January 17, 2022

January 17, 2022

8 Fun Supplementary Learning Apps For The Holidays

The holidays are all about family time, fun, and relaxation, but that’s not to say you can’t sneak in some education too! Some parents worry that their children may forget what they’ve been working on at school during holiday breaks, so a great way to keep them on track is by downloading a few supplementary apps.

What are supplementary learning apps, though, and why are they important? Supplementary learning is any education that happens outside of the formal classroom setting, so supplementary apps are simply educational apps, used on tablets or smartphones, that help your child learn (while also having fun).

So what can kids learn during holidays using apps? Just about anything! Math, science, languages – there’s an app for just about every school subject for all grades.

Best learning apps for students over the holidays
Want to help your child stay focused over the school break? If so, you’ll quickly notice that there are thousands of apps out there, some more effective than others. To help you narrow down your choices, below are some of the most educational and fun supplementary learning apps for the holidays. Some are completely free, some are paid, and some offer free and premium versions, so always check before downloading. As some apps also offer in-game purchases, make sure you limit that feature if you don’t want your child purchasing anything while using the app.

As always, talk to your children about internet safety before letting them use any apps and keep a close eye on their online activities.

1. Khan Academy
Khan Academy is one of the most highly regarded learning apps, with lessons, videos, and activities on all sorts of school subjects, covering both elementary and high school levels. Even better, it’s run as a registered non-profit, so there’s no cost and no in-app purchases, making it one of the best free educational apps and an easy choice for parents on a budget.

Everything on the app was created by experts in their field, so you’re sure to find something on Khan that your child will enjoy.

2. HOMER Learning
There are few skills more important than literacy, but it’s a concept that’s not always easy for young children to grasp. The HOMER Learning app is focused on fun ways to help children love learning, personalizing the material to both their age and interests.

It’s designed for children aged 2–8, helping them with letters, phonics, shapes, and numbers. However, it also has lessons on emotional learning, creativity, and critical thinking skills.

3. Epic
Once your child has developed a passion for reading, the Epic app is sure to be a winner. It’s a digital reading app for children, allowing them to dive into one of over 40,000 books, videos, and audiobooks.

Like your Amazon Kindle, Epic recommends books to children based on what they’ve already read, which is an effective way to keep your child engaged and interested in reading. Parents can also track progress to see how much their child has been reading and what sort of books they’re reading most often.

4. TED
For older children and teens with an insatiable appetite for learning new things, check out TED. It’s the app associated with TED Talks (TED standing for Technology, Entertainment, and Design), and lets you access and watch over 3,000 presentations from experts. They cover plenty of educational topics, such as science, math, business, and creativity, and the app is free to download.

5. Prodigy
Math doesn’t come easy for everyone, so we love the Prodigy app as a way to gamify mathematics and make it more enjoyable. Prodigy, designed for first through eighth-graders, is a game that allows players to control their character and move through a fantasy world. Along the way, they’ll have to solve age-appropriate math puzzles and questions to move forward.

Because it feels like a video game, kids won’t even realize they’re also learning, which is ideal during the holidays – no child wants to feel like they’re doing homework over their break!

(Extra tip: in addition to online games, board games are another fun and educational way to pass the time over the holidays and help with brain development.)

6. Stack the States
With 50 states in the US, there’s a lot that kids need to learn when it comes to geography! To make it more exciting, download Stack the States, a fun app designed for children seven and above.

This clever app uses animated states that kids can drag and drop on the map, unlocking badges and new levels as their knowledge increases. It’s a lot of fun to play, but also educational, with children learning about state capitals, US geography, flags, and state nicknames.

7. ABCmouse
ABCmouse is an early childhood educational app for kids aged 2–8. It’s a subscription-based platform with over 850 lessons on math, reading, social studies, science, and more.

Your child moves from lesson to lesson, all of which are made fun with cartoon characters, animation, and interactive activities. The app also lets children create their own avatar, so they’ll enjoy seeing a representation of themself within the app.

8. GoNoodle
The winter holidays are often accompanied by cold, blustery weather, but that doesn’t mean your kids need to sit on the couch all day. GoNoodle is a fantastic app for getting kids moving, offering a wide range of videos that helps kids dance, sing, and exercise. There are even indoor recess ideas, ideal for snow days or homeschooling.

In addition to workouts, stretching, and how-to videos, there are also features available on mindfulness and breathing, ideal for introducing children to these concepts. However, if you don’t mind the cold, keep in mind that there are plenty of educational winter outdoor activities you and the kids can enjoy – bundle up in warm clothes and get out there!

 

Featured image by Robo Wunderkind on Unsplash