12 Apps to Add to Your Kid’s First Phone (That Aren’t Social Media)
If you give a kid their first phone, they’re going to ask for a social media app like TikTok.
And when they download TikTok, they’ll see a funny video that reminds them of a friend.
They’ll wonder where their friend is and will want to reach out, so they’ll likely ask to download another social media app like Snapchat.
And so it goes. In the classic picture book If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, all sorts of mischief follows after a child gives the hungry mouse a treat. It’s hard not to feel the same what-am-I-getting-into apprehension when you give your child their first phone, especially with the alarms that have been raised by the surgeon general, social psychologists, Congress, and others.
But giving a kid a phone doesn’t have to doom them to a lonely future of endless scrolling. As they begin carrying a tiny computer around in their pocket, they can also use it to navigate, discover, and engage with the world around them.
With millions of apps available, we looked for ones that encourage kids to get outside and explore, promote learning — in a fun way — and build healthy habits. (We also tested and recommend parental controls to help grownups manage kids’ screen time.)
Below is a mix of Wirecutter picks and staff favorites that our own tweens and teens have found compelling. It’s not an exhaustive list by any means, so please share your own favorites in the comments.
