The Benefits of Learning Apps for Early Childhood Education
Are there any benefits of learning apps for kids?
In a perfect world, parents would spend most of the day playing and interacting with their little ones. But let’s face it—we don’t live in a perfect world, and even the most dedicated parents sometimes need a break and turn to screens to keep their kids occupied.
When you do turn to screens, you might find yourself wondering, “Is it okay to let my child play with an app on the phone or tablet? Or should I just put on a TV show?” Lots of apps claim to be educational, but can young kids actually learn from them?
The good news is that research suggests young children can learn from interactive apps. A recent analysis with over 4,000 participants found that most research on kids five and under shows a positive impact of touchscreen apps on learning. This is particularly true for STEM-related skills, like math. In fact, kids seem to learn better from apps than from computers or even traditional classroom teaching. The benefits of learning apps are numerous.
Let’s illustrate with a story.
How Learning Apps Can Be a Game Changer
On a bright sunny morning, five-year-old Rohan is bouncing around the living room. His mom, Anjali, watches him with a mix of amusement and concern. “Rohan, why don’t you come here and try this puzzle with me?” she suggests, holding up a colourful wooden puzzle set.
Rohan comes to his mother, picks up a few puzzle pieces and tries to fit them together. But in 2 mins he darts off to chase a toy car across the floor.
“It’s so difficult to keep him engaged,” Anjali sighs and tells her husband, Ashok, as he pours himself a cup of tea. “How is he going to focus on his studies at school?”
Ashok nods, understanding her frustration. “This is a common problem with kids today. They are so distracted. But don’t be disheartened. Let’s try something new” he says, pulling out his tablet. “I’ve heard about these educational apps that are supposed to be really good. Maybe he’ll like one of those.”
Anjali looks skeptical but agrees to give it a shot. Ashok tries a few applications and then settles down for a highly-rated app that features attractive multimedia content. “Rohan, come here for a minute,” Ashok calls out. “I’ve got something cool to show you!”
Rohan reluctantly wanders over, eyeing the tablet with a bit of suspicion. “What is it, Dad?” he asks.
“It’s a game where you can learn and play at the same time,” Ashok explains, handing the tablet to Rohan. “Just try it out and see what you think.”
At first, Rohan taps hesitantly on the screen, but within moments, the colourful graphics, the playful sounds, the characters that seem to come to life have him hooked. He starts exploring, tapping on different icons, solving simple puzzles, and listening to stories.
Anjali and Ashok exchange a surprised look. “Wow, he’s really into it,” Anjali whispers.
Rohan spends half an hour with the app at a stretch.
In the days that follow, Anjali notices that Rohan is using the app on his own. He seemed to know new words and was more interested in the world around him.
It’s a win, decides Anjali.
The Benefits of Learning Apps: Why They Work
Rohan’s experience isn’t unique. In fact, it’s something many parents are discovering: learning apps can be a game-changer for young children’s education. Here’s why:
- Increased Engagement: Kids love games and anything that feels like play. Learning apps are designed to tap into that natural love of fun, making education an adventure rather than a chore. This keeps kids like Rohan motivated and eager to learn.
- Personalized Learning: Every child learns at their own pace, and one-size-fits-all methods don’t always work. Learning apps can be customized to suit a child’s unique needs. These allow them to focus on areas where they need more help or move ahead where they are confident.
- Faster and Better Learning
These apps can help kids pick up new information quickly and retain it longer, making their study time more effective. - Building Good Study Habits
Learning apps encourage better study habits by making it easier for kids to stay organized and focused. They also provide instant feedback, helping students correct mistakes and improve as they go. - Tracking Progress Made Easy
One of the great things about learning apps is that they keep everything in one place. You can easily see how your child is doing over time and what areas might need more attention. - Easy Access to Resources
It’s often hard to find the right materials or time for traditional study sessions. Learning apps solve this by making resources available at any time, which is a huge help for both students and parents. - Parents Can Get More Involved
Learning apps allow parents to play a more active role in their child’s education. You can easily see what your child is learning and even join in on the lessons. - Making Learning More Effective
When kids enjoy learning, they remember more. Studies show that interactive and fun learning methods, like those offered by apps, help children retain information better and improve their skills. - Learn Anywhere, Anytime
With a smartphone or tablet, learning isn’t tied to a specific time or place. This is especially handy for busy families, allowing education to fit into your schedule. - Skills for the Future
Learning apps do more than just teach basic subjects—they help kids develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity. These are essential skills in today’s world and will benefit your child in the long run. - Always Available
Traditional classes can be missed, but with learning apps, lessons and resources are available whenever your child needs them. This round-the-clock access ensures that your child never falls behind.
Addressing Screen Time Concerns
It’s natural for parents to worry about screen time. Too much of anything isn’t good, right? But here’s the thing: the benefits of learning apps hinge on balancing and choosing the right apps.
Parents should look for apps that are educational, age-appropriate, and designed with a child’s development in mind.
How about replacing screen time with valuable learning time?
Yes, today, learning apps help students learn a wide variety of skills and courses. From coding to entrepreneurship, financial literacy, live online courses, to structured access to age appropriate books based on student interest, the list is endless.
iPrep: A Comprehensive Learning App
iPrep is a comprehensive learning app that offers a wide range of benefits for early childhood education. Here are some of the key features of iPrep:
- Curriculum-aligned content: iPrep’s content is aligned with NCERT, ensuring that there is a connection between what children learn at school and then learn at home.
- Video lessons: iPrep’s bite-sized video lessons with colourful animations can convert the toughest topics to something easily manageable and fun learning.
- Interactive activities: iPrep offers a variety of interactive activities, including games, puzzles, and simulations, to keep children engaged and motivated.
- Personalized learning: iPrep’s multi category content with ebooks, videos, activities, simulations and games ensures that children can learn in a style that suits them best.
- Beyond Academics: iPrep’s content repository not only includes academic content for all grades but also content on extracurricular activities and life skills that are essential to prepare students for life.
- Practice & Tests: iPrep offers hundreds of practice exercises and tests so that children can reinforce their learning and be exam-ready at all times.
- Book Library: iPrep has an extensive book library with titles ranging from story books, biographies and inspirational books, life skills, poetry, art, history and much more. One can choose between both free and paid ebooks.
- Progress tracking: iPrep provides parents and teachers with detailed progress reports, so they can monitor children’s learning and identify areas where they may need additional support.
- Safe and secure: iPrep is designed with child safety in mind, with privacy controls such as MDM and age-appropriate content.
- All in a single subscription: One of the most amazing things about iPrep is that you get access to all the above-mentioned features within a single subscription. Yes, you heard it right! With iPrep you can enjoy the benefits of multiple learning applications within a single app.
Conclusion
The benefits of learning apps undoubtedly translate into an effective way to support early childhood education. By choosing trusted apps like iPrep, parents can provide their children with engaging, personalized, and meaningful learning experiences.
You can download the app today and start your child’s learning journey.
