Modern education is constantly digitizing, so it is not surprising that kids are also learning through mobile games. The demand for such solutions is increasing every year, so building your own educational game for children is an excellent startup idea. In this article, we are going to cover all the questions you may have about learning app building: features, types, development steps, and tools.
The educational apps market is predicted to expand by USD 4.18 billion at a CAGR of 11.78% between 2023 and 2028. This tendency presents a prime chance for new entrants to make their mark in this thriving landscape. Educational games are tailored for kids’ traction, offering a unique mix of studying and playing.
Psychologists declare that engaging in games is the most effective method to teach children. Educational games for preschoolers and beyond imbue learning with fun, fostering a natural environment for knowledge absorption. Mobile play builds on children’s innate tendency to play and serves as a gateway to exploring and understanding important things.
Leveraging this inherent curiosity, scholarly apps for Android and iOS provide a platform to introduce kids to new concepts while they play. This demand for interactive learning experiences underscores the promising future of studying game development as a startup venture.
If you intend to start your own academic game for juniors, you should first be aware of the primary types of these solutions to choose the one you assume the most perspective. Here are some types you can focus on:
Since IT is a perspective sphere today, many parents assume it would be more reasonable for their kids to start understanding programming early. This is where coding games are essential. They typically present code tips and allow kids to choose the command they consider appropriate in certain situations and a visual representation of their actions. For example, children can help animals collect gems, so they should decide which code to select to set the right direction.
There is a wide variety of mobile puzzle games for kids and even for adults. Their common feature is the need to perform various missions to gain results. As a rule, such apps focus on solving certain tasks and preparing children to cope with difficulties in the course of reaching the goal. Puzzles also develop logic, so they are useful for children of any age.
This is the most widespread type of educational game for children since it provides interactive learning opportunities and satisfying gameplay. Such apps can offer lessons in English, Maths, foreign languages, and other subjects. By answering questions correctly, kids get rewards, encouraging them to learn more and achieve better results.
When creating the first basic version of your educational game, you should include features that form the app’s core functionality. Let’s explore the essential features that should be incorporated into your educational game:
Implement a child mode to create a safe and focused environment for young users. This mode restricts access to other device functionalities, such as calls, messages, and personal photos, which is critical if the game is installed on parents’ devices.
Introduce a reward system to acknowledge children’s progress and motivate them to continue studying. Incorporate stars, gifts, or points to celebrate proper responses and encourage users to strive for higher achievements.
Enable voice recognition functionality, particularly for language learning games. This feature allows children to practice pronunciation and receive feedback based on their accuracy, fostering interactive learning experiences and reaching better results.
Enhance the gaming atmosphere with playful background music that complements the educational content. Ensure compliance with copyright regulations by writing original songs or using licensed tracks.
Provide comprehensive instructions and how-to-play guides within the app to help children navigate gameplay independently. Clear guidance empowers young users to engage with the content effectively.
Use push notifications to inform children and parents about new levels, bonuses, and updates. These notifications serve as gentle reminders and encourage continued engagement with the app.
Optimize user interaction by incorporating intuitive tap and swipe gestures, which are easier for children to grasp than complex pinch or expand gestures. Streamlining navigation enhances the overall experience.
Integrate with Google Play Games (Android) or Game Center (iOS) to enable social features such as leaderboards, achievements, and multiplayer functionality. This enhances engagement by fostering friendly competition among users.
Now, let’s learn how to develop an educational app in 5 steps:
First and foremost, you should focus on devising educational game ideas that will guarantee your success. Analyze the market to identify your target users’ needs and requirements for such apps and check your competitors’ apps – what are their benefits and drawbacks? Utilizing this information, you can outline your app idea – what tasks it should perform, what it should teach kids, how you can differ from your competitors to engage more users, etc.
The subsequent action you should concentrate on is choosing a mobile platform you aim to: iOS, Android, or both. The development cost for one platform would be less, but covering both allows you to attain a broader audience. If you intend to develop a game for iOS and Android, you can turn to cross-platform development services to build a single code-based solution for both platforms and lower costs.
UI/UX design is significantly influential in educational apps for kids. Good-looking UI attracts children and engages them in your game. Moreover, your app should provide a seamless user experience, allowing kids to use it without any challenges. Your main requirements for UI/UX design should be simplicity, vibrancy, attractiveness, and clarity.
Once you’ve defined all your requirements, you can pass the project to mobile developers who will build your game’s functionality step-by-step and turn your idea into reality. The development process is also tied up with quality assurance. QA engineers check each feature for flawlessness, ensuring your learning game works properly and with no bugs.
After your educational game is ready, the development team can launch it in the Apple App Store and Google Play Market. They ensure all platform requirements are satisfied and move your app there. After checking and approval, your learning game becomes accessible to a wide audience.
Developers use various tools to bring their ideas to life when developing educational games for children. Here are some commonly used tools for creating iOS or Android educational games:
Developers can use these tools to create educational games that entertain and educate young learners, providing engaging and enriching experiences. The right tools are crucial for adding captivating animations and child-friendly features, shaping the success of educational game development.
Educational game development presents a promising startup opportunity amid the dominance of mobile gaming. These games offer a blend of learning and play, catering to parents’ desire for meaningful engagement for their children. By leveraging engaging gameplay and intuitive design, developers can create impactful educational experiences. With the right tools and features, educational games have the potential to make a significant impact on young learners while tapping into a thriving market.
Author’s Bio: Yuliya Melnik is a technical writer at Cleveroad, an iOS and Android app development company in Ukraine. She is passionate about innovative technologies that make the world a better place and loves creating content that evokes vivid emotions.
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