I predict that the best new apps will push the boundaries of early childhood development and learning science in at least four areas:
Executive Function: Leading childhood development researchers Michael Posner and Adele Diamond believe that executive function in children can be improved through intentional, repeated practice, and they have effectively used computer games to strengthen executive function in kids. App developers will build on this pioneering work. Once adults grasp how much children stand to benefit from improving focus and self-control, expect to see a flood of new apps.
Creativity: Parents of young children highly value creativity and view it as their job to provide such opportunities outside of school. Minecraft, Toca Builders, Sago Mini Bug Builder, and DIY.org represent the latest wave of creativity apps whose open-ended structures have captured the imaginations of millions of children.
Number Sense: Children’s brains are wired for number sense, and strong early number sense builds mathematical confidence and solves a host of academic problems down the road. The work of DreamBox Learning and ST Math demonstrates that young children can develop deep conceptual understanding of mathematics using virtual manipulatives.
Phonemic Awareness: Early communication skills are deeply rooted in talk between children and trusted adults. And physical books are still superior to e-books in promoting the shared reading experiences that are so critical to early literacy. I suspect both of these activities are better off without technology for the foreseeable future. However, identifying and manipulating letter sounds, learning phonics, and completing other word work will naturally drift to tablets. Endless Alphabet is introducing two- and three-year-olds to their ABCs, and Learn with Homer recently debuted the first comprehensive reading app.
Then you have computer programming app Hopscotch, which weaves number sense, executive function, and creativity skills together all at once. Expect to see developers build apps that combine different permutations of essential early-childhood skills.