Preparing children for school with learning apps
Good apps can be helpful in preparing for first grade. Of course, parents should not simply hand their children a mobile phone at this age and leave them to it, but should accompany and support them. And if they are too enthusiastic, limit screen time from time to time.
Free is not always free
There are actually no free apps. Either you pay a usage fee or your data has a certain value for the provider. Or you are shown advertising messages. Such adverts can very quickly become distracting and the app no longer fulfils its purpose - not to mention the fact that children may end up on pages that are not suitable for them. In my opinion, in-app purchases, i.e. the option to unlock new content for money, are also critical. This has no place in a good learning app for young children. That's why I also suggest paid apps that provide age-appropriate content.
Der Löwe, the reading and writing adventure from Beltz-Verlag, is available for iOS and Android for 3.80 francs. Funny pictures and fun puzzles encourage children to explore the world of letters. The app also has a parents' area.
Anton is an interactive learning app that is subsidised by the EU and is available free of charge for iOS and Android. Anton conveys learning content not only for school beginners, but up to year 10 and is used very intensively in Germany. However, school beginners in Switzerland certainly benefit from the content for German (apart from the ß) and maths.
Fragenbär - Richtig konzentrieren is from «Spielend Lernen Verlag», costs 5.70 francs and is available for iOS and Android. This app does not teach school beginners a specific subject such as reading or maths, but a very basic skill: concentration. The attention span of children is usually not very pronounced - this is where the app comes in: In an imaginative environment, children learn to pay full attention.
Zebra Schreibtabelle is an app from Klett Verlag and the basic version is available free of charge for iOS and Android. This app focusses on learning to read and write, the fun comes second. The app has a really good educational structure, although the read-aloud function still has room for improvement. Additional content from Klett Verlag can be purchased.
On Medienstark you will find tips and interactive learning modules for the competent use of digital media in everyday family life. swisscom.ch/medienstark
