As a modern mom, I think a lot about screens. How much is too much? When is it helpful, and when is it just noise, or even worse, harmful. We try to limit screen time in our home because I want my kids to spend their childhoods reading real books, playing outside, building forts out of sofa cushions, and experiencing the world in tangible ways. But I also live in the real world: a world where technology is not only unavoidable but can be a genuinely powerful educational tool.

Over the years, I’ve come to see screens not as the enemy, but as an opportunity when used thoughtfully and intentionally. There are a handful of educational apps we regularly use in our homeschool, and I truly believe they’ve enriched our learning experience.

Why We Use Educational Apps

I see educational apps as just one piece of a larger puzzle. They’re not the centerpiece of our day, but they can offer something unique: interactive learning, creative exploration, and a change of pace when we need it. Sometimes, they reinforce a concept we’re working on; sometimes, they spark interest in something entirely new.

I also appreciate that apps can promote independent learning. It’s empowering for my kids to be able to explore a subject or practice a skill on their own, and it gives me a moment to reset or work with another child one-on-one.

Our Favorite Educational Apps

Here are a few of the apps that have earned a permanent spot on our devices:

Khan Academy Kids
This one’s a goldmine. It’s completely free and filled with high quality content for early learners. The animations are adorable, and it covers everything from early math to reading to emotional development. My kids ask to play it all the time and I’m happy to say yes.

Stack the States
This one is great for geography! It turns U.S. state facts into a fun game that even I’ve found myself getting into. It’s an excellent way to reinforce what we’re learning in history or social studies, and it really helps with memorization.

Bus Escape Traffic Jam
This is a logic and strategy game that feels more like fun than learning, but don’t be fooled. It sharpens problem solving and spatial reasoning skills in a big way. This is a treat for the kids to play and probably the one that seems the least like “school” to them.

Forest: Stay Focused
We started using this one specifically for piano practice, and it’s been a game changer. The idea is simple: you pick a time and as the timer counts down without the phone being disturbed, a little virtual tree grows. Over time, they can grow an entire forest. It’s motivating in a surprisingly soothing way, and I use it outside of homeschool often for my own productivity.

Kodable
This is a wonderful app for introducing kids to basic coding concepts. It’s colorful, intuitive, and makes something as complex as programming feel completely accessible. However, it’s not free.

Cozi Family Organizer
This one is more for me than the kids, but it’s essential. I use it to keep track of extracurriculars, field trips, co-op events, and everything else we have going on. It helps our home run a little more smoothly, and that alone is worth its weight in gold. This is also not free, but it’s well worth the money, in my opinion.

Letters App from The Good and the Beautiful
We love this app for spelling and phonics practice. It aligns beautifully with our values and the rest of our curriculum, and it’s so well designed that it doesn’t feel like busy work.

Apps I’m Excited to Explore

There are a few apps I’ve had my eye on and can’t wait to try out with the kids:

Sketchbook
For art-loving kids (and maybe their moms, too), this app seems like a fantastic creative outlet. It offers all the tools of a digital sketchpad without the mess of paint on the table (again). I use Procreate for my children’s books, but it would be nice to have something a little simpler for the kids from time to time.

Scratch and Scratch Jr.
These are coding apps designed by MIT that let kids create their own interactive stories, games, and animations. It’s creative coding at its best, and I love the idea of giving kids tools to build something instead of just passively consuming content, and it’s FREE.

Finding the Balance

Using screens in our homeschool isn’t about handing over an iPad and walking away. It’s about making intentional choices, setting boundaries, and treating apps like any other tool in our toolbox. Sometimes they’re the right fit, and sometimes we close the screen and pull out a book or go outside to dig in the dirt.

Technology will be a big part of our children’s futures. I want them to know how to use it well, not just to entertain themselves, but to grow, create, and learn. Educational apps, when used thoughtfully, can be a powerful part of that process.

So yes, we limit screen time. But we also embrace it, on our terms, in ways that serve our family and support our goals. And when I see my child solving a complex puzzle or writing her first lines of code or proudly growing another digital tree because she stayed focused at the piano, well, I’m reminded that screens, when used with care, can be beautiful, too.