App Reviews - iPhone, iPad and Android Apps

Little Kitten & Friends is an app that helps children aged between 4 and 7 prepare for their school start. The application provides 8 educational games that are rich with features and help remote coordination, confidence, social and motor skills in a safe and exciting environment. Little Kitten & Friends is available on iOS for mobile devices and tablets. The application is free from in-app adverts and in-app purchases.

Devices: iPad, iPhone

Applaydu is inspired by the idea of 'edutainment'. It merges education and entertainment to build kids' skills and develop their creativity. The high-quality result is available in this free of ads and free of cost app.

Devices: Android

Roblox is a gaming and social-network app aimed at young people aged 12+.  The experience it provides leans heavily on communication skills and it can be a gateway for would-be game developers to start creating.  It is available across many formats including iOS, Android, Amazon and Windows. An open, social network-based app for children that, while free to download, encourages players to spend as they play was likely to attract controversy and it has.  This review of Roblox focuses on whether Roblox is safe for kids.

Devices: Android, iPad, iPhone

Earnit is a task management application for parents and their children. Tasks can be assigned to children and rewards can be received when the tasks have been completed. A complete task management system including notification, task schedules, task approval, messaging, goal setting, screen time limits and so much more.  The app is available on both iOS and Android devices and is free to download. The application is free from in-app adverts and in-app purchases. However, the free edition may have some application restrictions as a paid version grants full access.

Devices: Android, iPad, iPhone

Frederick: Learn to Read is an 'all in' type of app that covers all the different ways that young children, as well as older learners new to the English language, will learn to read. It introduces users to the English language through multiple games and covers all the intricacies of how to read. This include phonics, the mechanics of pronunciation as well as sight words, which are words that anyone who is learning English needs to know by looking at them and don't necessarily adhere to common sound conventions.  Users get some content for free within the app but they can also upgrade for a one off fee to receive all the content within the app. The Frederick: Learn to Read app is available to download both on IOS and Android devices. 

Devices: Android, iPad, iPhone

Math Bakery First Grade app is designed for kids who are first learning how to add and subtract numbers.  It builds familiarity with digits, the values they represent and how to carry out simple sums.   Children aged between 4 and 7 will benefit from learning and practising with Math Bakery First Grade app which is available on both iOS and Android devices for a one-off purchase price. 

Devices: iPad, iPhone

Queen's Beasts is a history app structured around the heraldry and lineage of Britain's current monarch.  It is useful for general interest or as a reference for history students. Queen's Beasts app is available for a single one-off purchase price on Android and iOS.  The style and presentation of the app's content make it most suitable for students over the age of 11.

Devices: Android, iPad, iPhone

PictureThis - Plant Identifier does as you might expect - it identifies plants by photo.  It covers a huge variety of plants from across the world and is available by subscription after a free trial. PictureThis - Plant Identifier is not designed for any particular classroom subject but would be useful for children studying any subject of which plants are a part or for general interest.  Any person, child or adult, who can use an app and safely explore an outside space can use this app to add to their knowledge of the natural world using their iOS or Android device.

Devices: Android, iPad, iPhone

Marvel Hero Tales app features popular Marvel superheroes in its comic-book style content.  It is a free app made fully accessible through a subscription and is aimed at children aged between 5 and 11 (US Grades 1 to 5/England and Wales years 2 to 6). The stories and activities within Marvel Hero Tales entice children to engage with the app and in doing so use its learning content to build their reading, vocabulary, and storytelling skills.  This app is available on both iOS and Android devices.

Devices: Android, iPad, iPhone

AskUltra app is a guide and support tool for teaching kids about business and entrepreneurship. It provides knowledge and encouragement for children who are interested in turning their ideas and skills into a business either now or in the future. It is available for both Android and iOS devices. The app is free to download and the full content is available by taking out a subscription.

Devices: Android, iPad, iPhone

The application Minima Animator is a versatile and powerful 3D animation platform. The application is rich with features and includes a simple platform that requires no advanced technical knowledge of 3D animation. Minima Animator is free to download and is available for iOS for mobile devices, tablets and computers. The application is suitable for ages 4 and above (according to the Appstore) and is free from in-app adverts and in-app purchases. 

Devices: iPad, iPhone

This app offers an interactive environment for students and teacher to share their learning. Socrative is easy-to-use and fun to implement. Teachers can ask questions, conduct polls, and conduct assessments with real-time data displaying during the session. Gauging student understanding and ideas has never been so easy! Teachers begin by setting up their classroom and receiving a room number. Students can then use their devices to enter the room and interact. Predesigned questions can be open for students, or the teacher can ask questions and conduct polls right on the spot. The variety of questions include true/false, multiple choice, short answer, and more. Graphs displaying student answers will be generated for the teacher during the session, and results can be emailed afterwards. This takes the routine process of assessment and makes it more engaging for students. Showing comprehension of their reading can occur straight through their handheld device, and they are able to receive feedback quickly. Students will love the workflow with this app.

Devices: Android, iPad, iPhone

Sprout Words supports kids as they learn to read the most frequently encountered words (sight words) in the English language.  Each is introduced one at a time and children carry out a varied set of tasks to develop their familiarity with the words.

Devices: iPad, iPhone

Learnie is a unique learning app that enables students and teachers to learn in a fun, fast and engaging way. The application provides micro-learning sessions on a variety of topics in short 30 second bursts including questions, dedicated subject specialists and high-quality video. The application is suitable for students 12 years and above and is free to download through the App Store and Google Play. The application is compatible with mobile and tablets devices and also has a wonderful dedicated web version.

Devices: Android, iPad, iPhone

Zebrainy: kids learning games is an easy to use, educational app featuring games, stories, cartoons, letters, numeracy, sizes, colours, shapes and much more. This app is suitable for ages 2 to 6 and helps develop emotional intelligence, logic and reasoning. The app is based on the adventures of a Zebra who travels to a number of wonderful places where they encounter problem-solving activities and interactive storytelling. This app is free from adverts and is a subscription-based package. A limited free trial is available to new subscribers to the application. The application runs many subscriptions-based services ranging from an initial monthly intro to 3 monthly subscriptions ($34.99) to a yearly subscription fee ($99.99). The application is supported by an extensive developers’ website and parents will be pleased to know that it is child-safe including a time limit within the application to avoid too much screen time.

Devices: Android, iPad, iPhone

Learn and memorise the times tables in this colourful and fun app.  Useful hints and tips help kids to spot patterns that will make remembering these important numbers easier.

Devices: Android, iPad, iPhone

Unacademy is an online learning site that have over 2,400 video courses and lessons on a wide range of topics. Unacademy currently offers the largest most diverse collection of online courses in India.

Devices: Android, iPad, iPhone

ABCmouse.com is a subscription-based, educational website for children ages 2 through 8 years. This app helps develop cognitive development, critical thinking, creative development and communication skills. ABCmouse is available for iOS and Android devices and is free to download.  ABC mouse has over 2,000 learning activities for preschool, kindergarten, and early elementary school. ABCmouse.com is absolutely safe for children and does not feature external links, ads, or pop-ups. 

Devices: Android, iPad, iPhone

Add dinosaurs, insects, animals and fairy-tale princesses to your world and enliven lessons with augmented reality by using Leo AR Education app. Leo is easy to use, fun and one of the best augmented reality apps for kids on the market. The Leo app is available to download for iOS (iPhone and iPad) and Android devices. 

Devices: Android, iPad, iPhone

Maths-Whizz is designed to tutor your child in maths and provide them with the frequent practice they need to progress. It is compatible with all devices, provides useful feedback to parents, and is educationally effective.

Devices: