Posted on behalf of Zayaan Schroeder who is a mother to two kids and is passionate about making their childhood memorable and happy. She has been a parenting journalist for 10 years and also runs a parenting blog called Surviving the Madness dedicated to making things easier for moms. You can follow her on Instagram www.instagram.com/survivingmadenss

Our children live in a very different world to the one we grew up in. Their world is filled with the kind and level of technology that we could only dream of. And while there can be downsides to this kind of tech heavy life there are also opportunities that we were never privileged to have.

While screen time should be limited as busy parents and actually just any parent who needs a break, handing your kid your phone or tablet for a half an hour can be just what is needed to stop you falling over the edge. Or well, to get supper ready.

There are so many things in the app store for kids that are just brain numbingly bad. But here are some great fun and educational games. My kids have played each and every one of these games at one point or another and they’re the ones that keep them occupied and learning while I take a moment to breathe.

Khan Academy Kids

Khan Academy Kids is for children aged 2-6 and includes thousands of educational games, activities, and books to help toddlers and pre-schoolers learn. A cast of adorable characters guide your kid through lessons, and it has an adaptive learning path that will customise their experience to help them to master different skills.

The lessons cover areas such as reading, language, writing, math, social-emotional development, problem-solving skills, and motor development. Open-ended activities like drawing, storytelling, and colouring encourage creativity and self-expression. My 5-year-old and 2-year-old each have their own profile with their own learning journey.

I love that Khan Academy Kids has partnered with the Super Simple Songs YouTube channel and uses their songs to teach various concepts. Another big plus with this app is that it’s completely free, forever - no ads and no subscriptions necessary.

Download for free on the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store.

Astronomy for Kids: Star Walk

My son like most little kids is obsessed with space, planets, the moon and stars and has 5 million questions about them that I don’t have the answers to. Astronomy for kids is a beautifully designed app with bright colours and fun animations and it’s been a really cool experience to learn with my little one. After each section there’s a little test so your child can test his knowledge.

It’s available on the Google Play Store for R14.99 or the Apple App Store for $2.99

Teach Your Monster To Read

Teach Your Monster makes learning letters and reading fun. Your child makes a Monster friend and they go on a journey identifying sounds, sight words and reading sentences. This app is worth the price for me because it covers the first two years of learning to read, from matching letters and sounds to enjoying little books. The recommended age range for this app is 3 – 6 years but it can be used a bit beyond those years especially if your child is struggling. Another reason this is one of the apps I actually paid for is because it’s been designed in collaboration with reading experts from Roehampton University and hopefully they’re a clever lot who know what they’re doing.

Download on the Google Play Store for R84.99 or the Apple App Store for $4.99

Think & Learn Code-a-pillar

This game is an early introduction to coding and with the way the world is going I think it’s essential that every child learns basic coding skills. In this game from Fischer-Price, your child must help the Code-a-pillar through the maze by giving it commands using a drag and drop function. As your child levels up they unlock new coding segments so each level gets progressively more challenging.

Your child will develop mathematical skills like planning & sequencing, problem solving, number recognition and counting in order.

Download for free on the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store.