Apps to help kids get active

From healthy lifestyle to fitness motivation, we’ve created a shortlist of age-appropriate apps and platforms to empower kids to develop healthy habits.

Children under 5

Plant Nanny

Suitable for:
Ages over 4.

How can Plant Nanny benefit your child?
Plant Nanny encourages children to drink water and keeps track of how much water they drink and are rewarded when each goal is achieved. Each glass also waters the app’s plants too. The app will remind a child how many cups of water is needed, but you can also customise the goals depending on your child’s body data and exercise habits.

Available on:
iOS and Android devices.

Cost:
Free.

Plant Nanny app image

Sworkit Kids

Suitable for:
Ages over 4.

How can Sworkit Kids benefit your child?
Sworkit encourages kids to get up and move with fun fitness and yoga exercises to build strength and increase flexibility which can be done at home.

Available on:
iOS and on the Sworkit website.

Cost:
Free.

Habitz

Suitable for:
Ages over 4.

How can Habitz benefit your child?
Habitz is a fun-to-use app that empowers kids to develop healthy habits and stick with them for life such as healthy eating and workouts. Parents can select from pre-set healthy goals, set rewards and track kids’ progress within the app and more!

Available on:
iOS devices.

Cost:
Free.

Children 6-10

Pokémon GO

Suitable for:
Ages 9 and over.

How can Pokémon GO benefit your child?
Although not a fitness app, Pokémon GO will get your kids moving. It is an augmented reality game in real-world locations, so players need to walk around to find them, and in order to hatch a Pokémon egg, players need to walk a certain distance.

Available on:
iOS and Android devices.

Cost:
Free.

Go Noodle

Suitable for:
Ages over 6 to 12.

How can Go Noodle benefit your child?
Go Noodle makes screen time active with over 300 videos for kids to dance, exercise, sing along, and practice yoga and mindfulness.

Available on:
iOS and Android devices and the Amazon Store.

Cost:
Free.

Super Movers

Suitable for:
KS1 or KS2 learners.

How can Super Movers benefit your child?
Super Movers offers curriculum-based videos that will encourage children to learn whilst being active. Each video focuses on the PSHE curriculum, covering themes such as feelings and respecting ourselves and others.

Available on:
The BBC website.

Cost:
Free.

Walkr

Suitable for:
Ages 7 to 11.

How can Walkr benefit your child?
Walkr is a galaxy adventure game that is combined with a pedometer step counter to automatically record daily steps. The step counter and the walking app encourage kids to take more steps while exploring the universe.

Available on:
iOS and Android devices.

Cost:
Free.

Children 11-13

The Walk

Suitable for:
Ages 12 and over.

How can The Walk benefit your child?
The Walk, created with the NHS and the UK’s Department of Health incentivises you to get up and get moving. The app is based on a pedometer but is a way to turn walking into a journey, a challenge, and an adventure.

Available on:
iOS and Android devices.

Cost:
Free.

Fitivity

Suitable for:
Ages 12 and over.

How can Fitivity benefit your child?
Fitivity has a range of thousands of exercises and workouts designed for teens to improve in a sport or find a new way to stay active.

Available on:
iOS and Android devices.

Cost:
Free.

Children 14 and over

Zombies, Run!

Suitable for:
Ages 16 and over, however, it was given a 12+ rating on the Apple App Store.

How can Zombies, Run! your child?
Zombies, Run! Is a running and adventure game where every run becomes a mission you become the hero. You can jog in a park, treadmill or just walk and activate Zombie chases – every time you run, you’ll automatically collect vital supplies like medicine, batteries and food.

Available on:
iOS and Android devices.

Cost:
Free.

Geocaching

Suitable for:
Ages 16 and over, however, it was given a 4+ rating on the Apple App Store.

How can Geocaching benefit your child?
Geocaching is a treasure-hunting community app where players must go outside and use the app to navigate to it using a map, compass, or driving directions.

Available on:
iOS and Android devices.

Cost:
Free.