The Best iPad Games for Pre-Schoolers
Striking the Balance: Should All Games Be Educational?
Balancing learning and fun for your kids can be tricky. Should you always pick games with educational value, or is it fine to let them enjoy something purely entertaining since they already get enough learning at school?
There’s no perfect answer—and I’m not going to pretend I have one. But I can share some of the apps and games that worked well for us, and the ones my kids just couldn’t get into.
Pok Pok Playroom: 5/5
This is the only game both of my kids have enjoyed for extended periods. It’s very Montessori-inspired—there’s no flashy gift boxes or gimmicks to trigger dopamine rushes. Instead, it’s filled with simple, interactive toys that encourage exploration and play.
It doesn't directly teach reading or math, but like a quality Montessori program, it allows kids to learn through discovery without overwhelming them.
Epic Books: 3/5
Epic has a lot of useful features, like reading books aloud while highlighting the words. The downside is the content. Some books are good, and others are just okay—but it’s unlikely you’ll find your favorite books, or your child’s, in their library.
Crayola Create and Play 4/5
This game is almost too good. We downloaded it as part of Apple Arcade to see if my son would like it—and he did. The problem is that, like a lot of modern games (think Fortnite or Roblox), it uses loot boxes and similar tactics to keep kids hooked. I almost deleted it, but the puzzles are excellent, so he gets to play it occasionally.
Checkers Royal+ (Or any other checkers game). 4/5
When my son was around four, we started playing checkers on the iPad. It worked well because the app enforced the rules—which is key with young kids who might struggle to follow them (I cover more about board games with toddlers in another article) My son really enjoyed it, and he’s gotten better over time.
We use Checkers+ on Apple Arcade, which lets you adjust the board size to change the game’s complexity. I still try to play on a real board every few weeks, but so far, the iPad has offered the best experience.
Conclusion
Finding games that strike the right balance between fun and learning can be a challenge, and what works for one family may not work for another. Hopefully, these reviews help you discover a few gems that your kids enjoy—and that you feel good about them playing.
What games have worked for you? Have you tried any of the above? Let me know in the comments!