Parent-Approved Apps for When Screen Time Is Unavoidable

Plus, low-effort activities for your toddler to stay busy without screens.

Published on Aug 22, 2025

As much as parents want to limit screen time, there are moments when a little digital distraction becomes a necessity—maybe Yaya is away, very important errands need to be done, or you just need a short break. In the Smart Parenting Village community, now with over 115,000 members, parents shared their go-to apps and activities for these situations. The best part? These recommendations are educational and fun for the adults too!

Also read: The Best Parental Control Apps of 2024

Apps Parents Actually Approve

Khan Academy Kids

Type: Free, educational

Available: Android & iOS

Khan Academy Kids turns learning into play. Toddlers explore early math, reading, and social-emotional skills at their own pace. Parents love that it’s ad-free and encourages independent learning in short, guilt-free sessions.

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Khan Academy Kids.

Lingokids

Type: Paid, language-focused

Available: Android & iOS

Lingokids teaches English through games, songs, and interactive activities. Kids 2–8 stay engaged with a fun reward system, while parents like that learning never feels like a chore.

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Lingokids!.

BabyBus

Type: Free with in-app purchases, educational
Available: Android & iOS

Dedicated to age-appropriate learning, BabyBus offers apps, videos, nursery rhymes, and stories made to engage toddlers in play, watching, and listening activities. Parents appreciate its bright colors and quick activities, perfect for short bursts of screen time.

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BabyBus.

TinyTap

Type: Free with premium options, educational and creative
Available: Android & iOS

TinyTap lets kids play games and even make their own interactive content. Parents say it’s a nice mix of learning and creativity, helping toddlers build early digital literacy while having fun.

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campus.tinytap.com.

ABCmouse

Type: Paid, educational
Available: Android & iOS

ABCmouse provides a structured early learning curriculum with interactive games, puzzles, and activities. Parents love that it’s comprehensive and lets toddlers explore reading, math, science, and art at their own pace.

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ABCmouse.

Sago Mini

Type: Paid, creative and exploratory
Available: Android & iOS

Sago Mini World helps toddlers build emotional intelligence, creative problem-solving, and self-confidence through open-ended play. There’s also Sago Mini First Words, which teaches vocabulary with interactive games, and Sago Mini School, which introduces preschool skills like letters, numbers, and problem-solving for ages 2–5. Parents appreciate that all three apps encourage independent learning.

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Sago Mini World.

Screen-Free Toddler Activities

Even when screen time is unavoidable, parents from the Smart Parenting Village suggest hands-on activities that keep toddlers learning and active. Art and crafts are a favorite—give little ones Manila paper, crayons, scratch paper, stamps, or old coloring books, and let them create freely, mess included.

Stacking and building activities are also popular: paper cups, blocks, Lego Duplo, magnetic tiles, or small cars provide endless ways to explore and shift attention.

Water play is another winner. Simple activities like filling containers, splashing, or thawing frozen toy animals build sensory skills and problem-solving.

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Parents also love using recyclable materials—egg cartons, pastry boxes, paper cups and plates, bottle caps, and PET bottles—for imaginative play that encourages creativity and resourcefulness.

Other simple activities, like thick jelly stickers or water painting, help develop fine motor skills, while everyday educational toys such as wooden blocks, board markers, and erasers teach shapes, colors, and coordination.

Pairing these activities with occasional screen time apps creates a balanced routine, so you don’t have to feel guilty about giving your toddler a little digital fun.

Click here for 50+ indoor activities to try with your little one.

Hanna is a News Desk Writer at Smart Parenting, covering parenting, health, culture, and more. Off the clock, she’s likely people-watching at a café or park, matcha latte in hand.