When schools are out for the holidays, parents can turn to mobile apps to keep their children entertained and engaged. Let’s explore some of the options available.
With all nursery and primary schools in Nigeria currently on break for a month or more, parents are faced with a range of emotions and responsibilities.
On one hand, it’s a great opportunity to spend quality time with kids, create lasting memories, and let them unwind after a busy academic period.
On the other hand, managing work and personal duties while ensuring kids are occupied and happy during the break can be a challenge for many parents.
Balancing these responsibilities and keeping kids productively engaged can seem overwhelming. Thankfully, technology offers a variety of apps designed to entertain and educate children, providing parents with valuable assistance.
The CEO of Edten, an online educational platform, Hritvik Gaur, understands this struggle.
“Parents often resort to using tablets, phones, or other electronic devices to keep their kids entertained when they’re bored,” Gaur explained.
“However, it can be challenging to identify which apps are worth downloading or purchasing, as well as determining which ones are safe and suitable for children.”
So, how can parents ensure their kids stay engaged and productive during the holidays? Here are some recommended apps to help.
Discover Read Along by Google
One such app is Read Along by Google, a free reading app for Android that makes the reading process enjoyable for children. The app features an in-app reading buddy that listens to kids reading out loud, provides assistance when needed, and rewards them with stars for their progress.
Praising the app, a Google user mentioned, “This app has been a lifesaver. It has been tremendously helpful for my younger sister, who missed out on kindergarten and struggles with English reading.
“While there are a few glitches, like the app sometimes picking up background noise as input and not allowing us to re-read lines, overall, it’s a fantastic initiative by Google. Hopefully, the developers will address these issues soon.”
Another user, Aakash Gupta, suggested, “The app content and interface are great, but it would be more beneficial if it categorized the content into Easy, Medium, and Hard levels.”
This approach would help kids gauge their progress and enhance their reading abilities.
Moreover, incorporating vocabulary games, sentence construction exercises, short compositions, and word jumbles would further boost children’s reading skills, Gupta suggested.
Experience Moose Math
Moose Math, suitable for children aged 3-7, takes kids on a mathematical journey through interactive activities focusing on counting, addition, subtraction, sorting, geometry, and more.
Through five different activities in locations like Moose Juice Store, Puck’s Pet Shop, and Lost & Found, children earn rewards, construct their own city, and beautify buildings. The developers introduced whimsical Dust Funnies characters to aid kids in mastering vital math concepts.
Compliant with Common Core State Standards for Kindergarten and 1st Grade, Moose Math also includes a Report Card section for parents and educators to track progress and access additional skill-building exercises.
Engage with The Oregon Trail
The Oregon Trail is an adventurous simulation game set in a frontier community where players can engage in building, crafting, and survival activities to transform a small town into a bustling settlement.
Originally designed to educate children on 19th-century pioneer life, the game allows players to assume the role of a wagon leader.
Players guide their group of settlers from Independence, Missouri, to Oregon’s Willamette Valley along the historic Oregon Trail in 1848. The game has been released numerous times on different platforms by various developers and publishers over the years.
Explore SplashLearn
SplashLearn’s games offer not only entertainment but also valuable learning experiences, providing real educational outcomes.
The creators of this app emphasize that as kids delve into new worlds and befriend enchanted creatures, they uncover multiple problem-solving techniques.
“With no time restrictions or rigid skill progression, our games create a safe environment for exploration and learning from mistakes.”
They stated that children who engage with SplashLearn more than four times a week demonstrate learning improvements of over 77% within the initial two months.
Discover GCompris Educational Game
GCompris offers a comprehensive educational software suite with a wide range of activities suitable for kids aged 2 to 10.
While some activities have a game-like aspect, they remain educational, ensuring that children learn while having fun.
Try Out Quick Math Jr.
Quick Math Jr. is a math learning app designed to enhance children’s number sense through interactive number-based activities. Featuring 12 distinct games, the app covers fundamental math principles. With unique visuals and customizable characters, Quick Math Jr. keeps kids interested. Children can practice writing by entering their responses directly on the screen.
Gaur recommends incorporating educational apps like Quick Math Jr. to ensure children are learning valuable skills while being entertained. This strategy allows parents to have some well-deserved free time while their kids engage and learn across different age groups.