As schools close for summer, children will have a lot more time to play games, watch content and browse the internet. To help your child feel like their summer screen time is meaningful, balance is key.
Help your child feel balanced this summer with our list of top apps for kids to explore interests, develop new passions and stay engaged.
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Apps to help kids stay active
Screen time is often seen as something that decreases physical activity. However, there are apps for kids that do the opposite, encouraging them to get active with different targets and goals.
Explore the following apps to use with your child for an active summer.
Geocaching
- Available on: Android, iOS
- Cost: Free with premium plan available
- Suitable for: 16+ to have an account, but younger children can use alongside parents
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Geocaching is an app that gets your family outdoors to set out on a treasure hunt. The app shows the GPS coordinates of containers (called caches) that people have hidden in random places in the real world.
The objective is to find these containers using the coordinates provided and see what’s inside. Many have items you can take or notebooks you can sign to say you found it. Some also encourage finders to leave their own little objects.
Geocaching is a great app for kids to get them up and moving while spending quality time as a family. The app can help your child develop skills in collaboration, navigation and problem solving.
Learn more about the Geocaching app.
GoNoodle
- Available on: Android, iOS, web browser & more
- Cost: Free
- Suitable for: Ages 4-10
GoNoodle is a digital platform that encourages children to get moving in upbeat, fun ways. It uses videos to guide kids through dances, exercises and games. While it’s great for getting active, GoNoodle has videos for crafts and mindfulness as well.
All content on GoNoodle is appropriate for children aged 4-10, though you can get involved and have fun too! They also have a YouTube channel, which might make it more accessible for your family’s use.
GoNoodle activities are often fast-paced and high-energy to help focus your child’s summer energy in a positive way.
Pokémon Go
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Pokémon Go is an augmented-reality game where players can locate Pokémon in the real world and catch them using their phone. Using GPS-location-based settings, users can see a map of their local area and where they can find certain Pokémon. This is a great way to get kids outside, especially if they love Pokémon. It can also make exploring new places like parks, cities, beaches and trails more exciting.
As a family, you can use the same device or compete against each other with individual devices. It’s a fun way to bond with your child based on their interests while staying active.
Using the app poses safety risks, such as distracting children while they cross roads or leading them to trespass in areas to catch Pokémon. However, if you play alongside your child, you can help them play safely. For children who play on their own, consider setting boundaries about where they can go while using the app.
Apps to build new skills
The summer holidays are a great time for children to learn new skills that can inspire new passions. These are apps for kids to develop their skills in fun, interactive ways.
Roblox Studio
- Available on: Windows, macOS
- Cost: Free
- Suitable for: 13+
Roblox Studio is a software that lets users design new worlds and games to play on the normal Roblox platform. If your child enjoys playing games on Roblox, this is a great way to introduce them to coding and game design.
Because Roblox is primarily for children, developers designed Roblox Studio with kids in mind. It operates using the Lua coding language, which is simple and intended for beginners.
As well as giving kids a chance to develop their coding skills, Roblox Studio nurtures their creativity. Your child can create their own worlds and stories, which they can share and play with others. It encourages children to be resilient when things fail and find solutions to succeed. There are also plenty of tutorials on YouTube as well as a community that you and your child can use together.
Learn more about Roblox Studio
Scratch
- Available on: Windows, macOS, ChromeOS, in-browser
- Cost: Free
- Suitable for: 8+
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Scratch is a coding platform and language designed specifically for children aged 8-16. However, other ages use it due to its simplicity. It works by using drag and drop boxes to create code. Your child can design video games, animations and stories and then share them with other users on the Scratch website.
The platform is a great way for kids to begin learning coding. It also gives them a chance to express their creativity as they build stories and games.
For younger children, an app called ScratchJr is available. This version is intended for 5-7-year-olds and is available for download on iPads and Android tablets for free.
Procreate
- Available on: iPad, iPhone
- Cost: £ 12.99 on iPad, £5.99 on iPhone
- Suitable for: 13+
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Procreate is a digital art software that lets users create illustrations, paintings and animations on their iOS device. The app is user-friendly, making it simple for children to use, without the mess that comes with traditional painting.
Having an app where your child can create as much art as they like can help nurture their artistic creativity. There is no inappropriate content on the app, making it relatively safe for children to use.
Yousician
- Available on: Android, iOS, Windows, macOS
- Cost: Free with subscriptions available ranging from £4.99/month to £11.24/month
- Suitable for: 4+
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Yousician is a music-learning app for kids and adults alike. It teaches users to play various instruments by ‘listening’ to the user playing through the device’s microphone. It then gauges if the user played the instrument correctly and gives feedback on how to improve.
Your child can learn a variety of instruments including piano, guitar, bass guitar and vocals. They learn by playing along with popular songs by artists such as Billie Eilish and Bob Dylan. If you have a younger child, Yousician also offers a Children’s Songs library which contains popular nursery rhymes.
Your child will need an instrument in addition to the app to use it. However, if they don’t have an instrument, there is instruction for singers too.
Minecraft
- Available on: Almost every gaming device, including Xbox, Playstation, PC, Android, and iOS
- Cost: ~£20 on most consoles, £6.99 on mobile devices
- Suitable for: 7+
Minecraft is the best-selling video game of all time. It allows players to express their creativity by building structures and exploring areas in a block-based world.
There are multiple Minecraft game modes. Survival Mode is most popular, but players can use Creative Mode for unlimited resources to create whatever they want. This can offer your child a way to experiment and create without restrictions on a platform they might already love.
Apps for managing wellbeing
During the summer, children lose the structure of school, which can turn their routine on its head. These are some apps for kids to maintain a summer routine and manage their screen time. By managing their wellbeing, your child can better enjoy their summer and make time away from school meaningful.
Finch
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Finch is a wellbeing app that gamifies self-care. The platform provides your child with a virtual pet called a Finch, which they must care for. They do this by completing self-care tasks and living a healthy lifestyle.
Your child can personalise their finch by purchasing clothes and furniture using currency they earn. They earn the currency completing self-care tasks, which can motivate children to make healthier choices.
Tasks are often simple, such as drinking water, brushing teeth and doing something that makes them happy. While they are not difficult to complete, the app can ensure children maintain their wellbeing during their summer holiday.
Habitica
- Available on: Android, iOS, in-browser
- Cost: Free, subscription available for £4.79/month
- Suitable for: 3+
Like Finch, Habitica is an app that gamifies wellbeing. However, it is targeted at older children (though younger children can still use it).
Habitica turns your child’s life into a role-playing game (RPG). They create tasks to achieve like cleaning, which earns them experience points (XP) or gold..
Completing tasks and earning XP can help your child level-up their avatar. If you have multiple children who like to compete, this could be a good way to encourage healthy competition. Who can upgrade their avatar the most?
Turning your child’s life into a real-world RPG can motivate them to keep on top of things over the summer.