Q: Any recommendation for educational mobile app for kid?

When choosing an effective educational app for your child, it is important to remember that anyone can make a game that is colorful and fun and call it educational. If you are not sure whether or not an app is appropriate in helping your child actually learn, consider these 4 things:

1. Does the app involve active problem solving and thinking skills?

Some “educational” apps simply present your child with a video or a simple, repetitive asks (like swiping letters or numbers). Unfortunately, these activities are not stimulating your child’s thought processes or the learning centers of their brains. Look for apps that require your child to think about responses or courses of action.

2. Is the app task focused?

Think of an application that reads stories to your child: the stories are often emphasized with music and animation and very little is focused on comprehending the story being told. Choose an app that presents simple and focused activities and information.

3. Does the app require meaningful use of information?

Learning through rote or repetition early in life is important and effective in future learning, but continuously teaching children this way is not beneficial. For example, apps that teach the phonetic application of letters is more effective than one that teaches the ABC song.

4. Does the app involve social interaction?

I know that giving your child an educational app is a great way to keep them distracted – they are learning while you are getting stuff done. However, learning cannot happen solely through the use of the app. If you want your child to truly benefit from these applications, it is important to sit with them and interact with them. Ask questions about the app or help them solve puzzles.