The 5 Best Map Apps for Kids

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Geography helps kids understand physical and political realities around them. It’s a really cool subject and that’s how we learned about oceans, mountains, volcanoes, earthquakes, and even global warming. From the Sahara Desert to Mount Mauna Loa, kids can learn more about the four corners of the world. Here are five of the best map apps to help your kids learn more about geography in the most fun, tech-savvy way!

Geo Walk HD – 3D World Fact Book (Vito Technology Inc.)

Loaded with useful information about animals, plants, people, and places, Geo Walk HD presents these facts in easy-to-understand knowledge nuggets. Kids of all ages can tap on each picture scattered all over an interactive globe to learn more about a certain subject. These images are categorized by type: animals and plants, people, inventions, and history. Since the information is distributed in small chunks, it won’t be hard for the kids to understand them. Actually, it encourages them to move further and explore the game. The best part about this app—once installed, it doesn’t need an internet connection to run.

Available for iOS only

Stack the States (Dan Russell-Pinson)

From identifying the different states and state locations, Stack the States is the best game for kids from 6 and up to learn more about U.S. geography. Their goal is to stack as many states as possible until it reaches a specified goal line. A state is added to their collection with every win, and more mini-games are unlocked as bonuses. It also teaches them relevant and accurate information about each state. For parents and teachers, they can help these kids search for interesting facts and landmarks about their state. Also, it encourages them to learn more about their country’s rich history. This game was also featured on Verizon as one of the best apps to explore the open road!

Available for iOS, Android and Windows OS

Barefoot World Atlas (Touch Press)

With BBC’s Nick Crane as its presenter, Barefoot World Atlas helps kids learn the basics of geography while teaching global awareness. Children (ages 5- 10) can explore the different parts of the world by spinning the globe and pinching to explore places and things of interest. By tapping icons on the screen, they can read short descriptions about the object and view its photo. They can also tap on a country’s flag to view its current time and weather. It also encourages kids to research more about the things they explored on the application, and understand more about the different cultures they encountered.

Available for iOS only

Tiny Countries (TapToLearn Software)

Meet Tiny: an unconventional hero called to active duty by General McIntyre. Armed with his awesome skills in geography, he has to stop Dr. Evil from forming the continents into a rooster-shaped world! Tiny Countries is one of the best apps to help kids learn more about the world. With its cartoon-styled graphics and clever storyline format, children can learn more about a country’s location, capital, and unique geographical features. With its creative approach to teaching geography, school age children would definitely enjoy it while learning something new.

Available for iOS only

GeoBee Challenge HD (National Geographic Society)

This app is for older kids (grades 4-8) who like being intellectually challenged. Kids must read questions, view pictures of places or landmarks and tap them on the map. They have to be quick and accurate when choosing their answers and move on to the next round of questions. Although, the GeoBee Challenge HD is more of an assessment tool meant for kids in grades 4-8, rather than a learning tool, they can still learn from their mistakes after every quiz. With over 1000+ questions from the previous National Geographic Bee quizzes, they will still learn something interesting about the world around them.