1. Is the learning inside the game, or stuck on top?
This is the single most useful question. In a weak educational app, the "learning" is a quiz that interrupts the fun: answer three sums, then you can play the racing game. Children quickly learn to rush the questions to get to the reward.
In a strong one, the learning is the game. You can't play without using the skill, and getting better at the game means getting better at the skill. Some examples of what that looks like:
- A fractions game where you physically fit pieces together, so you have to judge how big each fraction is.
- A spelling game where you build words from sounds and parts, rather than picking an answer from multiple choice.
- A colour game where speed and accuracy depend on how closely you're actually looking.
Test it: watch your child play for five minutes. Could they succeed by guessing, or by tapping randomly? If so, the app probably isn't teaching much.
2. Does it get harder at the right pace?
Good learning apps start easy and build up gradually, so each new idea rests on the one before. Look for:
- A clear progression (levels, worlds, chapters) rather than a random stream of questions.
- Hints that explain what to do, not just reveal the answer.
- Mistakes that teach. When something goes wrong, the app should show why.
3. Is it made for your child's age?
The App Store shows an age rating (4+, 9+ and so on), but that rating is about content suitability, not learning level. Check the description and screenshots for the actual skills covered, and play the first few levels yourself.
4. Check the business model
Free apps have to make money somehow, and how they do it affects your child's experience. None of these models is automatically bad, but you should know which one you're getting:
| Model | What to look for |
|---|---|
| One-off purchase | Simple and predictable. Check there are no extra purchases on top. |
| Free with optional ads | Rewarded ads that the player chooses to watch are much less intrusive than ads that interrupt play. Check whether the ads are suitable for children. |
| Free with a "remove ads" purchase | Try the free version first to see how often ads appear. |
| Subscription | Can be good value for broad content. Watch for auto-renewing free trials. |
On iPhone: you can turn on Ask to Buy through Family Sharing, so your child needs your approval for any purchase, including in-app purchases. You can also restrict in-app purchases in Settings → Screen Time → Content & Privacy Restrictions.
5. Watch out for manipulative design
Some apps are designed to maximise time spent rather than learning. Red flags include:
- Characters that look sad or "beg" when a child tries to stop playing.
- Constant push notifications pulling a child back in.
- Timers and "limited offers" pressuring purchases.
- Endless reward loops (spins, loot boxes, chests) with little actual content.
A good learning app should be happy for your child to put it down after ten focused minutes.
6. Check privacy before you download
Every App Store listing has an App Privacy section (sometimes called the "privacy nutrition label") showing what data the app collects and whether it's used to track you. Scroll down the listing to find it. Also look for:
- A clear, readable privacy policy linked from the listing.
- No requirement to create an account or give an email address, unless there's a good reason.
- Whether the app asks for permission to track. For a children's app, ideally it doesn't.
In the UK, the ICO's Children's Code (the Age Appropriate Design Code) sets privacy standards for online services likely to be used by children. In the US, COPPA restricts how apps collect data from children under 13.
7. Can you play together?
Children learn more when an adult joins in, talks about what's happening and connects it to real life. Apps that work well with two people (taking turns, multiple player profiles on one device, or a puzzle you can discuss) make that easy.
The quick checklist
- The skill is built into the core mechanic, and you can't succeed by guessing
- Difficulty builds gradually, with hints that explain
- Content matches your child's age and level, not just the age rating
- You understand the business model and any ads
- No guilt-tripping, pressure tactics or endless reward loops
- You've checked the App Privacy label and privacy policy
- It's something you could enjoy playing together
How we apply this to our own games
We're a small studio making learning games for iPhone, and this checklist is the bar we hold ourselves to. In Slice, the only way to win is to judge fractions correctly. In Wordsmith, you build every word from its real parts, and hints explain the spelling rule rather than giving the answer. In Hue Rush, your score depends on how carefully you look. Each game's privacy policy sets out exactly what it collects and how ads work.
For ideas away from the screen, see our guides to teaching fractions, English spelling rules and teaching colours.