Best Toddler Apps
Apps for toddlers that focus on continuous learning and exploration with pretend play can help your child build fine motor skills. Toddlers learn the most from simple apps that are engaging and interactive. These apps for 2 year olds and 3 year olds will keep your toddler busy while it teaches letters, colors, shapes, and numbers.
But many parents worry about which apps are appropriate for their toddler and whether or not they should be getting screen time at all. If your child is between 2 and 5, screen time should be limited to no more than one hour per day of high-quality content. It can be difficult to figure out which toddler apps are worth downloading — let alone deciding which are free and safe app for your toddler.
Our on-staff parenting experts tested dozens of apps with their children to find the best toddler apps to download. There are some free apps on this list that will keep your toddler busy.
Looking for ways to entertain and educate your little one? We've rounded up both recent and tried-and-tested apps that your toddler will adore. Here is the list of the fun learning apps for toddlers to keep them entertained.
Best Apps for Toddlers
1. Smart Tales - Learning Games
Smart Tales is a fun and entertaining app to introduce young toddlers to STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) for young children. It has interactive stories that teach children about STEM topics and make them think.
Smart Tales includes more than 50 book-like adventures. Each one has different interactive challenges and adventures to enjoy. The app is one of the best educational apps for toddlers and it is free on iPhone, iPad and Android devices.
Our Rating: 5 / 5
Cost: 7-day free trial with monthly and annual options
Devices: iOS, Android
Download for iOS Download for Android
2. Toddler Games for Boys & Girls
Toddler Games for Boys & Girls is a learning game for toddlers that teaches them how to sort and arrange things by color and shape. It also has activities that show them different animals and what they eat. The app helps young children learn how things have different features that can be used to group and organize them.
Our Rating: 4 / 5
Cost: Free with in-app purchases
Devices: iOS, Android
Download for iOS Download for Android Download on Amazon
3. Keiki Learning games for Kids
Keiki is a fun and educational game for toddlers that has hundreds of mini-games on different topics. It teaches them about letters, words and phonics with its colorful and attractive activities. It also has games that two players can play together and activities that let them be creative. The app has parental control settings that keep your toddler inside the app. All the games are made and tested by experts on child development.
Our Rating: 5 / 5
Cost: 7-day free trial with monthly and annual options
Devices: iOS, Android
4. ABCMouse
ABCmouse is a learning app for toddlers that has stories, quizzes, games, and videos on different subjects. It helps kids learn about reading, math, science, and art. The app has a Toddler Time section that has all the resources for toddlers in one place. It has games, books that are read aloud, coloring pages, songs, and simple puzzles. It also has a music video section that has nursery rhymes and educational songs with cartoon videos.
Our Rating: 4 / 5
Cost: Free for 30 days, then subscriptions start at $10/month
Devices: iPhone, iPad, Android, Web browsers
Download for iOS Download for Android
5. PBS KIDS Games
PBS Kids Games is a fun and friendly game for toddlers and kids that has a safe playing environment. The app has nearly 200 learning games for kids that you can download and play offline anytime, anywhere. You can choose from different games that you like and play them at home or on the road. The app has free educational games for toddlers with their favorite PBS Kids characters. The app is for kids as young as two years old and it teaches them math, science, and literacy with fun games that they love to play.
Our Rating: 5 / 5
Cost: Free with no ads
Devices: iOS, Android
Download for iOS Download for Android
Related: Best apps for kids | Preschool Apps
6. Monkey Preschool Lunchbox
Monkey Preschool Lunchbox is a fun toddler app that has 5 mini games on different topics. The games teach toddlers about letters, counting, differences, and matching. Toddlers have to help the monkey do the activities, which are repeated to help them remember and learn. The app helps them learn early science and math skills in a colorful and fun way.
Our Rating: 4 / 5
Cost: Free with in-app purchases
Devices: iOS, Android
7. KidloLand Kids Toddler Games
KidloLand Kids Toddler Games is an award-winning app for toddlers that has games, songs, stories, nursery rhymes, and activities on different subjects. It helps kids learn about math, reading, writing, coding, and more.
The app has popular nursery rhymes like Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, Mary had a little Lamb, Old MacDonald, and more. It also has 400+ educational activities for toddlers that teach them sorting, counting, and spelling. Your toddler will love the stories, such as early reading stories, bedtime stories, fables, and animal stories.
Our Rating: 5 / 5
Cost: Free, but offers in-app purchases with no ads
Devices: iOS, Android
Download for iOS Download for Android
8. Toddler Flashcards
Toddler flashcards learning tool for toddlers that helps them learn basic words with pictures, sounds, and written words. The app has high-quality images, sounds, and words from native speakers. The app teaches toddlers words from 12 topics, such as farm animals, wildlife, fruits, vegetables, food, and more.
Our Rating: 4 / 5
Cost: Free with in-app purchases
Devices: Android
9. Lego Duplo World
Lego Duplo World is a fun and creative game for toddlers that lets them play with Lego Duplo blocks and figurines. The app has different packs that feature world animals, rescue adventures, and more. The app has mini-games that let toddlers build structures, play with figurines, and explore the scenes.
The app teaches toddlers about numbers, colors, shapes, and more. The app also helps toddlers develop skills such as impulse control, working memory, and problem-solving.
Our Rating: 4 / 5
Cost: Free with in-app purchases
Devices: iOS, Android
Download for iOS Download for Android
10. Toddler Learning Games
The app is a learning game for toddlers that helps them explore and play with different topics. The app has games, activities, and resources that are made by educational experts and parents to help children improve their early developmental skills.
The app has games that are creative and fun and let children pretend to play. The app has new games every month that are good for learning and exploring by themselves. The app teaches children about numbers, ABC, shapes, and more.
Our Rating: 5 / 5
Cost: Free with in-app purchases
Devices: iPhone, iPad
11. Baby Games for One Year Olds
Baby Games for one year olds is a fun and educational app that helps your little ones develop their skills with technology. They will learn how to tap on the screen, follow moving objects, and match objects with their actions and choices. The app also introduces them to the basic concepts of numbers, colours, shapes and letters through small and engaging games.
Our Rating: 4 / 5
Cost: Free with in-app purchases
Devices: iOS
Related: Best Baby Games for iPad and Android
12. Epic!
Epic! is a free reading app for toddlers that offers a huge library of over 40,000 children's books. It has a read-to-me feature that helps your little ones listen to the stories and learn to read along. You can access the app on any device and enjoy reading with your kids during bedtime or travel.
Our Rating: 5 / 5
Cost: 7-day free trial with subscription options after
Devices: iOS, Android
13. Baby piano for toddlers
Baby piano is a music game for toddlers that lets your little ones explore their musical talents and learn new sounds. They can play the piano and hear the sounds of different animals, vehicles and more. This toddler game for girls and boys helps them develop their creativity, ear for music, hand-eye coordination, fine motor and attention skills.
Our Rating: 4 / 5
Cost: Free with in-app purchases
Devices: iOS, Android
Download for iOS Download for Android
14. Dr. Panda Town
Dr. Panda Town is a delightful role-playing app for toddlers in 30 different locations. Your child will enjoy discovering the world with 35 colorful and diverse characters. Dr. Panda Town app is ideal for younger children who like to explore and have fun adventures with different characters. This app is all about free play, with no scores or points, just a creative and open world for kids to design their own city.
Our Rating: 4 / 5
Cost: Free with in-app purchases
Devices: iOS, Android
Download for iOS Download for Android
15. Toca Boca
Toca Boca games are suitable for kids aged 2 and above. They let your kids enjoy various activities like cooking, pet care, doctor visits, hairstyling, and even chemistry. They have bright colors and great sounds that make the games more engaging. For the little ones, you can try a role-playing app like Toca Doctor or a simple app like hairstyling. And as they grow, your kids can create and explore their own city with the Toca Life apps.
Our Rating: 4 / 5
Cost: Free with in-app purchases
Devices: iOS, Android
Download for iOS Download for Android
Compare the Best Toddler Apps
| App Name | Ages | Devices |
|---|---|---|
| Smart Tales | Free; Subscription based | iOS, Android |
| Toddler Games for Boys and Girls | Free with in-app purchases | iOS, Android |
| Keiki Learning Games | Free with in-app purchases | iOS, Android |
| ABCMouse | Free for 30 days; Subscription based | iOS, Android, Web |
| PBS Kids Games | Free with no ads | iOS, Android, Web |
| Monkey Preschool Lunchbox | Free | iOS, Android |
| Kidloland Kids Toddler Games | Free with in-app purchases | iOS, Android |
| Toddler Flashcards | Free with in-app purchases | iOS |
| Lego Duplo World | Free with in-app purchases | iOS, Android | Toddler Learning Games | Free with in-app purchases | iOS | Baby Games for One Year Olds | Free with in-app purchases | iOS | Epic! Books | Free to try; Subscription-based | iOS, Android | Baby Piano for Toddlers | Free with in-app purchases | iOS, Android | Dr. Panda Town | Free with in-app purchases | iOS, Android | Toca Boca | Starts from $3.99 | iOS, Android |
Benefits of Toddler Apps
1. Cognitive Enhancement
Toddler Learning Apps are instrumental in boosting the cognitive skills of toddlers. They promote problem-solving abilities, memory retention, concentration, creativity, and spatial awareness.
2. Supports Classroom Learning
Educational apps for toddlers align with classroom learning and reinforce the skills and concepts taught in subjects like mathematics, English, science, and social studies. They prepare toddlers for crucial academic skills such as reading, writing, and counting.
3. Progress Tracking
Parents and Teachers can effectively monitor a toddler's progress in various subject areas using apps. Through quizzes, tests, and interactive activities, apps provide insights into a child's performance, areas of improvement, and overall cognitive development.
4. Independent Learning
Apps for toddlers encourage independent learning by offering a diverse range of resources and tools. Toddlers can explore new concepts independently through features like videos, animations, interactive games, and activities. This fosters a sense of autonomy and self-directed learning.
How to find good Toddler apps
Many apps for toddlers are free to download, but those versions sometimes have limited features. You can make an in-app purchase to access a premium version. Parents can find free toddler apps that will help them as part of their children's learning at home. These toddler apps help kids develop important skills needed in school and promote bonding between parents and kids. Between these high-quality apps and your active participation, you’ll meet the key criteria for the updated guidelines on screen time for small children from the American Academy of Pediatrics.
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