially offensive that younger kids might come across online), but the game can be played solo too. – Andrea
Cost: Various options from $29.99
Minecraft, www.minecraft.net
Free online educational resources for kids
1. Audible: Audio stories for kids
If your family enjoys audiobooks, Audible has stories for kids of all ages (you can try it for free for a month).
2. Sesame Workshop’s Caring for Each Other: Mindfulness games for kids
Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit educational organization behind Sesame Street, is offering a variety of free resources through a new Caring for Each Other initiative. The resources aim to help parents manage anxiety, as well as help with fostering playful learning at home. Look out for new content featuring the Sesame Street Muppets sharing messages of love and kindness, and playful learning activities.
3. Go on a Virtual Field Trip: Virtual world exploration
Kids can still explore the world from your sofa! Go on a virtual trip around Yellowstone Natural Park in USA or why not take a peek into Buckingham Palace official residence of The Queen!
4. Free online virtual Museum visits: Virtual cultural experience
Take a free virtual tour of some of the world’s greatest museums and heritage sites thanks to Google Arts & Culture.
5. Lunch Doodles with Mo Willems: Free art lesson for kids
Lunch Doodles with Mo Willems leads kids through free drawing and writing sessions to learn how to illustrate some of his classic characters, such as that silly Pigeon, and Elephant and Piggie. Videos come with downloadable companion activities, too. Watch archived sessions here.
6. Scholastic Learn at Home: Free worksheets for kids
Scholastic Learn at Home provides a huge variety of activities and free resources segmented into different grades/age groups, from Pre-K up through Grade 9. There are also free teachable worksheets and activities for kids of all ages, including lots of opportunities to read the e-book versions of Scholastic classics. We like that new content is being introduced on a weekly basis, too.
7. Seneca: Free revision content for GCSE & A-Levels
Seneca offers free revision content, best for older kids revising at GCSE or A level. Paid access needed for higher level material.
Educational Videos and Radio online:
Ed.ted.com
Cbeebies Radio
Thekidshouldseethis.com
Crash Course Kids
More free learning websites resources and games:
www.2simple.com
www.oxfordowl.co.uk/for-home
www.highlightskids.com
www.starfall.com
www.abcya.com
www.funbrain.com
www.e-learningforkids.org
www.twinkl.co.uk
Maths Learning Online resources:
www.freemathapp.org
www.mathgametime.com
www.splashlearn.com
www.coolmath4kids.com
Literacy Learning Online resources:
www.uniteforliteracy.com
www.britishcouncil.org/school-resources/find
Science & Geography Learning Online resources:
www.backpacksciences.com
www.kids.nationalgeographic.com
www.mysteryscience.com
www.world-geography-games.com/world.html
www.sciencekids.co.nz
Online learning and award schemes:
www.crestawards.org
www.idea.org.uk
www.Pawprint Family.com
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