Kids' Apps: What Parents Can Check Before Installing

Introduction: Navigating Child-Directed Apps

Before installing any application for children, parents are encouraged to review its store listing. This helps in understanding the app's offerings, operation, and suitability for young users. LookedApp reviews 280 apps and 124 games, covering a broad spectrum of educational and entertainment options.

The digital marketplace offers many educational and entertainment apps for children. Details in store listings vary, making it important for parents to know where to focus. Examining specific sections helps parents make informed choices about the applications their children use.

This guide outlines critical areas for parents to investigate: content ratings, pricing models, potential in-app purchases, and privacy considerations. Reviewing these elements provides a clearer picture of an app's design and practices, ensuring a safer, more appropriate digital experience for children.

Decoding Content Ratings for Children's Apps

Content ratings indicate an app's suitability for different age groups, displayed prominently on Google Play and the App Store. They provide a quick reference for parents to determine if content aligns with their child's developmental stage.

Many child-directed apps are rated '4+' on the App Store or 'Everyone' on Google Play, suggesting general suitability for young audiences. LookedApp's reviews show ClassDojo, YouTube Kids, Kahoot!, Epic, PBS KIDS Games, Prodigy Math, Math Games, ABCya! Games, and Boddle are rated 4+. Times Table - Learn Math is rated Everyone.

LookedApp's catalog indicates 128 titles are rated 4+, and 115 are rated Everyone. Other ratings include 12+ (81 titles), Teen (29 titles), 17+ (28 titles), 9+ (14 titles), and Everyone 10+ (6 titles). While these ratings suggest broad accessibility, parents should consider the app's content and their child's maturity. A rating is a guideline, not a guarantee of universal appropriateness.

Understanding App Pricing Models

The price line on an app's store listing indicates any upfront cost. Many child-directed apps are listed as 'Free' on the App Store or '0' on Google Play, meaning no initial charge to download.

However, a 'Free' designation does not always mean the application is entirely without cost. LookedApp's catalog shows that 193 titles are listed as 'Free' with no in-app purchases, while 186 list in-app purchases. Only 22 titles have an up-front price.

YouTube Kids, PBS KIDS Games, and Math Games are listed as 'Free' on both stores, with LookedApp's reviews noting no in-app purchases on their listings. Conversely, ClassDojo, Kahoot!, Epic, Prodigy Math, ABCya! Games, Boddle, and Times Table - Learn Math are also 'Free' but explicitly indicate in-app purchases. Epic, for example, offers a 7-day free trial for families before requiring a paid subscription, while educators use Epic School at no cost during school hours.

Examining In-App Purchases and Subscriptions

When an app is listed as 'Free, in-app purchases,' the initial download is free, but additional content, features, or subscriptions are available for purchase within the app. These purchases vary, from unlocking new levels to premium services.

Details about in-app purchases are often in the app description or a dedicated section on the store listing. ClassDojo features 'The Plus Experience' for parents, as noted in its App Store description. The App Store listing for ABCya! Games offers six complimentary games weekly, with a subscription to unlock over 300 games. LookedApp's review of Kahoot! notes paid subscriptions unlock premium features like an image library and advanced question types.

Prodigy Math offers an optional Premium Membership for $99.99/year, providing parents with data and tools to monitor learning, plus extra features for children, according to LookedApp's review. Parents should also review subscription management. For Prodigy Math and ABCya! Games, subscriptions automatically renew unless canceled at least 24 hours before the period ends. For Kahoot!, auto-renewal can be managed or turned off in user account settings, and renewal costs apply within 24 hours of the current period's end. For these apps, payments are typically charged to the user's iTunes account upon purchase confirmation, and renewal charges occur within 24 hours prior to the end of the current subscription period. Auto-renewal can usually be managed or turned off through account settings, such as Apple ID account settings.

Reviewing Privacy Policies and Device Permissions

Privacy is a critical consideration for children's applications. Store listings typically provide links to the developer's privacy policy, detailing how user data is collected, used, and protected. For example, LookedApp's review notes that Epic provides links to its Privacy Policy and Terms of Service, accessible through its store listings, to inform users about data handling practices.

On Android devices, Google Play listings specify permission groups an app requests, allowing access to device functionalities. LookedApp's review shows ClassDojo requests Location, Photos/Media/Files, Storage, Camera, Microphone, and Wi-Fi connection information to support features like sharing photos. YouTube Kids requests Identity, Contacts, Photos/Media/Files, Storage, Microphone, and Wi-Fi connection information. Its developer states different privacy notices apply based on whether children use the app signed in with a Google Account or not.

Other apps, including Kahoot!, PBS KIDS Games, Prodigy Math, and ABCya! Games, request Photos/Media/Files, Storage, and Wi-Fi connection information; Kahoot! uses these for features like adding images. PBS KIDS advises users to review permissions, committing to a safe environment. Times Table - Learn Math and Math Games request Wi-Fi connection information, while Boddle requests Camera access. ABCya! Games and Boddle are kidSAFE Certified. Prodigy Math holds the iKeepSafe Privacy California Student Badge, confirming compliance with COPPA and FERPA guidelines.

Identifying the Intended Audience

The 'who' section of an app's description clarifies its intended user base and design philosophy, helping parents determine suitability for their child's age and learning objectives. For instance, LookedApp's review states PBS KIDS Games targets children aged two to eight with educational content in English and Spanish. Epic, a digital library, focuses on cultivating reading skills for children, offering parental dashboards for up to four children. Its developer reports that 95% of Epic parents saw improved reading skills, and 9 out of 10 Epic Educators recommend it.

YouTube Kids provides a controlled, age-appropriate video experience for young children, with customizable content filters for various age groups. Prodigy Math engages children and students with an adaptive game-based approach to mathematics, tailoring questions to individual learning styles. ClassDojo targets teachers, parents, and children, offering tools for classroom management and communication. Kahoot! serves a broad audience, from young students and families to teachers and professionals, by gamifying learning.

Boddle, a 3D learning game for students in kindergarten through sixth grade, focuses on math, English language arts, and science. It uses quests and mini-games to engage children who respond to narratives and reward systems. The app also offers tools for parents and educators to monitor progress and assign practice, making it suitable for home or classroom use.

Math Games targets children from kindergarten to sixth grade, teenagers, and adults, covering arithmetic to advanced concepts. ABCya! Games provides interactive learning tools across various subjects for children from pre-kindergarten through sixth grade and beyond. Times Table - Learn Math helps individuals improve multiplication tables, particularly children, due to its 'Everyone' content rating.

Parental supervision is generally suggested for child-targeted applications to guide usage and ensure an optimal experience. LookedApp's reviews for apps like Times Table - Learn Math, Math Games, ABCya! Games, Boddle, and Kahoot! recommend supervision for younger users to manage interaction with content, learning experiences, and potential in-app purchases.

Making Informed Decisions for Children's Apps

Reviewing an app's store listing before installation is valuable for parents. By checking content ratings, understanding pricing and in-app purchases, scrutinizing privacy policies, and identifying the intended audience, parents can ensure apps children use are appropriate and align with family values.

Information from Google Play, the App Store, and LookedApp's reviews provides a toolkit for parental decision-making. Attention to these details helps create a safer, more enriching digital environment for young users, preventing unexpected costs, safeguarding privacy, and confirming content suitability.