2nd grade teacher, parents ask me which apps are "worth it" for screen time, which ones are y'all liking?

[u/BlazeOP_6523]

Every conference season I get asked how to make the ipad a functional activity and I want to give a better answer than just bashing screentime altogether. In class, the kids who use screens to make something (draw, build, write) talk about it differently than kids who mostly watch or tap through games. But I only see them talk about it, not actually use anything specific. I also know every family has different safety standards when it comes to online activity.

Parents, what has genuinely been good in your house? Educational apps for first and second graders especially.

[u/TheNthMan]

Kahn academy kids, but 2nd grade is aging out. At least free.

Epic for age appropriate books

Prodigy Math Game

For younger kids, I would add in Osmo, Marco Polo World School

[u/ThePiachu]

You could also recommend a few games that aren't predatory or ad filled if parents want some good engagements. Stardew Valley, Terraria, older Kairosoft games or some 3DS ports like Ghost Trick might be good recommendations...

[u/rgaya]

No apps

[u/Initial_Laugh3836 → u/rgaya]

Khan Academy Kids is the only one my kid actually learned from and not just zoned out to. Everything else I tried felt like a brightly colored hamster wheel with a subscription fee

The drawing/recording tools built into the ipad are slept on too, mine will spend an hour making a little comic strip with voiceovers and it's weirdly coherent

[u/spacenglish → u/Initial_Laugh3836]

How old is your kid? Mine didn’t like khan academy kids. 

[u/videovillain]

- Khan academy kids

• endless learning (costs, but worth it)
  
• math tango (costs, but worth it)
  
• pbs kids play and learn science
  
• pbs kids the cat in the hat builds that
  
• pbs kids games
  
• duo ABC can be good too, not duo lingo

[u/Aluin]

A book

[u/ThePiachu]

Hmm, maybe more passive apps that engage their curiosity. Like I have SlyMap on my phone to see where the stars, planets and the moon are in the sky. Could be a neat window into astronomy.

[u/HighPriestofShiloh]

None. Going 5 years strong. Hope to make it 5 more.

[u/emmasdad01]

PokPok

[u/lifeistrulyawesome]

MathMakers

Lightbot

Kahoot 

Funexpected Math 

[u/its_a_boon → u/lifeistrulyawesome]

Here to also say Lightbot

[u/NotACockroach → u/its_a_boon]

Oh damn, I can't believe that game still exists.

[u/FantasticPlatypus29]

None. Kids should be kids playing and interacting with each other. They don't need educational apps

[u/FluffyShakes → u/FantasticPlatypus29]

this guy is getting down voted but is speaking the truth. not everyone believes in ipad kids.

[u/FantasticPlatypus29 → u/FluffyShakes]

I'm a teacher. I don't even mind kids watching the occasional TV show (not youtube) on a tablet. But at that age group, unless they are behind in their educational milestones they don't need educational apps. In my opinion they prey on parent's fear of not doing everything for their kid when the #1 issue I see in today's kids is a huge lack of unstructured social interaction.

[u/lifeistrulyawesome → u/FluffyShakes]

not everyone believes in ipad kids.

Which is fine

But acting like their parenting style is the only valid one is against the spirit of this sub

I believe iPads can be fantastic educational tools. For example, most future engineers will start by coding robots on a tablet. You can wait for them to discover that at school, or you can teach them at home.

[u/bushgoliath → u/FluffyShakes]

Because OP said “I am specifically looking for an answer that isn’t ’chuck out the iPad.’”

[u/SarmackaOpowiesc → u/FluffyShakes]

There is a time and place for everything.

9 hour trans-atlantic airplane flight a few times a year?  Acceptable.

$150 a plate sit down dinner?  Also acceptable.  

The key is to use the tool when you need it, not as a crutch every day.

[u/my__bollocks → u/SarmackaOpowiesc]

If I’m getting a $150 a plate dinner my kid isn’t coming along

[u/SarmackaOpowiesc → u/my__bollocks]

Why not?

[u/masev → u/SarmackaOpowiesc]

Because if you're putting them on a tablet the experience isn't about them being there anyway?

[u/SarmackaOpowiesc → u/masev]

They have the opportunity to observe the adults in the room. 

But It's not reasonable for a 4 year old to sit still for 1.5 hours.  

This is very much a situation where children should be like fish.  Present but silent since neither have a voice.  Tools to help make that happen are fine.

As they get older, you take away the tablets and expect them to be attentive and quiet for the entire 1.5 hours.  

It's 2-3 times a year, no one is advocating to do this every Friday night.  Or on airplanes for long haul flights where there is no room to play anyway.

[u/sodantok → u/FluffyShakes]

Because its irrelevant truth? Like what is parent supposed to do with this information from teacher that gives their kid a homework which is also not about playing or interacting with other kid.

[u/lifeistrulyawesome → u/FantasticPlatypus29]

Playing and interacting with each other and using an educational app are not mutually exclusive

A tablet can be a huge educational tool. I have used it a lot to teach my kids math, coding, and other stuff. But I alway sit with them and use the iPad with them. I don't play a video for them to keep them entertained when I need some free time.

[u/nomnamnom → u/FantasticPlatypus29]

Why not both?

[u/rfieldss]

Dad of 3 here. The screen stuff I think is worth it is short practice with a clear stopping point, or anything where they're making something. Passive watching is fine sometimes but it's not doing much teaching.

[u/luxera]

Libby. Borrow books, graphic novels, magazines for kids from the library right on the tablet.

[u/calzonius]

A book, board games, playing outside, playing dress up, jigsaw puzzles

[u/Bridge_The_Person]

At 2nd grade? Mathseeds is great, Reading Eggs is good if they have any reading skills catch up to do. At 2nd grade and beyond though I’d focus more on apps that follow established board games for kid recreation.

Things like Wingspan, Everdell, Sagrada, Cascadia, Scythe, Quilts, a little bit of a hot take but I think the Magic the Gathering app is compellingly good at strategy and math for that age.

These are all also pretty cool because they can add their friends and play together in a closed off and safe environment where they can’t chat with strangers, just play the game together.

I’d avoid the major common games like monopoly or scrabble because they’re just boomer casino games now skinned to look like classic games.

With a library card the Comic Books Plus children’s library and Libby get the most overall use in my house.

[u/Whatwhyreally]

Pok Pok

[u/kohbo]

Synthesis tutor

Prodigy

[u/BrandonEllisWest]

Audiobooks and a library app have been the best screentime thing for us. My 7 year old listens to stories in the car and it's turned her into a reader!

[u/Previous-Low4715]

The only thing my 4 year old son has access to is procreate and an Apple Pencil.