Page: Best free and discounted apps for kids for counting
Best apps for children for learning numbers.
Here are the best and most educational apps introducing early math concepts for preschool kids, kindergarten classess and first graders.
We featured apps and games teaching numbers, how to count (also finger counting), quantities, number sequences, simple operations like addition and subtraction, identifying and tracing numbers and more. These iPad and iPhone apps are excellent for strengthening kids early math skills, especially counting.
Best for: Education, Attention & concentration, Early math, Eye-hand coordination, Interaction, Thinking & problem solving, Understanding of the world
What it is: an interactive counting game (numbers 1-20)
What you do with it: there are simple activities for each number, e.g. racing 2 cars around the track, watering 5 plants, feeding a frog with 15 flies etc.
What we liked: the concept, overall quality of the app, easy operation, spoken instructions, good variety of activities.
What we didn't like: objects are not counted during an activity (there are sounds of objects instead). Some activities are more difficult (technically) than others and may require parental assistance.
Best for: Education, Attention & concentration, Early math, Eye-hand coordination, Interaction, Thinking & problem solving
What it is: learn to count (numbers 1-10) and identify quantities.
What you do with it: two activities: an interactive minibook with number rhymes (listen to the narrator then tap and count the stars) and a minigame (listen to the instructions, count the stars and point to the correct number).
What we liked: very easy to use. Simple graphics with subtle animations. Spoken instructions. Sounds and sound backgrounds. No distracting elements.
What we didn't like: the minigame quickly gets repetitive (there is not much variety, no reward system etc). No hints.
Best for: Education, Attention & concentration, Early math, Eye-hand coordination, Interaction, Thinking & problem solving
What it is: an app for counting and basic addition practice.
What you do with it: drag bubbles containing the correct numbers or number representations to 'feed' the fish. For example, depending on the mode you choose, when feeding the fish with '3's' you need to pick the bubbles either containing number 3 ('numbers mode'), bubbles with 3 dots ('dots mode') or combinations of bubbles with the correct sum of numbers or dot representations ('mixed mode'). There is a simple rewards system for completing the levels (you can pick new colors for the fish).
What we liked: the concept (combining gameplay and math practice), good educational value (presents various concepts of number representation, develops 'intuitive' sense of addition), ease of use, simple graphics, audio instructions, extensive instructions for parents.
What we didn't like: gets repetitive after a while, for some kids the rewards system may not be inspirational enough to play on to higher numbers. Without parental assistance some concepts (especially in the mixed mode) could be difficult to understand for younger kids.
Bottom line: an interesting way to introduce a reluctant child to counting and simple addition.
Best for: Education, Attention & concentration, Early math, Eye-hand coordination, Interaction, Memory, Thinking & problem solving, Understanding of the world
What it is: a pack of 18 games and activities concentrating on fine motor skills, critical thinking and problem solving.
What we liked: the concept, great graphics with very realistic animated insects, easy navigation and operation, the number and quality of (most) of the activities, adaptive learning system (difficulty increases or decreases depending on the child's progress), the sound backgrounds, the 'stamp collecting' rewards feature.
What we didn't like: no spoken instructions (in our opinion the 'visual instructions' were sometimes not sufficient). Some activities may require some help or additional explanation from a parent. We didn't like the human-like sounds (when insects are touched), the numerical scoring system with a timer (not very useful for younger kids), the activities where the insects are 'hurt' (caught with fingers or flung with a slingshot). The app could have even more educational value if it contained some real-life facts about the insects (e.g. presented in the Stamps section).
Bottom line: a great set of fun activities for developing fine motor skills, critical thinking and problem solving.
Best for: Education, Attention & concentration, Early math, Eye-hand coordination, Interaction, Music & art
What it is and what you do with it: practice math skills by learning and creating songs. The app is based on the PEG + CAT TV series. Play eight songs from the show. Practice: counting up and down by ones and twos, adding one, extending patterns.
Sound Check Mode - create simple 'songs' by tapping instruments and characters on the screen.
What we liked: the concept (fun math/music practice). Characters, artwork and animations based on the TV series. Humor and fun factor. Sounds and sound backgrounds. Ease of use, including spoken instructions. Good educational value. Overall quality of the app.
What we didn't like: you can't play the songs without playing the sequence drills first. We wish there were a little bit more variety in the warm-up activities.
Best for: Education, Early math, Eye-hand coordination, Interaction, Thinking & problem solving
What it is: An app for strengthening early math skills (three activities: for finger counting practice: counting/number sequencing, addition, subtraction).
What you do with it: learn about numbers by putting fingers on the screen (e.g. when you put 4 fingers, the voice will read out 'four'). Learn to count by putting fingers on the screen in a sequence. Solve simple additions and subtractions by placing the correct number of fingers on the screen.
What we liked: excellent concept (combining learning with fun), funny illustrations and animations, extremely simple operation (innovative concept of multifinger interaction with the device), great educational value.
What we didn't like: some sort of visual/audio clues for addition/subtraction activities would make this app even better. Parental help may be necessary for setting up the app and initial instructions.
Bottom line: a perfect choice for 'finger math' practice and fun.
Best for: Education, Attention & concentration, Early math, Eye-hand coordination, Interaction, Thinking & problem solving
What it is: a pack of 18 games and activities for strengthening early math skills.
What you do with it: 3 stages/levels:
Stage 1: number and shape identification, left/right, counting, painting by numbers, matching numbers and shapes.
Stage 2: counting up to 100, tracing number and shapes,sequencing,comparisons,sorting/counting/tallies/addition up to 10
Simple reward system: earn bugs for completing activities.
Stage 3: coins,time telling,patterns,fractions,measurements,addition and subtraction
What we liked: the concept, great graphics and animations, fun factor, easy navigation and operation, the number and quality of activities, sounds and sound backgrounds, overall quality of the app.
What we didn't like: no spoken instructions (in our opinion the 'visual instructions' are not sufficient). Some activities may require some help or additional explanation from a parent. The scoring system is a bit too restrictive (the number of 'allowed' wrong answers could be increased).
Best for: Education, Attention & concentration, Early math, Eye-hand coordination, Interaction, Music & art
What it is and what you do with it: practice math skills by learning and creating songs. The app is based on the PEG + CAT TV series. Play eight songs from the show. Practice: counting up and down by ones and twos, adding one, extending patterns.
Sound Check Mode - create simple 'songs' by tapping instruments and characters on the screen.
What we liked: the concept (fun math/music practice). Characters, artwork and animations based on the TV series. Humor and fun factor. Sounds and sound backgrounds. Ease of use, including spoken instructions. Good educational value. Overall quality of the app.
What we didn't like: you can't play the songs without playing the sequence drills first. We wish there were a little bit more variety in the warm-up activities.
Best for: Interactive books, Attention & concentration, Early math, Interaction, Language, Personal & social
What it is/what you do with it: an interactive storybook (about 12 pages long) featuring the TV series character Wubbzy and his friends (Widget, Walden, Smellyphant and more). Extra activities include: 3 fun/educational minigames (counting, telling time, dress-up), 3 videos and a coloring activity. 'Read to me', 'read & play', 'just a book' (simple version with no interactions) reading modes.
What we liked: the story with many interactive elements complementing the storyline. Original illustrations and animations. Humor and fun factor. Sounds and sound backgrounds. Ease of use. Good reading options (words are highlighted, touch a word to have it read out). Extra tips for parents. Overall quality of the app.
What we didn't like: the dress-up activity is very basic.
Best for: Education, Attention & concentration, Early math, Thinking & problem solving
What it is/what you do with it: a set of 5 activities for number recognition and counting practice, e.g. pointing to the correct number on the screen, completing number sequences, counting items on the screen etc.
What we liked: a good variety of activities. Simple graphics. Spoken instructions. No distracting elements.
What we didn't like: the educational value could be higher (e.g. the numbers are not read out, there is no counting along feature in the counting activity). Some of the activities are very basic and can quickly get repetitive. No clues. The interface could be more intuitive.
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