Is there any way to determine if so-called educational apps are really educational? -- Searching
Answer: There are over 80,000 so-called educational apps that you can select for your child to use. Many are not truly educational. Parents should avoid purchasing apps that have children mindlessly swiping objects with their fingers. And just because an app has letters and numbers does not mean that it is educational. Parents also need to be cautious in selecting apps that have a lot of bells and whistles as they can detract from learning.
An educational app is one that mentally engages children and stimulates them through educationally sound practices. It is also important for parents to select apps that are age-appropriate.
Fortunately for parents, there are websites such as Common Sense Media and Children's Technology Review that rate apps for their educational value. Also, they can get good advice from technologically savvy teachers.