Habits and wellbeing
How to Choose a Math App for Your Child: A Parent's Checklist
A fair checklist for choosing a math app for ages 5–10: real learning, adaptive levels, no ads or purchase pressure, privacy, offline use and screen time.
Quick answer
Choose a math app that makes your child think, not just tap; adapts to their level; matches what they learn at school; and has no ads, no pressure to buy and no data sharing. Check the privacy details, whether it works offline and what progress it shows you. Then try it together for a week, keep sessions short and make sure it doesn't crowd out sleep, play and family time.
Key takeaways
- Learning first: good apps make children active, engaged, meaningful and social learners, the four pillars from learning science.
- An “educational” label is not proof: a study of 135 popular apps for young children found advertising in 95% of them, at similar rates in educational apps.
- Look for no ads, purchases and links only behind a parental gate, and clear privacy terms. In the US, COPPA protects children under 13.
- Store labels differ: Apple's Kids category rules out third-party ads in most cases, while Google Play's Families policy restricts ads rather than banning them.
- Try the app together first, keep sessions short, and protect sleep, play and family time.
What makes a math app actually educational?
Apps labeled educational are largely unregulated and untested, and by early 2015 there were already about 80,000 of them in Apple's App Store alone. A review by learning scientists in the journal Psychological Science in the Public Interest offers a simple test. An app supports learning when it gets children to be active (thinking, not just tapping), engaged (focused on the math, not distracted), meaningful (connected to real life) and socially interactive (something to talk about with you), all aimed at a clear learning goal.
| Pillar | Green flag | Red flag |
|---|---|---|
| Active | Your child chooses a strategy, builds or drags amounts, explains | Tapping a color or spinning a wheel for points |
| Engaged | Rewards follow the math and don't interrupt it | Pop-ups, flashing prizes or videos between questions |
| Meaningful | Problems use real situations: sharing, money, time | Endless random sums with no context or progression |
| Social | Gives you things to talk about; a parent can join in | Built to be played alone for as long as possible |
- Question: 8 + 5 = ? Child answers: 12
- Weak app: buzzer, “Wrong!”, next question
- Better app: shows 8 + 2 = 10, then 10 + 3 = 13, and asks 9 + 4 next
The checklist: 12 questions to ask before you download
- Does it teach, or only test? After a mistake it should show a picture, a hint or a strategy.
- Does the difficulty adapt? Questions should get easier after errors and harder after success, so your child is stretched but not lost.
- Does it fit school? Topics should match your child's grade, for example sums within 20 in 1st grade or times tables in 3rd grade (see math skills by age).
- Is speed optional? Timed modes can be fun for facts your child already knows, but they shouldn't be the only way to play.
- Are mistakes treated kindly? No harsh sounds, lost lives for wrong answers or public rankings for young children.
- Are there ads? The safest answer is none, including ads that unlock rewards.
- Is there pressure to buy? Purchases, links out of the app and settings belong behind a parental gate: a check a young child can't pass, such as typing a number that is written in words.
- What data does it collect? Look for a clear privacy policy, no third-party tracking and no account for your child unless there's a good reason.
- Does it work offline? Offline play means no surprise web links, videos or chat, and it works in the car.
- Can you see progress? A parent view should show what was practiced, how accurate your child was and where they are stuck.
- Does it end naturally? Look for short rounds and natural stopping points, not autoplay or streak pressure.
- Can you play together? Co-playing at first shows you how the app teaches and gives you things to talk about.
Tip Test it yourself in 10 minutes
Before handing it over, play for 5 minutes as if you were your child. Get some answers wrong on purpose, tap every button and banner to see where it leads, open the settings and read the privacy section of the store listing.
Ads and in-app purchases: what should I watch for?
Ads in children's apps are common and often hard to spot. University of Michigan researchers reviewed 135 popular apps for children aged 5 and under: 95% contained at least one type of advertising, every free app did, and apps labeled educational had ads at similar rates to others. They found video ads interrupting play, prompts to buy, and hidden ads disguised as game items.
Store rules help, but they are not the same everywhere. Apple says apps in its Kids category must not include links out of the app, purchasing opportunities or other distractions unless they sit behind a parental gate, and should not include third-party advertising or analytics apart from limited exceptions. Google Play's Families policy allows ads in apps for children but restricts them: no interest-based ads, ads that interrupt play must be closable after 5 seconds, and emotionally manipulative tactics to push ads or purchases are banned.
Tip Turn on purchase approval
Whatever app you choose, set up your phone or tablet's family settings so that downloads and purchases need your approval, and keep your payment password to yourself.
Privacy in plain English: what does COPPA cover?
In the US, the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) applies to apps and websites directed to children under 13, and to general apps that know they are collecting children's data. Before collecting personal information, such as a name, a photo or voice recording, location, or a persistent identifier that can recognize a user over time, they must notify parents and get verifiable parental consent. Parents can review the information, have it deleted and stop further collection, and companies may keep children's data only as long as necessary. Foreign apps directed to children in the US must comply too.
The FTC updated the rule in 2025: sharing children's data with third parties, including for targeted advertising, now needs separate opt-in consent from parents, with full compliance due in April 2026. Outside the US, similar laws exist, such as the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which both Apple's and Google's rules reference. Google Play also doesn't let apps aimed only at children request location permission.
- Does the app need an account, email or name for your child? If so, why?
- Does it ask for location, camera or microphone access it doesn't need?
- Does the privacy policy mention sharing data with third parties for advertising?
- Can you delete your child's data easily?
Do labels like Kids or Teacher Approved mean an app is good?
They are useful filters, not guarantees. Apple's Kids category comes with stricter rules on purchases, links and data. On Google Play, Teacher Approved is an editorial program: teachers and children's education and media specialists rate apps that meet the Families policies for quality and age appropriateness, and approved apps get a badge and may appear on the Kids tab.
No badge doesn't mean a bad app. Some apps can't be reviewed for Teacher Approved at all, including apps designed to be used with an adult, apps made mainly for classroom use, apps in unsupported languages and apps with too few downloads. And no label tells you whether an app suits your child's level or your school's methods, so the checklist still applies.
How much screen time is OK for math apps?
There is no single magic number for ages 5–10. The World Health Organization's 2019 guidance limits sedentary screen time to 1 hour a day for 2- to 4-year-olds, saying less is better. Its 2020 guidelines for ages 5 to 17 ask children to limit time spent sitting, particularly recreational screen time, and to get at least an average of 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity a day.
In January 2026 the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) published new guidance that moves away from fixed time limits. It encourages a Family Media Plan, the “5 Cs” (the child, the content, calming down, what screens crowd out, and communication) and media-free times and places such as meals or the car, and it calls on companies to turn off autoplay and minimize designs that prolong engagement.
For math practice, short sessions work well: aim for 10–15 focused minutes and stop while your child still wants more. Balance screen practice with hands-on math and screen-free math games, like this one.
Shopkeeper
- Put price tags on five items: 3, 5, 8, 10 and 12 dollars.
- Your child buys two items and adds the prices: 5 + 8 = 13.
- They pay with 20 and work out the change: 20 − 13 = 7.
- Younger children use prices up to 10. Older children buy three items or use prices like 2.50.
Trying an app: a simple first week
- Day 1: play together for 10 minutes. Watch how it explains mistakes and where the buttons lead.
- Days 2–4: your child plays alone with you nearby. Ask them to teach you one thing they learned.
- Day 5: look at the parent view or progress report. Is your child working at the right level?
- Day 7: decide. Keep the app if your child is thinking, improving and happy to stop when time is up.
If timed rounds cause tears, switch them off and read our guide to math anxiety in kids. For the bigger picture of math at home, see how to teach math at home.
Frequently asked questions
Are math apps good for kids?
They can be, if the app makes children think, adapts to their level and is used in short sessions alongside hands-on practice. Learning-science research stresses active, engaged, meaningful and social learning, and tapping through flashy rewards is not the same thing.
How much screen time should a 5-year-old have?
The WHO's 1-hour limit applies to 2- to 4-year-olds; from age 5 it recommends limiting recreational screen time without a fixed number. The AAP's 2026 guidance also avoids fixed limits and focuses on quality content and making sure screens don't crowd out sleep, play and family time.
What is a parental gate?
A parental gate is a small adult-level check, such as typing a number that is written out in words, that must be passed before purchases, links out of the app or settings. Apple requires one before purchases and links out of the app in Kids category apps.
Are free math apps safe?
Not always. In a study of 135 popular apps for children 5 and under, every free app contained advertising. Check any app, free or paid, for ads, purchase prompts and data sharing before your child uses it.
What does COPPA mean for my child's apps?
COPPA is a US law that requires apps and websites directed to children under 13 to get verifiable parental consent before collecting personal information. Parents can review or delete that information, and since a 2025 update, sharing children's data for targeted advertising needs separate consent.
Should my child use a math app alone?
Start together so you can see how the app teaches, then let your child play on their own with you nearby. Talking about what they did keeps learning social and helps you spot problems early.
Sources
Written by the Matobur team at Edict Digital and checked against these sources:
- Putting education in “educational” apps: lessons from the science of learning (Hirsh-Pasek et al., 2015) (opens in a new tab)Psychological Science in the Public Interest 16(1), PubMed record
- Advertising in young children's apps: a content analysis (Meyer et al., 2019) (opens in a new tab)Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics 40(1), PubMed record
- App Review Guidelines (1.3 Kids Category; 5.1.4 Kids) (opens in a new tab)Apple Developer
- Google Play Families Policies (opens in a new tab)Google Play Console Help
- Participate in the Teacher Approved program (opens in a new tab)Google Play Console Help
- Complying with COPPA: Frequently Asked Questions (opens in a new tab)U.S. Federal Trade Commission
- FTC Finalizes Changes to Children's Privacy Rule Limiting Companies' Ability to Monetize Kids' Data (January 16, 2025) (opens in a new tab)U.S. Federal Trade Commission
- Creating a Child-Friendly Digital World: AAP Releases New Media Recommendations (January 20, 2026) (opens in a new tab)HealthyChildren.org, American Academy of Pediatrics
- WHO guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behaviour (2020) (opens in a new tab)World Health Organization
- To grow up healthy, children need to sit less and play more (guidelines for children under 5, 24 April 2019) (opens in a new tab)World Health Organization