Finding apps that tweens actually want to use — and that parents feel good about — isn’t always easy. As part of our ongoing look at apps for kids, we went digging for options that work well for the 8–12 age group. Some are pure fun, some sneak in a bit of learning, and a few manage both at once. Here are 10 favourites worth a look.
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10 Super Fun Apps For Tweens
#1. Loopimal
A great way for kids to explore making music. Loopimal is a building kit of handcrafted animations and sounds, and the possibilities for creating and composing are endless.
Your tween can build sequences for different animals, working across melodic, rhythmic or movement-based content. There’s no goal and no wrong or right answer — it’s a completely creative, low-pressure app.
Available for iOS.
#2. Monster Physics™
Monster Physics™ is a unique building app that lets kids play with physics. Build and operate your own car, crane, rocket ship, plane, helicopter, tank and more, using over 68 different parts including wheels, rockets, propellers, cannons, magnets, claws and wings.
Choose from different materials, connect parts together by welding them, drawing a rope or chain between them with a finger, or using special joints to bring them to life. Once the invention is complete, Monster Physics™ renders it with its built-in physics engine so kids can actually operate their creation in real time.
Available for iOS.
You might also enjoy: 10 Of The Best Educational Apps For Kids Aged 8-12
#3. 7 Little Words
If your child enjoys word searches, anagrams, jumble games or crosswords, 7 Little Words is a fun little app. Use the clues and letter blocks to find the seven scrambled words in each bite-size puzzle.
It comes with a set of free puzzles to get started, with new puzzles added regularly and extra packs available if your tween wants more.
Available for iOS and Android.
#4. Stack the States™
Watch the states actually come to life in this colourful, dynamic game. As kids learn state capitals, shapes, geographic locations, flags and more, they can touch, move and drop the animated states anywhere on the screen.
The aim is to carefully build a stack of states that reaches the checkered line to win each level — a fun way to make US geography stick.
Available for iOS and Android.
#5. Little Alchemy
Little Alchemy is an app and online game where you start with four basic elements and mix them to create more. It’s all about combining elements to make interesting, fun and surprising items — every combination is a little puzzle to solve, with the aim of eventually reaching all 510 elements.
As well as the app, you can play on desktop at the Little Alchemy official website, and signing in lets you sync your progress across devices.
Available for iOS and Android.
You might also enjoy: Free Science Apps For Kids Guaranteed To Engage
#6. The Wired Bunch: Issue 1
The Wired Bunch is a futuristic interactive storybook about robot cowboys in the “wired west.” The story follows Marshal Ram and his five deputies as they protect their town from evil robots.
It’s a fun, engaging story with lively animations, and kids can read it, listen to it, or both. Further issues are available to download if your tween gets hooked.
Available for iOS.
#7. I Can Animate
This app lets kids create stop-frame animation movies quickly and easily, then share them for others to see. Handy features include:
- Capture frames using either camera on the device
- Onion skinning, so kids can easily see the differences between frames
- Preview captured frames in a scrollable timeline
- Adjust exposure, white balance and focus automatically, or lock settings manually
- Duplicate and reorder frames
- Review the last five frames or preview the whole project
- Undo support
- Automatic capture using a built-in time-lapse feature
- Standard and widescreen display
- Adjustable playback speed
- Connect a Bluetooth keyboard to capture frames without touching the device
- Share finished movies
Available for iOS and Android.
You might also enjoy: The Handiest Apps For Stop Motion Animation
#8. Hopscotch
Hopscotch brings programming to everyone. Kids use simple, intuitive building blocks to create games, animations and apps in a colourful, interactive environment.
They can program characters to move, draw and collide with each other, and even use shaking, tilting or shouting at the device to control them — a playful first introduction to coding logic.
Available for iOS.
#9. Funny Jokes
For the joke fan in the house, Funny Jokes offers a large selection of hand-picked jokes suitable for kids, teens and adults. With jokes, riddles, puns and one-liners, there’s plenty to laugh at, and every punchline is just a tap away.
It’s family-friendly throughout, with no near-the-knuckle content.
Available for Android.
#10. Toca Hair Salon ME
Toca Hair Salon Me lets your tween be both the customer and the stylist. Curly, straight or purple? Create a funky hairdo any way you like — grow it long, cut it short, shave one side, or colour it every shade of the rainbow.
Add accessories like hats, sunglasses and hair clips to finish the look, and use your own photos as backdrops for the full transformation. Don’t forget to snap a photo of the finished style to share.
Available for iOS and Android.
Have you downloaded any of these apps for tweens? Any more to recommend? Tell us in the comments below.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are these apps suitable for the whole family, or just tweens?
They’re chosen with 8–12 year olds in mind, but younger siblings can often enjoy the simpler, creative ones (like Loopimal or Little Alchemy) alongside them.
Are any of these apps educational?
Yes — several combine fun with learning. Stack the States™ builds geography knowledge, Loopimal introduces music composition, Little Alchemy encourages logical thinking, and Hopscotch gives kids a gentle first taste of coding.
Do I need to pay for these apps?
It varies by app, and pricing and free/paid status can change over time. Check the current price and any in-app purchases on the App Store or Google Play before downloading.
Are these apps available on both iOS and Android?
Most are available on both platforms, though a few (noted above) are iOS-only or Android-only. Always check the store listing for your device before downloading.
Related Articles
If you enjoyed this list, you might also like:
- 10 Of The Best Educational Apps For Kids Aged 8-12
- Free Science Apps For Kids Guaranteed To Engage
- The Handiest Apps For Stop Motion Animation
Save This For Later
Not ready to download them all today? Bookmark this page or save it to your parenting folder so you can come back and try one app at a time with your tween.
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