Most "educational" apps don't actually teach.
We rate every app on two things:
- 1.Learning Standard: Does it actually teach, according to cognitive science?
- 2.Data Transparency: Can you see and control your child's data?
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Why This Matters
Your child spends 2+ hours daily on "educational" apps.
We believe:
- 1
Parents deserve to know if an app actually teaches, not just keeps children occupied with bright colors and dopamine hits.
- 2
"Educational" is a marketing term. Learning is a science. The two are rarely the same thing.
- 3
If an app company cannot explain how their product facilitates learning, they have not thought about it.
How We Rate
Two standards. No compromises.
Learning Standard
The Learning Standard evaluates apps against instructional invariants from learning science research. These are non-negotiable design constraints that distinguish actual learning from mere engagement.
Does the app teach, or does it just keep children busy?
See the methodologyData Transparency
Your child's data is being collected. Do you know what happens to it? We ask the questions most parents cannot:
- -Public API? Can you export your data?
- -Parent visibility into what's tracked?
- -Third-party data sharing?
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For Ed-Tech Companies
Think we got something wrong about your app?
Send us your current privacy policy or the evidence we missed. We review every request and correct our results when the evidence shows we should.
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