🎮 How to Spot Good Educational Apps and Games

A Parent's Guide to Screen Time That Actually Teaches

Let’s be honest screens are everywhere. And while it's tempting to lump all screen time into the “just-for-fun” category, there are actually a lot of educational apps and games out there that truly help kids learn. The tricky part is knowing which ones are worth your time (and theirs).

Here’s how to spot quality educational tools plus a few tips to make screen time count this summer.

✅ 1. It Aligns with Real Learning Goals

A good app teaches specific skills like multiplication facts, sentence structure, or reading comprehension not just random puzzles.

Pro tip: Check if it mentions standards (like Common Core or grade-level skills) or subjects your child is working on in school.

🎯 2. It Has Clear Progress Tracking

Kids (and parents) should be able to see progress whether that’s earning levels, moving through lessons, or reviewing scores.

This helps motivate students and lets you see if they’re actually learning.

🙋 3. It Promotes Thinking, Not Just Tapping

Great apps make kids solve, create, or explain, not just guess or swipe endlessly.

💬 Ask yourself:

• Is my child thinking or just tapping?

• Are there problems to solve or choices to make?

Games that encourage strategy, logic, or storytelling are golden.

👀 4. It’s Ad-Free (or Has Minimal Ads)

Too many pop-ups or in-app purchases? Hard pass. The best educational apps keep the focus on learning, not distractions or sneaky upgrades.

Look for free trials or one-time payments over apps filled with ads.

🧒 5. It’s Age-Appropriate

Make sure the game matches your child’s age and ability not too hard, not too easy.

Younger learners should have voice instructions and visuals, while older students benefit from challenges and critical thinking.

🧠 Bonus: Ask Your Child’s Tutor or Teacher

At Math Man Olmedo Tutoring Center, we’re happy to recommend learning apps based on your child’s age and subject goals. Not all screen time is created equal!

☀️ P.S. Summer Blog Break!

We’ll be taking a short 2–3 week break from our weekly Monday blog posts so we can fully focus on summer workshops (and enjoy a little summer sun ourselves 🌞).

Keep following along for more posts soon and don’t forget to check out our Summer 2025 Workshops under “Classes” tab if you haven’t already!