In the app store the word "educational" means almost nothing. Anyone can type it in. Many children's apps make money not from teaching but from the child's attention: they show ads, push purchases or collect data that later becomes an advertising profile. Below is a list of things worth checking before installing. It takes a few minutes and requires no technical knowledge.
1. Ads
An ad in an app for a four-year-old is not just a break in the lesson. The child cannot yet tell an ad from content and taps everything that moves. Some ads lead to other apps, some to pages you would not want to show your child.
How to check: in the Google Play listing look for the label "Contains ads". If the label is missing, the publisher has declared there are none. If the app is in the Google Play Families programme, the publisher had to meet extra conditions on ads aimed at children.
2. In-app purchases
The "free app with purchases" model is fine if the child gets a fair part for free and the parent knowingly unlocks the rest. The problem is apps that keep showing the child a purchase window, block progress or sell "coins" and "gems".
How to check: the "In-app purchases" label in the store and the price range under it. If you see a long list of amounts from very small to around a hundred, the app most likely sells virtual currency. If the prices are for unlocking the full version, such as a subscription or a one-off purchase made by the parent, that is usually an honest model.
3. Account and data
An app for learning letters does not need the child's name, date of birth or photo. If it asks, ask yourself why. An account created by the parent with just an email address is a reasonable minimum when the app needs to remember progress across devices. An account created by the child is a warning sign.
How to check: in Google Play the "Data safety" section shows what the app collects and whether it shares it with other companies. Look for apps marked "No data collected" or with a list limited to what is necessary.
4. Permissions
An educational app does not need access to contacts, location, microphone or photos. The microphone can be an exception if the app teaches pronunciation, but then it should explain that clearly.
How to check: after installing, open the phone settings, then apps, pick the app and the "Permissions" tab. Anything you do not understand, you can switch off. If the app stops working without it, that is a bad sign.
5. Privacy policy
Every children's app must have a publicly available privacy policy. You do not have to read all of it. Check three things: who is responsible for the data and whether contact details are given, whether data is passed to other companies, and whether a parent can request deletion. If the policy is unavailable, the link is broken or leads to a generic company page with no mention of the app, better to let it go.
How to check: in Google Play, in the "Developer contact" section, there is a link to the privacy policy. Click it before installing.
6. Working offline
An app that works without the internet cannot, by definition, send data while your child plays. It is also practical: it works in the car, on the train and at grandma's without Wi-Fi. On top of that, switching off the internet cuts off ads in the apps that show them.
How to check: turn on flight mode and open the app. If it works, that is a good sign.
Short checklist
- No "Contains ads" label.
- In-app purchases: only unlocking the full version by the parent, no virtual currency.
- "Data safety" section with no sharing with other companies.
- Permissions limited to what is necessary.
- A working privacy policy link with contact details.
- Works in flight mode.
Kidalu apps contain no ads, we build no profile of the child, and we publish every document on this site, such as the privacy policy of Reading by Syllables and of Letters and Numbers. The parent unlocks the full version with an in-app purchase, and some features, such as downloading books to read, need the internet. That is why we encourage you to check every app yourself, ours included. It is a good habit that will serve you with every app that follows.
If you are looking for an app to help with reading, see also how to teach a child to read with syllables. It makes it easier to judge whether an app leads your child along a sensible path.