When it comes to mobile apps for kindergartners and early elementary schoolers, there are few things more important than entertainment and education. After all, this is the age when kids are just beginning to discover the world around them. They’re also starting to learn how to socialize with others and express themselves creatively.
The best mobile apps for kindergarteners and early elementary schoolers cover a spectrum of entertainment and educational offerings. At this age, socialization and creativity are key — and believe it or not, there are several quality apps for that! When choosing apps for this age group, go beyond the usual arcade games (although those can be fun) to apps that help kids express their feelings and unleash their creativity.
Quyasoft is the right stop for you to obtain all the relevant information you need on best apps for 5 year old girls, Best apps for 5 year old boys and so much more. Take out time to surf through our catalog for more information on related topics. You don’t want to miss this!
best apps for 5 year old girls
1. Epic!
Best Educational App For Children
If you have young kids, you know how difficult it can be to get them to read books. Epic! is a great app for helping your kids develop a reading habit. It is the best learning app for kids that has all the elements of a great story, with stunning illustrations that are sure to keep kids engaged and reading for hours! The best part is that the application consists of a Read-to-Me feature that makes it possible for kids to listen to stories if they are still learning to read. With its bright colors and easy-to-use interface, Epic! is a perfect way for kids to explore different books and tell stories on their own.
Benefits:
- Provides a safe and secure environment for learning
- Offers a free of cost trial period
- Application is enriched with a quiz feature
- Suitable for kids of various ages
- Encourage reading habits in kids
Pros:
- Contains award-winning digital library
- Offers a wide variety of popular reading material
- Compatible with multiple platforms
- Interactive user interface
Cons:
- Offers limited assessment tools
- The application might not support search by age feature
Subscription Fee: Subscription starts from $8/month
2. DIY.Org – Creative Challenges
Best App for Kids to Enhance Creativity
DIY.org – Creative Challenge is the best learning app for kids inspired by the creative challenge, allowing children to learn and develop their creativity skills by carrying out a series of challenges playfully and engagingly. DIY offers numerous projects that encourage kids to use their imaginations, be creative, explore and problem solve. The app can be used by children of all ages. It will allow them to learn how to draw, perform science experiments, cooking, building with legos, etc. With the rich collection of experiments, you can be assured that your kid is learning new things every day.
Benefits:
- Encourage kids to try and learn new things
- Earn badges after the kids finish learning a new skill
- Challenges are designed to refine the skill
- Offers easy learning with How-to videos
Pros:
- A lot of projects to choose from
- Kids can explore interest in multiple domains including photography, science, etc.
- Easy to navigate through the application
- Plenty of challenges for kids
Cons:
- Some challenges require parental supervision
- Few projects might confuse the child
Subscription Fee: Subscription starts from $19.99/month
3. Quick Math Jr.
Best Free Educational Apps
Quick Math Jr. helps improve your child’s math skills with questions that are fun and easy to answer. They will learn their numbers and will be familiar with basic addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. This is among the best free educational apps that are perfect for young kids just starting on their journey of learning mathematics. It has lots of fun and colorful characters that your children will be happy to see on their screen. The app will guide your kids through solving math problems with step-by-step instructions.
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Benefits:
- Excellent learning platform for kids
- Parents can track kids progress through a report card
- Kids can practice handwriting
- Helps to develop fundamental maths skills in children
Pros:
- Free of cost application
- Keep kids engaged for longer
- Ensures quality screen time
- Make solving math problems easy and fun for children
Cons:
- The application lacks narration
- Some game might lack detailed instructions
Subscription Fee: The application is free to use. However, it contains some in-app purchases.
4. Endless Alphabet
Best App for Kids to Learn Vocabulary
Endless Alphabet is the best vocabulary app for learning new words. Your child will love playing with this app. Endless Alphabet has beautiful graphics, sounds, and animations that help children learn their alphabet and letters in a fun way. The app is incredibly simple to use and provides great learning opportunities for young children. Endless Alphabet itself is well designed, contains high-quality graphics and animations, making it one of the best Educational Apps for 5-year olds. Moreover, new words are added to the application regularly.
Benefits:
- Good for engagement of kids
- Kids can learn vocabulary in a fun way
- Understand word meaning through videos
- Helps to introduce the more advanced word to the child
Pros:
- Kids can learn at their own pace
- Contains adorable animations
- New words are added regularly
- Learn difficult words with cute animations
Cons:
- Unable to track progress
- No extension activities are provided
Subscription Fee: Subscription starts from $8.99/month
5. Thinkrolls: Kings & Queens
Best Learning App for Kids
This app will let your kids learn all about logic, reasoning, planning, and problem-solving skills in a fun format. With its beautiful graphics and excellent gameplay, Thinkrolls is one of the best apps for kids to encourage them to play games and learn at the same time. As the name suggests, the game is more based on animated characters that include kings, queens castles, and dragons. Kids explore a fantasy world while working through a series of challenging puzzles with multiple levels.
Benefits:
- Encourages to develop problem-solving skills in kids
- The puzzle difficulty level increase depending upon the progress
- Kids use spatial awareness to play games
- Kids learn to make strategies and implement them
Pros:
- One game can be replayed many times
- No penalty on wrong attempts
- Themed narratives are available
- Kids solve problems on their own
Cons:
- No hints are given
- Might be confusing without additional instructions
Subscription Fee: Subscription starts from $6.99/month
6. Dragon Box Algebra 5+
Best Math Game for Kids
The Dragonbox Algebra 5+ is the best educational app for kids that keeps them interested in learning. With the help of this app, your child will be able to learn algebraic equations. The game teaches algebra to children while they are trying to solve problems. This game is specially designed for children between the ages of five and ten who want to learn how to complete math problems. It uses colorful characters and fun animations to make it a fun experience for kids. The basic algebraic concepts including Addition, Division, and Multiplication are covered in the game.
Benefits:
- Contains graphics and sound to make learning fun
- Kids learn algebra by solving puzzles
- Playing does not require parent’s supervision
- Provides accessible tutorial to understand basics
Pros:
- Multiple languages supported
- Kids develop maths and critical thinking skills
- Provides rewards for kids
Cons:
- Some level are too hard to solve for kids
- No hints are provided for solving the puzzle
Subscription Fee: Subscription starts from $4.99/month
7. ABCmouse.Com
One of the Best Educational Apps for Kids
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ABCmouse.com is one of the best apps for kids. It is an online learning program that is available on Android and ios. This application has been designed in a way that can help kids learn a lot of concepts easily. By using this app, kids will become familiar with letters, numbers, spelling, and much more. The app contains activities and each activity has been created to make learning fun and engaging. ABCmouse.com offers access to educational games, videos, books, and activities that teach and enhance children’s learning capabilities!
Benefits:
- Suitable for kids in preschool to early elementary grades
- Helps in developing cognitive skills
- Offers a step-by-step curriculum designed by professionals
- Perfect for home learning for kids
Pros:
- Contains educational material
- Includes Age-appropriate content
- Available with a free trial period
- No in-app advertising
Cons:
- Only for a limited age group
Subscription Fee: Subscription starts from $9.95/month
8. Motion Math
Best kids Educational App
Motion Math is a math learning game app for young children and is the best educational apps for kids. With lots of fun, this app will make your kids smarter, it provides basic math operations for kids in such an interesting way that they will never get bored. The app covers the concepts of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division through motion activities that let your kids create their character to play games. These games have different difficulty levels to examine the skills of the children.
Benefits:
- Kids can learn mathematics concepts
- Application has academic relevance
- Multiple game level sharpen child’s skils
- Helps in cognitive development
Pros:
- Fun learning and playing
- Free application trial
- No in-app advertising
- Multiple games
Cons:
- Offer limited teacher resources
- Vague tracking system
Subscription Fee: Subscription starts from $2.99/month
9. PBS Kids Games
Best Free Educational App For 2 to 7-Year-Olds
The best way to learn is to learn by doing, and that is exactly what PBS Kids Games does for your kids. The application is jam-packed with games that are enjoyable for any child to play. They are educational as well, and your child will also have fun while learning. PBS Kids Games offers several different types of games that you can choose from, and it is completely free to download and play the games on the application. Availability of all resources free of cost makes this application among the best apps for 5-year olds. Kids will learn how to count, spell, read, and more while they play and interact with the app’s characters.
Benefits:
- Choose the games according to the age and ability of the child
- Provides an engaging learning environment
- The application is simple to use
- PBS Kids Games has got amazing graphics and sounds
Pros:
- Provides kid-friendly environment
- Offers curriculum-based games
- Enhance creativity in kids
- Numerous enjoyable games
Cons:
- Parents guidance is required to shortlist appropriate games
Subscription Fee: The application is free to use
10. Starfall ABCs
Best App for Kids to Learn Everything About Alphabets
Introduce your child to the alphabet with Starfall ABCs, the best learning app for kids. The software offers a wide variety of things with which children can learn from games and books to the alphabet. Starfall ABCs is a fun, interactive way for kids to study letters and improve word identification. With Starfall ABCs, your child will learn to identify letters, vowels, words, and more while interacting with fun animations, songs, and stories. Thus, if you are looking for a way to teach your child the alphabet in a fun and interesting way, this is the perfect solution.
Benefits:
- Available in both paid and free versions
- It covers the sign language alphabet
- Best for English language learners
- Fun and entertaining storyteller
- The application uses a guided teaching approach
Pros:
- Interactive interface
- Engaging graphics
- Includes animated sounds
- Easy to use
Cons:
- Limited resources in free version
- In-app purchases may be required
Subscription Fee: The application is free to use
11. Winky Think Logic Puzzles
Best Learning App for Kids
The Winky Think logic puzzles are the best way to develop your child’s intelligence and logic skills. It is a game that helps kids learn how to think logically and systematically, get to know the world around them, and develop their personalities. All logic puzzles are designed to make kids use their brains creatively, as well as improve their problem-solving skills. As the player progresses through the levels, the puzzles become more and more difficult. You can play with your kid by solving the logic puzzle together or have them play independently on their device.
Benefits:
- Great app for kids to sharpen their mental skills
- Helps to improve kid’s attention span
- Logical puzzles broaden knowledge of child
- Keeps kids engaged
Pros:
- Kids can play on their own
- Comes in three difficulty levels
- Interesting visuals
- Helps develop analytical skills
Cons:
- Not available for Android users
Subscription Fee: Subscription starts from $2.99/month
12. Hungry Caterpillar Play School
Best Educational App for Fun Learning Experience
Hungry Caterpillar Play School is the most playful application that will make your kids indulge in a world of fun and learning. The Hungry caterpillar app is based on the popular Eric Carle’s best-selling classic children’s book ‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar’. It is the best apps for kids for Android and iOS users. The app is loaded with lots of features, sounds, and animations. This makes it possible to create interest in young children in studying through the application. Hungry Caterpillar Play School will help you to introduce your kids to numbers, colors, shapes, and so much more.
Benefits:
- Interesting 3D realistic visuals
- Kids can learn about shapes colors, alphabets
- Provide a better understanding of basic areas of learning
- It is easy to use, and your little one will be able to operate it on his own.
Pros:
- Compatible with iOS and Android
- Adorable 3D animations
- Available in both free and paid version
- Fun learning for kids
Cons:
- Paid subscription offers more features than the free version
Subscription Fee: Subscription starts from $6/month
13. Elmo Loves 123s
Best Kids Learning App
Elmo loves 123s is the best apps for kids to learn and recognize numbers. It is a really good educational app having lots of activities and games which are designed for kids of age two years to five years. The app is flexible to navigate and features Elmo on each screen as he interacts with the child and helps them learn. This encourages kids to feel more engaged in learning, which is an important part of early education. Recognizing numbers can help children to match the place value in long numbers. It also encourages kids to familiarize themselves with large numbers and practice counting.
Benefits:
- Provides performance tracker
- Kids can learn letter tracing
- Games and drawings are available for better memorization
- Numerous activities to perform
Pros:
- Elmo loves 123s is available on Android and iOS
- A safe learning environment for kids
- Kids cannot exit the app on their own
- Helps in learning how to count
Cons:
- No free version
- Subscription is mandatory
Subscription Fee: Subscription starts from $4.99/month
Best apps for 5 year old boys
1. LUMINO CITY
Lumino City is a game that is suitable for older kids and adults.
The protagonist Lumi is on a quest to save her grandfather after he’s been kidnapped. She notices he has dropped something a “Handy Manual” that she will use to solve puzzles and advance through the game to find her beloved grandfather. The game itself is incredible to look at – it’s entirely made of cardboard and other hand-drawn pieces then animated.
If you have an inquisitive child who enjoys solving puzzles, you’re going to need to snatch up this game immediately. Yes, some of the puzzles are head-bending but with a little help from adults, they will be able to do this. We like to think of this game as a very fun challenge with a rewarding style of play.
Even if your child isn’t inclined towards puzzles, this may be a good way (with help) to get them motivated. We think this game teaches persistence. Did we mention it’s a beautiful work of art to boot?
Check out this link for more information on how this game was made.
PROS
- Incredibly Intricate
- Stunning Art
- BAFTA Winner
- Adventurous
- Relaxing
- No Ads
- Great for Older Kids and Adults
CONS
- Tricky
- This Game is Not Free
- Ethical Score: 100
- Interactive Score: 100
- Creative Score: 100
- Overall Score: 100
2. THE LORAX APP
If you care about the environment and want your kid to care too, then the Lorax App is a no-brainer.
The classic Dr. Seuss book comes to life with this app thanks to its interactive activities and exquisite animation. The app has won the Academic Choice “Smart Choice Media” award as well as the Parents’ Choice Award Silver Honor award.
The story is about how industrialization destroys environments and this app teaches environmental awareness in a very approachable way. The book is completely interactive so kids are encouraged to drag their fingers across and tap on images to uncover some of the fun hidden secrets within.
Kids will be able to collect stars and uncover activities. Kids can read along or allow for autoplay. Parents can track the amount of time their kids spend reading. There are over 30 games and 9 activities embedded within the book. Kids will love to play these again and again.
We love that this app is educational and fun without being over-stimulating and addicting.
PROS
- Great Message
- Fun
- Interactive
- Amazing Artwork
- Classic
- Develops Reading
- Tons of Games and Activities
- Parents’ Choice Award Recipient
CONS
- None that we can think of
- Ethical Score: 100/100
- Interactive Score: 100/100
- Creative Score: 99/100
- Overall Score: 99.6
3. GARAGE BAND
Garageband is a music composition and production app for Apple devices. Apple describes it as a “fully equipped music studio” and it basically is.
There are so many ways to interact with Garageband and the drag and drop style makes it highly intuitive. Anyone can compose music using Garageband which is why we selected this app for our Kids ranking, though adults love using Garageband as well.
Users have the option to plug in an actual guitar or keyboard or simply select a virtual instrument from Garageband’s ever-expanding library. Loops are a great way to pull in young or less advanced musicians. Garageband has a free library of loops, a wide variety of percussive styles, and even something for the classical musician.
So if you are looking for a way to introduce your kid to music-making, you can’t beat Garageband.
PROS
- Easy to Use
- Scales Up for Advanced Musicians
- Great for Music Making and Production
- Lots of Fun Libraries
- Exciting Effects
- Can Create Nearly All Common Genres of Music
- Works Well On Phones and Tablets
- Have Fun Creating Podcasts as Well
CONS
- Not For Android (try n-Track Studio)
- Some of the Add-ons can be pricey
- Ethical Score: 99
- Interactive Score: 100
- Creative Score: 100
- Overall Score: 99.6
4. MONUMENT VALLEY
In 2014, the game Monument Valley won the Apple iPad Game of the Year award. There is a good reason.
The worlds look like interactive and moveable M.C. Escher paintings featuring surrealist architectural puzzles. You navigate princess Ida through the brain benders which are whimsical and completely capture the imagination.
This game never gets dark or scary so we think it can be enjoyed at a young age through to adulthood. In fact, it’s quite relaxing to play- almost meditative.
Parents love that this game is good for the whole family and the welcoming challenges that each level brings. Check out their beautiful expansions once you’re done as well as their latest game Ida’s Dream.
If you are looking for something completely different, this magical kid-friendly puzzle game must be added to your list.
PROS
- Great for Almost All Ages
- Incredible to Look At
- Relaxing
- Brain-Teasers Great for Problem-Solving
CONS
- This App is Not Free
- Not The Best for Very Young Children
- Ethical Score: 99
- Interactive Score: 97
- Creative Score: 100
- Overall Score: 98.6
5. STACK THE STATES
Stack the States 2 is a fun quiz app that teaches kids all about the 50 states.
The process of learning is entirely gamified so no boring drills and rote memorization here. Kids are asked increasingly complex questions about each state- which you collect over the course of the game. Each round cleared is another state earned. To clear a round, kids must answer the questions about the states and stack them to meet the checkerboard line.
The latest version includes a new 3D interactive map, new questions, and some new bonus games. There are 4 bonus games included with this app.
Kids love it because it’s fun and they get to learn interesting facts about states as well as the states themselves. Parents love it for the exact same reason. You may find yourself playing along.
PROS
- Fun
- Educational
- Interactive
- Great for All Ages
- Great Graphics
CONS
- It’s Not Free
- Ethical Score: 98
- Interactive Score: 99
- Creative Score: 97
- Overall Score: 98
6. DUOLINGO
DuoLingo is a language-learning platform that teaches over 20 languages. The company has over 300 million subscribers and along with it a plethora of data.
The second language acquisition (SLA) data is used to improve its programming. The app utilizes quick and effective lessons so essentially time spent on the app is in short bursts but regularly throughout the week. The site claims that 34 hours of time on their app is the equivalency of 1 semester of a college foreign language class.
Kids are sponges which makes the younger years an ideal time to learn a second or even a third language. Do not hesitate to start even young children on this program- even without reading skills, it is possible for a child to pick up with language. Though reading skills are an absolute bonus.
That being said, visual aids make even reading acquisition possible! What’s more, the engaging quizzes and games are fun enough to keep a child engaged but not over-the-top addictive. What more could you ask for in an educational app?
PROS
- Educational
- Language Learning
- Cute Graphics
- Gamified Learning
CONS
- You May Need to Prompt Your Child to Engage
- Ethical Score: 97
- Interactive Score: 97
- Creative Score: 96
- Overall Score: 96.6
7. ANGRY BIRDS
Angry Birds is a fun puzzle game that has so many fun spin-offs. The last time we checked there were 17 Angry birds games.
The game works great on a phone but watch out – it is highly addictive! The birds are angry because the pigs stole their eggs. So the initial premise is that this is a game of revenge. That being said the cartoons are just so cartoony that it doesn’t really feel that violent at all – think the roadrunner and the coyote.
This puzzling game is sure to be one the entire family will enjoy. No Angry Birds is not an extremely educational game, though your kid will learn to problem-solve. Angry Birds is more of a game for downtime, but we wanted to include it here because it is okay to let kids just chill out sometimes.
Like with all of these addictive games it’s a good idea to put a time limit on it and to monitor to make sure your kid isn’t sneaking on. That’s probably the game’s biggest downfall- it is addictive. It is sure to be one of your kid’s favorite apps.
PROS
- Fun
- Problem-Solving
- Interesting and Unique Graphic Style
- Lots of Ages Can Play This
- Easy to Use
CONS
- Addictive
- Tons of Advertisements
- Can Be a Time-Sink
- Parents May Need to Monitor The Use of This Game
- Ethical Score: 89
- Interactive Score: 100
- Creative Score: 99
- Overall Score: 96
8. DRAGONBOX ELEMENTS- GEOMETRY
This is an educational app that is an excellent example of play-based learning. Even young children will be able to play these fun geometry games.
It starts with simply tracing the shape and rapidly progresses to the full-blown theorems. Parents beware that you may even find yourself stumped as the game becomes more advanced. This means that DragonBox Elements-Geometry is a great app for a wide range of kids.
There are over 100 puzzles to solve so no chance of boredom here. Parents, tutors, and teachers all like to make use of this app to boost their child’s or student’s understanding of the subject. We also like the integrity of the company.
If you are looking for other quality math apps, you can’t go wrong with any of DragonBox’s games.
PROS
- Educational
- Teaches Through Games
- Great for Parents and Teachers
- Fun Animation
- Engaging Games
CONS
- Some Kids May Get Frustrated
- Ethical Score: 100
- Interactive Score:92
- Creative Score: 94
- Overall Score: 95.3
9. EPIC!
Epic! Is a reading app for kids ages 12 and under. Just pay a monthly subscription and you have access to over 25,000 titles.
Kids, parents, and teachers all love using this app. It’s a great way to inspire reading and exploration through books with technology. You start with a 30-day free trial and have access to books, games, quizzes, and more all ad-free. Let’s face it, kids just should not be subjected to advertising. We think the cost of the package is a fair trade-off for the resource.
Parents love that you can read the books online or offline which is great for long road trips or any situation where your child has to wait. Teachers love that they can line up reading lists and quizzes and that there are a number of bilingual texts available.
With more titles added weekly, we are certain your child will always have something to explore on this app.
PROS
- Endless Titles
- Inspires Reading
- A Lot of Extras
CONS
- Subscription Costs
- Difficult to Restrict Content
- Ethical Score: 98
- Interactive Score: 98
- Creative Score: 89
- Overall Score: 95
10. GEOCACHING
Geocaching is a fun family game that gets you and your family outside treasure hunting. Older kids may be able to do this one alone or with friends, but this is really useful when adults get involved- especially when driving would come in handy.
Like you would imagine with a treasure hunt, to find the cache, you and your family will have to solve puzzles, interpret clues, and go exploring. The community uploads folders that log hints and are available to help you as you search for your treasure. There are many features to the app including maps, intelligent search capabilities, and more.
If you are looking for something different to do with the family this weekend, why not try Geocaching?
PROS
- Lots of Fun
- Great Community
- Gets People Outside
- Who Doesn’t Want to Find A Treasure?
CONS
- You Have to Pay a Monthly Fee
- Not As Visually Pleasing
- Ethical Score: 92
- Interactive Score: 94
- Creative Score: 90
- Overall Score: 92