apps for kids Archives - NAPPA Awards

January 28, 2025 by NAPPA Awards Team

KOKODI Kids’ Interactive Learning Books with Reading Pen

An innovative learning device that enhances children’s language development and cognitive skills through interactive reading. With voice guidance and touch interaction, the pen encourages independent learning and improves expression and sensory development. $47.99, ages 3+, kokoditoys.com

BusyKid

Give kids hands-on experience at earning, saving, donating, spending and investing real allowance. Available on any mobile device, parents can help teach their kids how to manage money through chores and allowance. $48/annually, ages 5+, busykid.com

ByPass

Embark on a thrilling race to construct a smooth, continuous road from opposite ends of the gameboard. Brace yourself for twists and turns, stay adaptable to dodge traffic cones and strategize your path. $36, ages 8+, simplyfun.com

February 4, 2022 by

NAPPA Award Winners Announced: January 2022

Meet our latest NAPPA Award Winners announced in January 2022:

Preschool Genius

A set of dry-erase activities and games with a genius twist. The set has questions that add a deeper engagement with learning. $27.95, ages 3-6, amazon.com

The 12 Systems of the Body: Adventure Series Book Set

Introduces 12 systems of the human body to build a foundation for human anatomy. This series includes the five senses, the skeletal, muscular, nervous, respiratory, digestive, immune system and more. $120, ages 8+, knowyourself.com

206 Bones of the Human Body- 4 Book Set

From your head to your toes, this 206 Bones of the Human Body- 4 Book set has a lot to discover about the human body, especially for children. Includes Hands, Arm & Shoulder; Foot, Leg & Pelvis; Rib Cage & Spine; Head, Face & Neck. $79 for set or $19.99 per book, ages 8+, knowyourself.com

Art Puzzle-Dancing Lion

Features Chinese cultural elements of traditional folk customs of the lion dance. Contains 18 knowledge points so kids can learn about these traditions as they explore their creativity. $21.99, ages 5-8, toiworld.com

My First Puzzle-Dinosaur

Double-sided puzzle pieces feature dinosaurs on one side and bones/skeletons on the other. Great for building problem-solving skills and imagination. The number of pieces increase step-by-step to challenge toddlers through their developmental growth. $13.99, ages 2-4, toiworld.com

Ahaaa Math

Make math fun with this game-based learning app for kids. Covers a wide variety of skills including geometry and logical thinking with 5,000+ exercises and games. Safe for kids with no ads. $59.99/yearly or $8.99/monthly, ages 4-10, ahaaamath.com

PJ Library Presents Podcasts: Afternoons with Mimi and Beyond the Books

Two new podcasts from the beloved organization that has been sharing free children’s book with Jewish values throughout the world. Well-known tales come to life in a fun new way that connects kids to Jewish traditions, culture, holidays and values. “Afternoons with Mimi” is designed for younger kids and “Beyond the Bookcase” is for kids ages 6 to 12. Free, PJLibrary.org/podcast

January 18, 2021 by

Check out our NAPPA Award winning Apps — best for kids and families are featured here. CLICK HERE to see the winners.

April 15, 2020 by

With our living rooms turned into virtual classrooms, parents everywhere are searching for ways to enhance their kids learning while schools are closed due to the COVID-19 crisis. We want to share some of our recent NAPPA Award winners that bring the fun and learning right to your home.

Foreign Language Made Simple

With so much time at home, why not introduce your kids to a new language. Language Together offers a series of books in various languages including Spanish, French, English, Traditional Chinese and Mandarin. Developed with teachers, the Spot Color Immersion Method® combines picture cues, simple sentences, humor, repetition and a story-based approach. Includes online audio narration by a native speaker.

A Magical Classroom

If your kids love games, they will not even realize they are learning with Adventure Academy. Developed by the creators of the award-winning ABCmouse learning program, Adventure Academy™ is a multiplayer online game for elementary and middle school children. It features thousands of learning activities—games, quests, educational videos, animated series, books and other types of reading materials presented in a fun and safe virtual world. Available on computers, tablets, and smartphones, Adventure Academy builds critical knowledge of essential curriculum topics in language arts, math, science, social studies, and more.

Engage with Math

To help kids better engage with math, the Z-kai’s Zoom-Up Workbook is a great tool. Zoom-Up is tailored to develop children’s mathematical thinking, problem solving and explanation skills that are necessary for their future success in STEM. This Workbook contains 45 challenging problem sets that are designed to be close to children’s daily lives and to optimize their understanding and perseverance. Children will be able to find delight in utilizing math in the real world. Solving challenging tasks will also help them develop confidence and motivation.

Enhance Visual Learning

To have some time away from the screen, but continue the learning, try Star Right Multi-skill Flashcards and the Star Right Multi Math Flashcards Pack – Great for visual learners.

A Card Game of Mental Math

For a challenging card game that reinforces math skills, Proof! is a fast, fun and addicting math game that the whole family can enjoy. Work that mental math magic as you race to find creative equations hidden among nine number cards.

For more NAPPA Award-winning products, visit nappaawards.com

January 29, 2020 by

Our latest NAPPA Award winners bring fun and learning together.

Bookful

A mobile app for kids that uses augmented reality to bring books to life. Choosing from an extensive library of AR books that features the best publishers such as Penguin Random House and DK, the child can learn, read and have fun at the same time. The books range from classics such as Peter Rabbit to Hasbro’s Transformers. Ages 3-8, $59.99, bookful.app

Cooking class Global Feast!

Provides a wonderful opportunity for kids to gain practical kitchen skills through preparing food from around the world. Step-by-step photography feature children from a wide range of backgrounds preparing dishes that reflect their unique food traditions. A pop-out food passport, world language flash cards, and flag stickers provide additional fun on their global food journey. Ages 8+, $18.95, www.storey.com

Heartsongs of the Rainbow

Created by a pediatric speech pathologist with the goal of uplifting, inspiring, nurturing and supporting those in the Special Needs Community. This album can also be enjoyed by all children. Each song allows children the opportunity to learn and demonstrate simple physical and gestural movements as well as to vocalize with repetitive, easy-to-make sounds. Ages 2-10, $15, theadrienneprocess.com

Busy Kid

Start the important conversations about money early with this educational app. Kids will learn about money management, including saving, spending, investing and helping others through the app. Ages 6-16, $7.99/year, Busykid.com

Be Kind: You Can Make the World a Happier Place! 125 Kind Things to Say & Do

With joyful illustrations and kid-friendly writing, this idea book serves as a delightful, easy-to-read collection of 125 concrete activities kids and their families can pick and choose from and act out in their daily lives — no special occasion required. Ages 5+, $12.95, storey.com

Kid Activists

Every activist started out as a kid—and in some cases they were kids when their activism began! But even the world’s greatest champions of civil liberties had relatable interests and problems–often in the middle of extraordinary circumstances. Features kid-friendly texts and full-color cartoon illustrations on nearly every page. Ages 9-12, $13.95, quirkbooks.com

For more book and app reviews, visit NAPPA Awards. #playlearnconnect

November 14, 2019 by

Whether you’re enjoying a quiet day at home during the winter holidays or taking a road trip, these award-winning sites can be a fun companion for fun and learning.

Sir Dapp! App

This game show improves manners by teaching kids, in a fun way, to be polite and respectful. Special holiday offer is $1.99 (from November 25-January 5), 5-8, www.sirdapp.com

Journey with Story – Children’s Storytelling Podcast

Hosted by children’s author and Scottish storyteller, Kathleen T. Pelley, who shares retellings of fairy tales and folktales, beloved classics, nonsense poems and a sprinkling of her own original tales, all with a distinctive Celtic flavor. Free, 3-10, www.journeywithstory.com

Pinna Audio Streaming

Ad-free audio streaming service curated exclusively for children, featuring podcast shows, stories and songs, as well as some of the best-known, award-winning kids’ podcasts, music and audiobooks from around the world. $7.99/month, $79.99/year, 3-12, www.pinna.fm

Samsung Kids

Features a huge library of games, videos and books featuring names like Peppa Pig, Dr. Panda, Toca Boca, Sesame Street, LEGO, Dr. Seuss, Thomas the Tank Engine and more, plus parental controls. only works on Samsung Galaxy devices. $4.99/month, 3-12, www.samsungkids.com

ArgoPrep: Online Test Prep | Prepare, Practice, Review

Offers online resources, tools and self-paced programs for K to 8 and various standardized exams such as the SAT and ACT. Free and paid subscriptions, 6+, www.argopreop.com

Video Poodle

Wholesome, fun, informational and ad-free video website made just for kids. Designed to engage, inspire and grow young minds. $10/year, 2-6, www.videopoodle.com

Study.com

Includes thousands of lessons across a variety of subjects, self-assessments and flashcards created by subject-matter experts. $39.99 to $59.99, grades 3-12 and college, www.study.com

FamilyAlbum

Simply and securely share family photos and videos with only the people you invite, featuring free and unlimited storage. Keeps memories organized and creates collages. Free, www.family-album.com

Let’s Read App

Gives parents, teachers, grandparents and other special friends and family an opportunity to record their voices reading children’s stories. Synchronizes your video/audio recordings with the app’s illustrations and text from an award-winning collection of picture books. Free, 4-7, www.letsreadapp.com

ABCmouse Mastering Math

Innovative, game-based adaptive early learning app that helps children build a strong understanding of number sense and operations. $9.99/month, $79.99/year, Preschool-2nd grade, www.ABCmouse.com

KidloLand Educational App

Discover 1000+ songs, nursery rhymes, games, stories and activities focusing on early learning, with no advertising. $4.99/month, $39.99/year, 1-7, www.kidloland.com

Tynker: Coding Games for Kids

A fun way to help children develop computational thinking and programming skills in a creative and intuitive way featuring interactive game-based courses. $120/year, $240/lifetime, 5-15, www.tynker.com

Dr. Panda Learn & Play

Learn numbers, letters, phonics and more through playing 30+ activities.$4.99/month, $29.99/year, 2-5, www.drpanda.com

Toca Kitchen Sushi

Your child becomes the chef of a busy seaside restaurant –slice up squid, asparagus, and candy canes, and roll it all up into a cone of seaweed. $3.99, 6-9, www.tocaboca.com

For more holiday gift ideas, visit NAPPA Awards. #holidaygifts #giftguide #playlearnconnect

June 3, 2019 by Elena Epstein

We have new award-winning apps that bring fun and learning together!

KidloLand Educational App

KidloLand is a comprehensive learning program for kids. Discover 1000+ songs, nursery rhymes, games, stories, and activities focusing on early learning, English, Math, coding, arts and more. The app also helps develop skills such as logical thinking, fine motor skills and creativity. KidloLand is regularly updated with new content and is also completely ad-free. $4.99/monthly, $39.99/annually, ages 1-7.

Tynker: Coding Games for Kids

Get creative and learn about coding with Tynker’s innovative computing platform. A great way to help children develop computational thinking and programming skills in a fun and intuitive way. As they’re guided through interactive game-based courses, children quickly learn fundamental programming concepts. With Tynker, a child can apply their coding skills as they build games, tell stories, mod Minecraft, create apps, control drones and robots, and more. Parents can follow their child’s success and share their creations through a parent dashboard. $20/monthly, $120/annually, $240/lifetime, ages 5-15.

Dr. Panda Learn & Play

Dr. Panda & Toto are back in the brand new learning app “Dr. Panda Learn & Play”! Kids can play and learn numbers, letters, phonics and more through playing 30+ activities along with Dr. Panda, with more added all the time! Beyond games, books and videos, kids will also explore Dr. Panda & Toto’s world, play dress up, unlock new costumes, and discover all sorts of hidden activities around Dr. Panda’s home. $4.99/monthly, $29.99/annually, ages 2-5.

Toca Kitchen Sushi

With Toca Kitchen Sushi, your child becomes the chef of a busy seaside restaurant. Slice up squid, asparagus, and candy canes, and roll it all up into a cone of seaweed! Or make stars and hearts of watermelon and mix them with fish and hot peppers! Want to make the roundest rice ball? You’ve got great tools for that right at your fingertips. Then see what your customers think. $3.99, ages 6-9.

For more product reviews, visit nappaawards.com. #playlearnconnect