What’s on Your Kid’s Phone? 5 Apps Worth Having There

ByMichelle Garrett

Parenting in the smartphone era can feel impossible. You want to encourage your child to engage with digital learning and to feel connected and comfortable with technology. At the same time, you want to safeguard them from inappropriate apps, social media pressure, and endless scrolling.  

So, how do you find the right balance? The key lies in installing the right apps. Instead of monitoring every click, you should fill your child’s phone with tools that support learning and creativity. Parental control tools can also help you set boundaries without removing your child’s sense of independence.  

Mother sitting with two children on a couch while helping them use a smartphone with educational apps.

Apps Every Child Should Have  

Children in the US aged 8 to 18 have a daily screen time of 7.5 hours. While this won’t be the case for every child, it’s clear that children are spending a lot of time online. You can make this time more productive by using apps that promote learning and encourage healthy digital habits. 

Duolingo  

Duolingo is a great language learning app, especially for young kids. The lessons are short and engaging, and often feel more like a game than schoolwork. Kids complete lessons to move up levels, collect “gems,” and compete against other learners in leagues.  

For the kids aged 3 to 6, the Duolingo ABC app teaches to read and write English, covering phonics, letter sounds, and literacy skills.  

Spotify Kids  

Spotify Kids is available through Premium Family and provides a safe listening experience. The system filters out explicit content, allowing only kid-friendly tracks to play. Plus, you can monitor your child’s activity and block content you don’t want them to access.  

With a library of over 300,000 songs, Spotify Kids introduces your child to music in a safe way.  

Minecraft  

If your child is going to spend hours on their phone, they may as well spend that time building digital worlds. Minecraft is suitable for kids aged 7 and above, and encourages creativity, critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration.  

The statistics back this up. According to the Journal of Educational Technology, Minecraft players perform 32% better in spatial thinking tests. They also perform 27% better on logic and planning tasks. 

Khan Academy Kids  

Khan Academy Kids targets kids aged 2 to 8 and is 100% free. Engaging animal characters lead the way through interactive stories, songs, and lessons. Your child will strengthen their reading, writing, mathematics, and social-emotional skills.  

The app adapts to your child’s learning pace and doesn’t overwhelm them with information. Plus, it’s ad-free, meaning the focus is entirely on fun.  

Libby  

Libby works like a real library — you use your library card to borrow books. However, instead of physical books, your child borrows and accesses ebooks and audiobooks through the Libby app.  

If your child already loves reading, Libby gives them endless new stories to explore. If your child doesn’t enjoy reading, the audiobooks available can make reading less intimidating and more engaging.  

Parental Control Tools  

Even with the likes of Libby and Minecraft installed, you still need to be proactive in controlling your kid’s phone.  

  • Screen time management tools. These tools are already built into iOS and Android devices and allow you to limit screen hours. You can decide which apps are accessible at which times.  
  • Content filtering tools. These block inappropriate websites and explicit material. They ensure your child views only safe search results.  
  • Network-level protection tools. In addition to apps for parental control, you should also invest in a tool that blocks malicious websites. High-quality VPNs come with threat protection. They prevent malicious websites, ads, and trackers from loading on your child’s device.  
  • App usage and activity tracking tools. These tools allow you to review which apps your child is using most often. They also reveal how long your child spends on each app, giving you an idea of your child’s digital habits.  
  • Family location tools. If your child has a smartphone, you should turn on location sharing features. Location tools allow you to know your child’s whereabouts at all times.  
Parent reviewing smartphone settings while child uses a tablet responsibly in a calm family living room.

Finding a Balance  

You shouldn’t be constantly stressed about what your child is doing on their smartphone. You should create a responsible setup so that your child can socialize, play, create, and relax. Start by downloading a mix of safe entertainment, social, and educational apps. Next, make sure you review all apps that your child wants to download. Lastly, keep tabs on them by using parental control tools.