5 Best Problem-solving Apps and Games for Kids
Early Childhood Education
May 14, 2025
Explore five engaging apps that enhance kids' problem-solving and math skills through interactive play and fun challenges.
Looking for fun ways to help kids build problem-solving and math skills? These 5 apps and games make learning engaging, interactive, and enjoyable for children of various age groups.
Funexpected Math: For ages 3–7, this app uses storytelling and interactive games to teach numeracy, geometry, logic, and problem-solving skills.
Think!Think!: Designed for kids 4+, it offers puzzles and mini-games to boost math and IQ skills in short, daily sessions.
Thinkrolls: A physics-based puzzle game for ages 3–8 that teaches concepts like gravity and buoyancy through puzzles, fostering trial and error.
Slice Fractions: Helps kids master fractions by solving puzzles with a woolly mammoth, introducing part-whole relationships in a fun way.
Monument Valley: A visually stunning game that develops spatial reasoning and problem-solving through optical illusion-based puzzles.
Quick Comparison Table:
App/Game | Age Group | Focus Areas | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
Funexpected Math | 3–7 | Math, logic, algorithms, spatial reasoning | Short sessions, wide curriculum, personal AI tutor, tailored learning paths |
Think!Think! | 4-10 | Math, IQ, critical thinking | 10-minute sessions, puzzles, mini-games |
Thinkrolls | 3–8 | Physics, logic | Hands-on physics concepts, 207 levels |
Slice Fractions | 6–8 | Fractions, logic | Puzzle-based fraction learning |
Monument Valley | 6+ | Spatial reasoning, geometry | Optical illusions, artistic design |
These apps combine learning and play, helping kids develop essential skills while having fun. Start exploring today!
1. Funexpected Math
Funexpected Math is an engaging app designed for kids aged 3–7, focusing on math and logic skills. It covers areas like numeracy, spatial reasoning, logic, algorithms, and problem-solving, all through interactive games and oral questions.
The app’s structured design offers over 10,000 interactive tasks spread across 675 lessons and 50+ topics. Activities adjust dynamically with scaffolding and hints to suit each child’s needs[1].
Packed with the most versatile challenges, Funexpected Math fosters problem-solving by letting children apply their learned skills in new situations.
Backed by collaborations with the University of Chicago and other institutions, its teaching methods have proven effective[1].
Funexpected Math has also won multiple awards, including the Kidscreen 2025 Award for Best Original Educational App, and EdTech Breakthrough Award for Best Math Learning Solution[1].
2. Think!Think!
Think!Think! helps kids develop math and problem-solving skills through interactive puzzles, mazes, and mini-games. Designed by experts involved in international math competitions, studies suggest the app can improve both math scores and IQ. With over 120 mini-games and thousands of puzzles, it tailors challenges to match each child’s abilities.
The app keeps sessions short, limiting playtime to 10 minutes a day, and has earned a 4.1 rating on the App Store. It’s used by people across 150 countries and is suitable for children aged four and up. Think!Think! offers a free basic course, along with paid subscription plans that provide access to extra content and features [2].
3. Thinkrolls
Thinkrolls is a physics-based puzzle game that blends fun characters with engaging gameplay. Recognized by Google Play in 2016 as one of the Best Family Apps, it offers 207 levels designed for kids aged 3–8 [3].
The game provides two difficulty settings: an easier mode for ages 3–5 and a harder mode for ages 5–8. Through these levels, children can experiment with physics concepts like gravity, buoyancy, and elasticity in a hands-on way. Amanda Bindel from Common Sense Education highlights:
"Kids learn, hands-on, such physics concepts (without the vocabulary) as buoyancy, synchronizing movements, and Newtonian physics as they experiment in a game-like environment." [4]
Players solve puzzles by navigating mazes and using creative strategies - like eating cookies, moving boulders, or putting out fires with ice blocks - all without penalties. This encourages trial and error, helping kids build confidence while mastering concepts. Each level builds on the last, ensuring children grasp earlier ideas before moving on to more complex challenges[4].
The game features colorful characters and a child-friendly interface with intuitive controls. Its language-neutral design and original soundtrack make it accessible to kids everywhere. Teacher Jason G. shares:
"Thinkrolls teaches both patience and problem-solving skills in a very fun, cute, and engaging way." [4]
With its emphasis on problem-solving, spatial awareness, and basic physics, Thinkrolls helps children develop critical thinking and early math skills through progressive challenges.
4. Slice Fractions
Slice Fractions combines learning and fun by turning fraction concepts into a puzzle-filled adventure. Kids join a woolly mammoth on its journey, solving fraction-based challenges to navigate obstacles. The game includes 90 puzzles that gradually introduce more complex ideas in three stages.
The gameplay involves slicing shapes into equal parts, helping kids grasp part–whole relationships, understand numerators and denominators, compare fractions, find equivalent fractions, and even subtract fractions from 1. Players clear paths by strategically cutting and dropping lava and ice blocks, with hints available after three failed attempts.
Common Sense Media highlights the game’s balance of education and entertainment, saying:
"Figuring out how to strategically slice and drop pieces of ice and lava is not only great fun, it's highly addictive... Incorporating fractions is an incredibly clever way to teach kids important math concepts, and kids most certainly will enjoy helping the adorable mammoth make its journey across the landscape."
As players progress, the puzzles become more challenging, ensuring kids develop a strong understanding of fractions while enjoying the adventure.
5. Monument Valley
Monument Valley stands out for its clever use of spatial reasoning and artistic design. It earned the Apple Design Award in 2014 and the BAFTA Video Game Award for Best British Game in 2015 [5]. The game transforms geometric concepts into a playful challenge using impossible architecture inspired by M.C. Escher's work.
In the game, players guide Princess Ida through dreamlike landscapes filled with hidden paths and optical illusions. By manipulating structures, they create new routes, blending intricate design with an interface that's simple and easy to navigate.
Dan Gray, head of ustwo games, shared:
"We wanted to find the perfect reason to return to Monument Valley, and the story of a mother who's not only a parent but a creator of this world is a narrative we felt compelled to tell." [5]
The game's mid-century-inspired visuals and straightforward controls make it both approachable and engaging.
Monument Valley also helps develop several key skills tied to math learning:
Skill Area | Focus |
|---|---|
Spatial Reasoning | Grasping 3D relationships and geometry |
Problem Solving | Building solutions by altering the environment |
Critical Thinking | Breaking down visual puzzles and planning moves |
Visual Processing | Understanding optical illusions and unique structures |
Beyond skill-building, the game offers a calm, exploratory experience. It encourages discovery at your own pace, free from the pressures of competition.
Learning Benefits of Math Apps
Math apps offer an engaging way for kids to develop math and problem-solving skills through interactive, game-like experiences. These tools help children grow in several important areas:
Skill Category | Development Areas | Learning Approach |
|---|---|---|
Mathematical Foundations | Number sense, geometry, algorithms | Visual aids and interactive exercises |
Critical Thinking | Logic, problem-solving, spatial reasoning | Puzzle-based challenges |
Early Coding Skills | Sequential thinking, basic programming ideas | Step-by-step problem-solving techniques |
Spatial Intelligence | Understanding 3D relationships and patterns | Manipulating shapes interactively |
Many of these apps adjust to each child's learning pace, offering personalized challenges that evolve as they improve.
How Math Apps Make Learning Effective
These apps succeed by blending various teaching methods:
Interactive Activities: Kids engage with hands-on exercises that enhance number sense and spatial skills.
Personalized Learning: Progress tracking allows the apps to modify difficulty levels, keeping tasks challenging but achievable.
Skill Integration: Instead of isolating concepts, the apps combine multiple skills. For example, solving puzzles can simultaneously enhance logical reasoning, spatial awareness, and even basic physics understanding.
For younger children, storytelling is often used to make math concepts relatable. By embedding lessons in stories, abstract ideas become easier to grasp and connect to everyday life.
Core Skills Developed by Math Apps
Interactive math apps help kids build a solid foundation in:
Numerical Literacy: Understanding numbers and how they relate to each other.
Spatial Reasoning: Learning geometric concepts and spatial relationships.
Logical Thinking: Developing systematic problem-solving abilities.
Pattern Recognition: Identifying sequences and understanding basic algorithms.
This combination of skills not only strengthens math abilities but also prepares children for solving practical, everyday challenges.
Final Thoughts
Educational apps and games have changed the way kids build problem-solving and critical thinking skills, making math concepts easier to understand and more enjoyable for young learners.
Parents are essential in making the most out of these tools. Short, focused sessions work best to avoid screen fatigue. Many of these apps use proven methods to help kids advance naturally through more challenging tasks while keeping their interest in learning strong.
When choosing math apps, look for ones that match your child’s skill level, give clear feedback, and include interactive challenges that encourage independent learning.
FAQs
How do these apps adapt to each child’s unique learning needs?
For example, the Funexpected Math app tailors the learning journey to each child by using a smart digital tutor. This feature adapts to their age and individual pace, offering hints and guidance to help them build confidence and master math concepts.
With over 10,000 interactive tasks and 675 engaging lessons, the app ensures a wide variety of challenges that cater to different skill levels and age groups. This personalized approach makes math learning both effective and enjoyable for kids.
Can these apps be used in classrooms, or are they better suited for home learning?
Many of these apps are versatile and can be used effectively both at home and in classroom settings. Their interactive and engaging designs make them an excellent tool for individual practice, while their structured activities and gamified approach can also complement group learning or teacher-led lessons in a classroom environment.
Teachers can integrate these apps into math or problem-solving activities, allowing students to explore concepts at their own pace. Similarly, parents can use them at home to reinforce learning in a fun and accessible way. Whether at school or home, these apps provide a flexible solution to support children's cognitive and math development.
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