How to choose a learning app for your child, a 7-point checklist

A good learning app for a young child is made for their age, practises something you can name, has no ads or chat, keeps purchases behind a parent and lets the child stop easily. Run the seven checks below before you subscribe, and use the free trial to watch your child play.

The checklist

1. Made for their age. Look for the developer's stated age range, not just the store's age rating. "4+" on the App Store means suitable from 4, not designed for 4 year olds. 2. You can name the skill. "Memory and turn-taking" is a skill. "Brain boosting" is not. 3. No ads. Check Google Play for "Contains ads", and the developer's own statement. 4. No chat with strangers. Or, if there is online play, no free chat and parent control over friends. 5. Purchases behind a parent gate. One subscription decided by a parent is easier to manage than purchases offered during play. 6. Easy to stop. No streaks, no "come back tomorrow or lose it" rewards. 7. Data kept small. Read the App Store privacy label. Apps for under 13s in the US must follow COPPA.

Use the trial well

• Play it yourself for five minutes first.
• Watch your child play and ask them to explain what they are doing.
• Check how they feel when it is time to stop.

How Jupo World answers the checklist

Made for ages 4 to 10; six named superpowers and 26 skills in 9 areas; no ads; no chat; a parent gate before every purchase and the parent area; and you can start free in the browser at play.jupo.world before choosing a plan.

Questions parents ask

Are educational apps worth paying for?

Some are. A paid app with no ads, a clear skill focus and an honest trial is often better value than a free app built around ads or purchases.

How many learning apps should a child have?

One or two good ones are plenty. Too many choices turns play into browsing.