From maths with pop music to a forest that grows when kids focus, apps make home schooling more fun.Photograph: Alistair Berg/Getty Images
Some things just go together: Kim and Kanye, toast and salted butter, and children barging in on Zoom work calls to ask what a fronted adverbial is (answer: nobody knows).
At times like this, with many of us trying to support our kids education while we work from home or put in demanding shifts as key workers, emotions are unbelievably heightened. When were trying to do it all, knowing that we can rely on our wifi and mobile phone connections means one less thing to worry about.
If were home schooling, the best we can do is roll with what each day brings and try to have fun along the way. A good place to start is by trying out the slew of educational apps that are helping children stay happy and smash their schooling at the same time. A+ for everyone.
CBeebies apps, all freeCBeebies most loved characters? Tick. Heaps of fun? Tick. Oh-so-clever content based on the early years curriculum? Tickety-tick. All CBeebies apps get the educational thumbs up, but we love Go Explore for the way it helps kids expand their world, and Storytime for building early reading and comprehension skills.
Cosmic Kids, free trialSure, learning your ABC is important, but its equally vital to teach children how to deal with the uncomfortable emotions they might be feeling because theyre stuck indoors and unable to see friends and family. Step forward this 100% kid-friendly yoga and mindfulness app where they can learn how to calm and centre themselves while having serious laughs with everything from Frozen themes to fluffy dogs. Now, thats smart.
Pinterest, freeTheres endless play-based brain food on here, from craft ideas that encourage fine motor skills (Cheerios caterpillar, anyone?), to tips for using Lego to introduce basic maths concepts. Save your favourite ideas and youll never be short of a toolkit of fun screen-free games to play.
Teach Your Monster to Read, 99pFlummoxed by phonics? This app helps your children continue where they left off and it even has the stamp of approval from the Department for Education. Covering the first two years of learning to read, from matching letters and sounds to enjoying small books, the joyful little monster of the apps title will help your child sidestep common reading stumbling blocks.
Squeebles Spelling Test, 3.99Let us count the ways we love this app. First up, it allows you to customise spelling tests using the words your own child finds tricky, or, if you prefer, you can simply download one of 100 pre-recorded tests based on the national curriculum. Second, its suitable for every level and is awash with nifty options, including dyslexic-friendly fonts. And last but not least, children love rescuing their little Squeeble from the spelling snake and earning motivating stars along the way. A win-win.
Maths Rockx, 9.99Theres nothing yawnsome or rote here: your kids will be nailing numbers by singing along to classic tunes from the likes of One Direction, Pink, Pharrell Williams and more. Kitchen disco, anyone?
Roblox, freeThis collection of online multiplayer games and virtual worlds has a Learn & Explore option to point parents and children towards games that educate in a way thats fun. Children can explore the Roblox History Museum with their friends, learning as they go about everything from mammals to human psychology. If they brave the Digestive System Adventure, groups of budding scientists can discover the ins and outs of the bodys waste disposal system. And theres more, with time on their hands, children can learn how to code and even find out how to design their own games.
Duolingo, freeThis app will help your child nail any of 30 languages. Best of all, its a doddle to use, with rewarding short daily sessions (and handy reminders) that will help your children build that all-important love of learning. Trs bon.
Forest: App store, 1.99; Play store, freeAs every parent knows, the biggest problem with secondary school children isnt that they dont have enough work to do, its getting them off TikTok/Fortnite/YouTube long enough to get it done. The idea here is simple: the app has a picture of a tree and the longer they stay on their school task, the taller the tree will grow. If they pick up their phone to check Snapchat? Yup, its days are numbered. Better still, they can buddy up with pals to plant trees together, helping them collectively go from procrastinators to productivity machines.
Fender play, free for limited periodIf music lessons have gone out the window, this app is the next best thing to live tutoring. Learn the guitar, bass or ukulele in bite-sized lessons, and get a heap of video inspiration from musicians and instructors. Just remind your child to remember you when theyre playing Wembley, yeah.
BBC Bitesize, freeSelect the GCSE subjects, watch the video infographic flashcards, and test your progress. Yes, its that simple. Sleep easy that everything follows the national curriculum and is exam-board specific so theres no fluff to distract children from their goals. Great for helping year 11s stay up-to-speed on subjects they want to study at A-level and for keeping year 10s on track for their 2021 exams.
Ted, freeIf you havent watched a Ted Talk, youre missing out these lectures from some of the smartest people around are fascinating and, best of all, free. Why not encourage the family to listen when theyre out and about on their daily walks, making use of unlimited data plans on mobiles? The Ted-Ed video-based lessons are no different, featuring experts and teachers who excel in their field. From how soap kills the coronavirus to the tricks used to build tunnels underwater, there are countless compelling lessons to choose from. If only there was one that would teach the kids how to load the dishwasher.
Vodafone #KeepingtheUKConnectedConnecting with teachers, schools and the world of education has rarely been more important for families.
Thats why every day we at Vodafone are working hard to maintain our network. So even when were apart, nothing can stop us being together.
And theres more with so many of us keen to use the extra time indoors to learn a new skill, we at Vodafone are making it easier than ever. Were offering customers free access to 150+ free online Udemy courses and six weeks free access to over 300,000 digital books from the academic library Perlego.
You can get access to both resources by joining VeryMe Rewards through the My Vodafone app, available on Google Play or the App store. So if you are looking to count to 10 in Russian, train your pooch or finally read the works of Thomas Hardy now you can.
Stay up to date with the latest information on what were doing to keep the UK connected.
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Need help with home schooling? 12 of the best apps if youre teaching kids in lockdown - The Guardian
