Parent & Teacher Approved Educational Apps for Kids: Fun, Learning-Filled Screen Time This Summer

Summer is meant to be a time for kids to relax, slow down, and enjoy a well-earned break - but it also comes with something many parents know all too well: the “summer slide.” That sneaky dip in learning that can happen when school routines pause for too long.

If you’re trying to balance a bit of screen time with something more meaningful, educational apps and games can actually be a great middle ground. Rather than seeing devices as the enemy, it helps to think of them as tools - when used well, they can keep kids curious, engaged, and gently practising key skills without it feeling like “school work.”

Of course, balance is still important. The World Health Organisation (WHO) suggests that children under 5 should have no more than one hour of screen time per day, and babies under 1 should have none at all. It’s a helpful reminder that screen time works best when it’s intentional and limited, not constant background use.

With that in mind, we’ve pulled together ten teacher-tested, parent-approved apps that do a lovely job of mixing fun with learning. They’re designed to keep children practising important classroom skills while still feeling like play - perfect for those moments when you need something both entertaining and worthwhile.

1. Numbots

Numbots is designed to help children build strong foundations in mental maths. Its goal is the “triple win” — understanding, recall, and fluency in addition and subtraction — guiding learners from counting objects to confidently calculating in their heads.

Through fun, game-based challenges, children develop speed and accuracy in maths without it feeling like traditional practice, making it an ideal tool for keeping numeracy skills sharp over the summer. 

Age appropriate: 4-7 years

2. Times Table Rock Stars

Times Tables Rock Stars is a fun, highly engaging programme that’s perfect for keeping maths skills sharp over the summer holidays. Instead of letting multiplication and division facts slip during the break, children can use its game-based approach to stay confident and fluent in a really enjoyable way.

With its fast-paced, gamified format, children can practise their times tables in short bursts—ideal for summer routines. They can challenge themselves or others, build speed and accuracy, and feel a real sense of progress without it ever feeling like traditional drill work. It’s a great way to keep maths ticking over while still leaving plenty of time for rest, play, and holiday adventures.

Age appropriate: 6 years and over

3. Duolingo ABC

Duolingo ABC is a free, interactive learning app created by literacy experts to help young children build strong reading and writing skills in English. It turns early literacy into something fun and approachable, using short phonics games, letter tracing activities, and simple, engaging stories that keep children motivated while they learn.

Age appropriate: 3-6 years

4. Duolingo

Duolingo is a fun, free app that helps children (and adults!) learn over 40 languages through short, bite-sized lessons that feel more like games than study.

Each session blends speaking, listening, reading, and writing activities, helping children steadily build vocabulary and grammar skills in a natural, engaging way. The gamified structure — with streaks, rewards, and challenges — keeps motivation high and makes language learning feel achievable and enjoyable, even during the summer holidays.

Age appropriate: 8 years and over

5. PebbleGo

PebbleGo is a child-friendly digital encyclopedia that’s perfect for summer holiday curiosity and all those “I wonder…” moments that come up during adventures and day trips. Whether your child is interested in animals they’ve spotted on holiday, space, science, or different places around the world, it gives them a safe and engaging way to explore and find answers.

Age appropriate: 5-11 years

6. Reading Eggs

Reading Eggs Learn to Read is a multi-award-winning, research-based app created by experienced teachers to help children build strong reading skills in a fun and engaging way.

Through interactive games, step-by-step guided lessons, and a huge library of over 4,000 digital storybooks, children can continue practising reading at their own pace.

It works really well for holiday use because children can dip in and out for short sessions—whether at home, on the go, or during quieter moments in the day—keeping their literacy skills active while still having plenty of time for rest, play, and family fun.

Age appropriate: 2-13 years

7. White Rose Education 1-minute maths

White Rose Education’s 1-Minute Maths app is a great way to keep maths skills sharp over the summer holidays in quick, low-pressure bursts. Designed for both home and school use, it helps children build confidence and fluency through short, one-minute activities. Children can choose any topic they want to practise, and each session gives a fresh set of questions so it always feels new. If they get stuck, a helpful ‘Hint’ button supports them by showing the question in a different way. At the end of each minute, they get instant feedback—making it an easy, encouraging way to fit in a little maths practice during the holidays.

Age appropriate: 4 years and over

8. Tynker Junior

Tynker Junior is a fun introduction to coding for younger children and is perfect for the summer holidays. It uses colourful coding adventures and creative studios to teach the basics of programming in a playful, hands-on way.

Even children who are just beginning to read can join in, using simple graphical blocks to move characters and solve challenges. It’s a great way to encourage problem-solving, creativity, and digital skills while keeping curious minds engaged over the break.

Age appropriate: 4-7 years

9. Khan Academy Kids

Khan Academy Kids is a wonderful choice for the summer holidays, turning screen time into meaningful learning. Packed with reading activities, maths games, phonics lessons, and interactive storybooks, it helps children keep key skills fresh while still having fun. With lovable characters like Kodi the Bear guiding the way, children can explore at their own pace and enjoy short learning adventures wherever summer takes them. It's a great way to nurture curiosity, build confidence, and keep a love of learning alive throughout the break.

Age appropriate: 2-8 years

10. Barefoot World Atlas

The Barefoot World Atlas is an immersive, interactive 3D globe app designed for children to explore geography, cultures, and nature at their own pace. Great for summer time exploration as your child travels the world!

Age appropriate: 5 years and over

11. Prodigy Math

Prodigy Math is a fun, adventure-based game for children in Years 1–8 that makes practising maths feel more like play than work. During the summer holidays, it’s a great way to keep maths skills fresh while children embark on exciting quests, customise their wizards, rescue pets, and battle monsters. To progress through the game and cast spells, players must answer maths questions correctly, helping them build confidence and reinforce key skills without the usual worksheet battles. It's an engaging option for children who enjoy gaming and need a little extra motivation to keep learning over the break.

Age appropriate: 6-14 years

12. Minecraft: Education Edition

Minecraft: Education Edition is a fantastic way to keep learning going over the summer holidays while still feeling like pure play. It turns a familiar and much-loved game into a powerful learning tool that children can use at home to explore ideas across subjects like maths, coding, history, geography, and even architecture. Whether they’re designing historical landmarks, experimenting with basic coding concepts, or working through creative building challenges, Minecraft: Education Edition helps keep minds active and engaged over the holidays in a way that feels fun, open-ended, and imaginative.

Age appropriate: 5-11 years

13. The Scratch App

Scratch is a free coding platform developed by the MIT Media Lab that introduces children to programming in a creative and accessible way. Ideal for ages 8–16, it’s a fantastic summer holiday activity for children who enjoy technology, storytelling, or designing their own games. Using simple drag-and-drop coding blocks, children can create interactive stories, animations, and games while developing problem-solving, creativity, and computational thinking skills. It’s a wonderful way to encourage productive screen time and inspire young creators to turn their ideas into something they can proudly share with family and friends.

Age appropriate: 8-16 years

As the summer holidays unfold, the goal isn’t to replace rest and play with structured learning, but to find that sweet spot where curiosity and fun naturally overlap. A few well-chosen apps can make a real difference - helping children stay engaged with reading, maths, creativity, and the wider world, all without it ever feeling like pressure.

The key is balance: short, purposeful bursts of learning alongside plenty of outdoor play, family time, and holiday adventures. When used thoughtfully, these tools don’t just help prevent the “summer slide” - they can also spark new interests, build confidence, and keep children feeling positive about learning as they head into the new school year.

Most importantly, keep things light, flexible, and enjoyable. A little consistency really does go a long way, and over the summer, learning works best when it feels like just another part of the fun.