10 Apps for Younger Kids That Inspire Creativity

The combination of kids and technology sometimes gets a bad rap, but there are many amazing ways that children can learn, discover, and unleash their creative energy during screen time. Interactive and engaging apps are a way to do that, and there are so many to choose from. Whether your little one is interested in building, drawing, communicating, or just exploring, there's an app for that.

We've compiled a list of our top 10 creativity-building apps, each offering fantastic experiences for a few bucks or less. Whatever gets your kids excited, engaged, and actively pursuing their passions is great—and that's just what you'll find here.

1. The Cat in the Hat Builds That

Based on the PBS Kids series, The Cat in the Hat Builds That app is a creative STEM-centric app that lets kids become master creators and engineers. Through inventive activities (with funny names) like Bridge-a-rama, Sorta-ma-goo, and Slidea-ma-zoo, kids can develop organizational skills, explore measurements and numbers, and learn Physics 101.

(Ages 3–4; Free at Apple App Store, Google Play, and Amazon Appstore)

2. Sago Mini Big City

With the Sago Mini Big City app kids get to explore all the sights and sounds of city life, like taking a trip to the museum, riding on a fire truck, or having a pit stop at the post office. They can choose their own adventures in this app and explore everything a big city offers. There are interactive characters that kids can play with and cute, little animated surprises that keep kids engaged.

(Ages 3–6; $3.99 at Apple App Store, Google Play, and Amazon Appstore)

3. Crayola Create and Play

Parents will love how educational the Crayola Create and Play app is, and kids will love all the art lessons and activities packed in this one app. Kids can use realistic-looking art tools while learning to create art through reading and spelling, math, coding logic, problem-solving, and more. Plus, the app constantly updates with more content, giving your child a nearly endless library of fun things to create.

($3.99 per month at Apple App Store, Google Play, and Amazon Appstore)

4. Pango Build Park

Is your child a natural designer? If so, they'll love the Pango Build Park app that allows kids to design an amusement park, including a roller coaster circuit. Kids can arrange the park to include rides and games and then let the fun begin by testing their design ideas with Pango and friends.

(Ages 3–6; $2.99–$4.99 at Apple App Store, Google Play, and Amazon Appstore)

5. Drawing Challenge Game

For children who have a little more dexterity and drawing skills, this is a fun game to see if their doodles are recognized by AI technology. Will the app guess your kids' sketches are a trombone? Radio? Horse? They'll see in 20 seconds or less when their doodles are put to the test!

(Ages 5+; Free at iTunes)

6. Khan Academy Kids

Learning and creativity go hand-in-hand, especially when combined with colorful characters, engaging activities, and many avenues for self-expression. The Khan Academy Kids app covers all the bases—phonics, math, storytelling, problem-solving, and more—in a way that keeps kids entertained. Parents can view their kids' progress through the app as well.

(Ages 4–7; Free at Apple App Store, Google Play, and Amazon Appstore)

7. Toca Mystery House

Creepy crawlies and the unknown get a whimsical twist with the Toca Mystery House app, where you never know what lurks in the shadows. Kids can wander through this enigmatic house, mixing potions in one room and discovering strange new beings in the next. Surprises around every corner satisfy youngsters' creative and exploratory instincts.

(Ages 6–12; $3.99 at Apple App Store, Google Play, and Amazon Appstore)

8. Monument Valley

In this surreal exploration game, kids help a princess navigate impossible architecture and mesmerizing geometry to solve visual puzzles before heading to the next level. The soothing music, vivid colors, and gorgeous designs in the Monument Valley app will have parents just as enchanted as kids.

(Ages 4+; $3.99 at Apple App Store, Google Play, and Amazon Appstore)

9. Thinkrolls: Kings & Queens

The Thinkrolls: Kings & Queens app uses physics and logic games to encourage your child to challenge their problem-solving skills as they go on an epic adventure with plenty of fantastic storytelling, art, and animation. Like Monument Valley, this game is all about solving mazes and puzzles to move to the next level through two different castle sets.

(Ages 5–8; $3.99–$4.99 at Apple App Store, Google Play, and Amazon Appstore)

10. Minecraft

If your child doesn't already have the uber-popular game Minecraft, you might want to consider checking it out. This fantasy world-building game is a blast for young and old, although the game is intended for 8 and up. Kids explore the Minecraft world and have options to build whatever they want in a sandbox-style format, meaning anyone can build anything.

(Ages 8+, $6.99–$7.49 at Apple App Store, Google Play, and Amazon Appstore)