Which learning platform or app is right for my child? And do they even need it at preschool age? Many parents are faced with precisely these questions. Websites and apps with learning opportunities can help children discover, practise and revise. However, they are no substitute for learning together, playing or exercise. The decisive factor is how and for what they are used. We present five popular offers in Germany and classify what parents should look out for.
Most of the services presented can be used both in the browser and as an app. The range of functions differs in some cases.
Sofatutor offers learning content from pre-school age to upper school. For younger children, there is Sofatutor Kids with learning games, short videos and exercises on numbers, colors, letters, first arithmetic problems and factual topics. The content is clearly structured and based on educational plans. Parents can create child profiles and view learning progress.
ANTON is one of the most popular learning apps for preschool and school and is often recommended or used by schools. In addition to the widely used app, learning can also take place online in the browser. Children practice math, German, general knowledge or music in short, manageable units. ANTON is ad-free and designed without time pressure.
Antolin is a digital reading promotion program that is mainly used in schools. Children read books offline and then answer questions about the content to collect points. The focus is clearly on reading motivation.
Duolingo teaches foreign languages in a fun way with short exercises, repetitions and rewards. Even children can learn their first words and simple sentences. Both the website and the app are colorful and motivating, but rely on regular use.
Scoyo is aimed at children from around 4 to 12 years of age. The learning platform offers exercises and learning games on German, math and specialist topics, sorted by age and grade level. Parents can create profiles and track learning progress.
Not every learning app or platform is suitable for every child. Age recommendations can be a guide, but say little about whether an offer really suits your own child. The decisive factors are interests, stage of development and individual learning speed. Some children love structured tasks, others learn better through free experimentation, movement or conversation. If an activity causes frustration or your child quickly loses interest, it is not (yet) the right choice. And that’s perfectly fine.
At pre-school age, the focus is not on practicing, but on playful discovery. Children gain their first experiences with numbers, letters or language and learn primarily through curiosity and repetition. Digital learning opportunities can provide stimuli here, but they should be entertaining and not create too much pressure. Supervision is important: talk to your child about what they are seeing and trying out.
When children start school, their needs change. Content now needs to be repeated and consolidated more frequently. Learning platforms and apps can help with this, for example with arithmetic, reading or learning vocabulary. They are well suited as a supplement, but not as a substitute for explanations, homework or joint discussions.
Regardless of age, learning platforms or apps are no substitute for reading aloud, free play or exercise. Make sure there is variety and agree clear times and breaks. Don’t ask your child about points or levels, but about what they have understood or newly discovered. In this way, learning remains positive and digital learning opportunities become what they can be: meaningful support in everyday family life.
