Combining concepts from a group of essential subjects, STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) activities inspire kids to improve their understanding of different disciplines in a fun and creative way, which helps increase critical thinking and broaden children’s perspective. Check out our selection of STEAM-aligned apps to help your child develop interdisciplinary skills, whenever traveling or chilling out at home.
Thinkrolls 2
Thinkrolls includes 270 levels of increasingly complex science-filled mazes, each gradually introducing a new science concept in an accessible, easy-to-understand way. As kids use properties of matter and basic physics to keep their Thinkrolls rolling along through a series of themed chapters, they gain not only stronger problem-solving skills but also more confidence. Ages 4+. RMB 25.
Crazy Gears
Based on the theories of Seymour Papert, Crazy Gears is a digital puzzle game designed with a real mechanical engine and with children’s critical thinking in mind. Children manipulate gears, chains, rods, and pulleys, to pull themselves through each level, which teaches them how different mechanisms affect one another when constructing a machine. Ages 4+. RMB 18.
Inventioneers
In this game, kids can create their own fun, creative, or even weird inventions. The more problems kids solve, the more tools they receive for inventions — a process through which children get to learn about real-time physics and the science behind different features like air, fire, and magnetism. Ages 2-8. Free download with in-app purchase.
Monster Physics
Monster Physics let kids build and operate their own car, crane, rocket ship, plane, helicopter, tank, and more using materials including metal, wood, plastic, rubber, and ice. It comes with 50 missions including both simple ones and mind-bending challenges catering for beginners to advanced players. Many of the missions are open-ended and can be completed with a wide variety of different solutions. Ages 10+. RMB 12.
Move the Turtle
Move the Turtle is an app that introduces children step by step to the basics of creating computer programs using colorful graphics commands, and even inspires them to create their own programs based on the examples. Ages 10+. RMB 25.
Photos: Apple App Store
