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Educational games for kids range in type and can be incredibly beneficial. These games often strive to teach kids math skills, reading skills, critical thinking skills, and a range of other essential skills children need to thrive. If you're looking for the best educational games for kids, you're in the right place. In this article, we'll go over some of our top picks, including non-electronic educational games, computer-based games, and apps.
Educational Apps
Has your child ever asked, "Can I play games on your phone?" If you're like most parents, the answer is most likely "yes." Kids love to play games, and apps are a convenient way to access a multitude of learning games for children. Consider the following educational apps for kids. We’ll start with the one we know best, our own.
Joon App
Joon is an app and game designed for children with ADHD and related disorders. Geared toward kids ages 6-12+, Joon promotes independence, motivation, and self-esteem while helping children complete important daily tasks. Joon is technically an educational app because it helps kids complete important daily tasks like homework, reading, and chores.
How does it work?
Parents sign up first with the Joon Parent App and build a customized task list for their children. Kids connect with a separate app called Joon Pet Game. Upon completing tasks assigned by parents, children get rewards in Joon Pet Game that allow them to care for a virtual pet.
90% of kids who use Joon finish all their tasks, and many parents say it has improved their parent-child relationship. Even better, it's backed by professionals such as child psychologists, occupational therapists, and teachers.
Click here to try Joon for free.
Khan academy kids
The Khan Academy Kids app is here to inspire lifelong learners. The app is geared toward kids ages 2-8, and it is completely free. There are no ads, and the makers of the app are always adding new content, including books, videos, and songs, to keep kids interested.
Duolingo
Duolingo is a language-learning app that people of nearly any age can enjoy. With Duolingo, users can learn over 40 different languages, including Spanish, French, Japanese, German, Italian, Russian, Korean, and more - all for free!
Language lessons are quick and bite-sized with Duolingo, making it a great game for kids who get overwhelmed by activities that require prolonged focus. Duolingo lets users track their progress, and the cute characters make it even more enjoyable.
There is a paid version of the app called Super Duolingo for those who want additional features.
PBS Kids Games
The PBS KIDS Games app makes learning safe and fun, with over 250 interactive games for kids to choose from. The app lets users access science games, art games, reading games, math games, and more. Some of the games in the app include characters from popular PBS shows that children know and love, and it also comes with resources for parents. Similar to Khan academy, new games are added to the PBS KIDS Games app regularly, so kids won't run out of options. The PBS KIDS app is completely free.
SplashLearn: Kids Learning App
Splash Learn: Kids Learning App is geared toward students in preschool through 5th grade. The app helps kids develop competencies in math and reading while playing engaging games with cute characters. Over 400 games are packed into the Splash Learn: Kids Learning App. Splash Learn: Kids Learning App offers a 7-day free trial for new users. After that, parents can cancel their accounts or choose from a variety of monthly, quarterly, or annual plans.
Note: Joon is a fun game and to-do app that can help kids with ADHD get things done. It's like a special helper that encourages kids to do their daily tasks and feel good about themselves. Joon is really good at motivating kids and helping them feel more independent. If you need help with reading or learning, Joon can be a great tool for you! You can try Joon for free by clicking here.
Space by Tinybop
Do you have a child interested in astronomy? If so, Space by Tinybop could be an ideal app for your child. In the app, kids learn about the solar system in depth. Users can "visit" eight planets and the sun, learn about the characteristics of each planet, play with and observe each planet as it orbits around the sun, and more. Space by Tinybop is geared toward kids ages 6-8 and costs $3.99.
Educational Computer Games
If you were a child in the 1990s or 2000s, you might've played a few educational games on the computer yourself. Back then, playing an educational game on the computer often required going to a major retailer or the library to get it on CD. Nowadays, you can find a host of online educational games for kids - no CD required.
Learning Games for Kids
Learning Games for Kids is a website with a ton of free games to choose from. The website includes games that teach children grammar skills, typing skills, language arts, math, geography, and more. Since all of the games are played on the website, parents don't have to download anything. It's user-friendly, allowing kids to start playing games after just a few clicks.
ABCya
ABCya is another easy-to-use site with a large number of games for kids to choose from. The website features games for kids organized by grade level, ranging from pre-K all the way to 6th grade and beyond. ABCya uses common core standards to inform its content and features games that teach children math, science, reading, writing, typing, and more.
It's free to play the games on ABCya, but users can opt to pay for a monthly, 6-month, or yearly subscription if they want to go ad-free and get other special features.
Cool Math Games
As one might expect, Cool Math Games is a website dedicated largely to games that help young people build math skills. However, you can find word games, geography games, and other fun online games under the "More" tab on their website. Whereas the gaming industry often focuses on making educational games for young children, something that sets Cool Math Games apart is that there are games that teach kids all different levels of math, ranging from addition to all the way to algebra and pre-calc.
It is free to use the Cool Math Games website and make a user profile for your child. If you would like to go ad-free and get other special features, Cool Math Games offers a premium membership that allows you to do so for $5.99/month.
Turtle Diary
Turtle Diary is a website full of games, video clips, and worksheets for students in Kindergarten through 5th grade. With word games, math games, shape games, and more, kids can use Turtle Diary to obtain knowledge in a variety of different areas. There are even science games that focus on specific topics, like the human body, animals, energy, and plants.
Non-Electronic Educational Games
As helpful as educational video games can be, screen time breaks are crucial. Try these ideas next time you need a fun game for kids that promote valuable skills but want to keep them offline.
Hangman
Hangman is a classic guessing game that requires two or more players. To start, one player thinks of a word or phrase and draws a certain number of dashes on a piece of paper where the letters should go and marks a spot where the drawing of the person (the hangman) will go. The other player tries to guess the word or phrase the first player has in mind by suggesting letters. Every time a player guesses a letter that is not part of the word or phrase the first player has in mind, another part of the body is added to the "hangman."
While there are digital versions now, one of the advantages of traditional hangman is that all you need to play the game is a pen and a piece of paper. You can replace the typical drawing used in hangman with a snowman if you are not comfortable with the traditional imagery used in the game.
Scattergories
Scattergories has been around since 1988, but it is going strong to this day and is a great mind-stimulating game for kids of all ages. The goal of Scattergories is to think of words in specific categories while racing against the clock. Playing Scattergories with your children can help them build their vocabulary and support cognitive function. You need at least two players to play Scattergories.
Puzzles
For hundreds of years, puzzles have been utilized as an educational tool. When kids solve puzzles, they utilize concentration, problem-solving, and motor skills. They're often affordable, and you can find puzzles that are designed for specific age groups or skill levels. Some puzzles, such as those that create a world map upon completion, can help you teach kids new concepts or specific pieces of information.
For most kids, puzzles can be completed either independently or with supervision.
Mad Libs Junior
Mad Libs is a fill-in-the-blank game that comes in different forms. Mad Libs Junior booklets are designed specifically for children - a critical distinction from those created for adults. Often, teachers use Mad Libs for students in the classroom to promote creativity and reading skills in children. You can find Mad Libs online or at most major retailers, which are usually low in cost.
Chutes and Ladders
Chutes and Ladders is yet another classic game you may have played before. While it may not be regarded as an educational game traditionally, playing Chutes and Ladders can help parents promote basic math skills in kids. It is also a great game for helping young children learn to take turns. You need at least two players to play Chutes and Ladders.
Takeaway
Educational games are an excellent way to support learning in children. Through educational games, kids can brush up on reading comprehension, writing, math, science, geography, and more. Educational games come in different forms, including traditional games like board games and puzzles, computer games, and app-based games. Try the fun learning games in this article with your kids to promote important skills they'll use now and throughout their life.
About
Dr. Carrie Jackson, PhD
