During these housebound days, it’s hard to keep the kids occupied when they’re not home schooling – especially as Easter holidays are now upon us. Whether you like them or not, tablets, phones and other devices are now the go-to distraction in so many households.

Finding out which apps are worth downloading, paying money for – and even which ones are safe for kids – can be a minefield in itself. Our list of the best apps for kids right now is going to ease your pain and banish their boredom!

Epic!
An app for kids with an e-book library that contains over 35,000 children's books (and it includes a read-to-me feature for little ones who are still learning to read). A great app for when you’re reluctant to give them screen time – you could argue that it’s good screen time! Perfect for families with kids of various ages. Free trial followed by monthly payments.

DoodleMaths
DoodleMaths builds an individual work programme for your child that's tailored to their level, strengths, and weaknesses. Focusing on KS1 & KS2, it includes short, snappy exercises that conveniently fit around busy schedules and feel like fun rather than a chore. Kids can even use it offline and upload their progress when they’re back online later. Free trial followed by monthly or an annual payment.

Duolingo
Great for kids who want to learn a new language or practice one their already learning. They can practice through audio, word identification, and oral exercises for over 30 languages — iand it’s great for parents too! The fun, game-like lessons keep students motivated and excited about language. Many teachers and even entire governments around the world already view Duolingo as the perfect blended learning companion for their classrooms. Designed for ages 10+. And it’s free!

ScratchJr
For budding coders out there, Scratch allows children to learn how to program their own interactive games and stories. In the process, they learn to solve problems, design projects, and express themselves creatively on the computer. The free app is great for kids aged 5-7.

First Words
For very little fairies and princes to encourage them with their speech and learning different words. Includes UK spelling and pronunciations of over 110 words that are clear for your little one to understand and also has some great additional features such as quizzes and autoplay so your child doesn’t have to navigate the page. It's also a great app for little ones with autism, as you can turn off the background colours and animation to make it a calmer learning experience. It’s free but you can buy an upgraded version that offers more words and features.

Museum virtual tours
You can walk through some of the world’s most prestigious cultural institutions including The Louvre, The Met, The Van Gogh Museum, NASA, The British Museum and more. Some of the world’s largest zoos have also opened their virtual doors – and what child doesn’t want to see the penguins taking a little walk around the zoo? Just visit the institution’s website to access their tours.

Happy apping!