Fun for parents and kids! A smartphone game app for elementary schoolers that combines learning and play.
“Can elementary school kids play smartphone games?” “Which apps are safe to let them play?” Many families may share these worries and questions.
Here, we introduce a variety of smartphone game apps—from popular titles among kids like Monster Strike, Pokémon, and Disney character games to educational options.
They’re high-quality apps that are easy to enjoy with simple controls and can help develop thinking skills.
Explore a new world of play together with your child!
- Summary of smartphone app games popular with children
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- [Get Friendly with Games] Math Games, Apps, and Activities
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- [Playable from lower grades] Japanese language games and activities
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- [For Elementary School Students] A Collection of Game Ideas to Use in Social Studies Classes
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Fun for Parents and Kids! Balancing Learning and Play with Smartphone Game Apps for Elementary School Students (21–30)
Elementary School Handwritten Calculation Drill Repetitive Learning Series
A great recommendation for elementary school students who want to steadily build their calculation skills is the “Elementary School Handwritten Calculation Drill: Hanpuku Learning Series.” It includes as many as 4,000 problems covering grades 1 through 6.
You can solve problems by writing directly on the screen, so you can practice thoroughly with the feel of a paper workbook.
By working through them repeatedly, you’ll naturally become able to calculate smoothly—that’s another key point.
Its simple design makes it easy to use, and the game-like feel helps you keep going, making it perfect for building a daily study habit.
Why not give it a try in a fun and easygoing way?
Download on Google Play
A writing tour around Japan
Here’s an introduction to “Shakitari Nippon Isshu,” an app that helps kids get familiar with Japanese geography and kanji while playing.
It’s a fun learning tool perfect for elementary school students.
As if traveling around Japan, children write prefecture and place names, fit pieces onto the map in a prefecture-shape puzzle, and naturally pick up kanji and geography.
Since it feels like a game, the key is that kids can keep going with a sense of “play” rather than “study.” The friendly illustrations and gentle design make it approachable, and it’s reassuring even as a first app.
Try enjoying a quick adventure around Japan in your spare moments!
Dictation Japan Round Trip [With Ads]Category: Games Free iOS Universal Rating: 3.51899
iPhone / iPadAndroid
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Kanji Dojo
This can also be used to review the kanji you learned in elementary school.
It’s specialized for kanji writing practice, with the goal of helping you write the correct characters in the correct stroke order.
You can enjoy it solo at your own pace, and there’s also a mode where you can compete with someone else.
In two-player battles, the person who writes faster with the correct stroke order wins.
Learning kanji while playing with friends is like killing two birds with one stone, right? It includes the kanji taught from elementary through high school, so you can keep using it for study even in junior high and beyond.
Kanji (Kanken) Study · Online Two-Player Competitive Game: Kanji DojoCategory: Education Free iOS Universal Rating: 4.76126
iPhone / iPadAndroid
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Me and my cat
A game I’d recommend to elementary schoolers who love cats: “Boku to Neko” (Me and My Cat).
In this game, you collect cats and weapons through gacha, level them up, and defeat enemies.
Battles themselves run automatically, so the player’s job is to choose which cats to send into the fight and aim to take down the opponent’s tower.
There’s a wide variety of cats, from cute to adorably weird, and collecting them is truly fun! The controls are simple, so even elementary schoolers who’ve never played combat-style games can enjoy it with confidence.
Boku and Neko - A Tower Defense RPG/TD Attacking with Cat CharactersCategory: Games Free iOS Universal Rating: 4.5605
iPhone / iPadAndroid
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Pretend Play Land
Gocco Land is a perfect fit for children growing up in a digital society.
The app is appealing because it lets kids learn how society works in a fun way.
For example, through programs like “JAL Job Experience,” children can try out airport and airplane-related roles, deepening their understanding of different professions while they play.
The app’s popularity is evident, with a total of 6 million downloads.
It’s a recommended app that lets parents and children enjoy learning together while supporting education with an eye on the child’s future.
Kids’ Educational Game | Gokko Land: Shopkeeper Experience App for ChildrenCategory: Education Free iOS Universal Rating: 4.40524
iPhone / iPadAndroid
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Todon (sea lion) math
“Todo Sansuu” is a popular app that makes learning math fun even for children who are just starting out.
Aimed at kids from age 3 to the early elementary grades, it lets them explore the world of math through play—from the basics of counting to reading clocks and simple calculations.
With over 2,000 diverse tasks that can be tackled at each child’s own pace, it’s regarded as well-suited for early education.
While the free version offers plenty to learn, the paid version includes exclusive content that can deepen understanding even further.
Highly rated both in Japan and abroad, it’s recommended for parents who want their children to build a solid foundation in math.
Todon (sea lion) mathCategory: Education Free iOS Universal Rating: 4.46664
iPhone / iPadAndroid
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Hungry Cooking
Let me introduce Hungry Tummy Cooking, an app that children and their guardians can enjoy together.
The app is themed around everyday cooking and serves as an educational tool that conveys the importance and fun of food through play.
Its key feature is that children can learn the flow of cooking in an enjoyable way, and it also includes plenty of elements that nurture creativity.
Even the plating options are diverse, allowing kids to refine their sense of aesthetics while playing.
One point to note is that the app includes in-app purchases, so be careful to prevent your child from making purchases without permission.
It also encourages parent-child communication, making it well worth a try.
