Helping children learn by doing – not just watching
In an age when young children spend increasing amounts of time with digital devices, one important question remains: Is screen time helping children learn, or simply keeping them occupied?
A recent systematic review published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (link) found that many of the world’s most downloaded free apps for young children focus primarily on passive entertainment and repetitive engagement rather than meaningful learning. The researchers conclude that high-quality educational apps should be built on evidence-based pedagogy, encourage active participation, and foster meaningful interactions between children and adults.
These findings reinforce an important message for parents: choosing the right educational app matters.
A different kind of learning experience
The Vietnam Association for Non-Public Preschool Education (VANPPE) recommends STEM Playhouse as an educational app that transforms screen time into hands-on learning for children aged 3–6.
Rather than encouraging children to sit and watch, STEM Playhouse invites families to learn together through real-world STEM activities. Children explore science, technology, engineering and mathematics by conducting simple experiments, creating projects, asking questions, and discovering how things work, with guidance from parents, caregivers, or teachers.
Each activity follows a carefully designed learning journey:
- Watch an engaging animated introduction.
- Do a real experiment or hands-on activity.
- Reflect through interactive questions that reinforce understanding and encourage curiosity.
This simple but effective approach helps children become active explorers instead of passive viewers.
Designed around children’s development
Every child learns differently at different ages. STEM Playhouse organizes its activities into three developmental groups: 3-4 years, 4-5 years, and 5-6 years, so families can easily choose experiences that match each child’s abilities and interests.
The educational content has been developed by internationally certified STEM educators and has already been successfully implemented in preschool classrooms before being introduced through the app, ensuring both educational quality and practical value.
Safe, Accessible and Family-Friendly
Beyond educational quality, STEM Playhouse has been designed with families in mind.
The app:
- Does not collect users’ personal data, with all data remaining on the user’s own device.
- Works without an Internet connection, making it suitable for families in rural and remote communities.
- Is completely free, ensuring that every family can access quality STEM learning regardless of location or income.
These features help create a safe, inclusive and equitable digital learning environment for young children.
Supporting Quality Early Childhood Education
VANPPE believes that technology should strengthen, not replace, the important role of parents and teachers in children’s learning.
By encouraging children to explore, experiment, create and communicate together with adults, STEM Playhouse reflects the principles of quality early childhood education and contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4): Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.
A Message to Parents
Every experiment completed together, every question asked, and every discovery shared is another step in a child’s learning journey.
VANPPE encourages parents, caregivers and preschool teachers to explore STEM Playhouse with their children and transform everyday screen time into meaningful family learning experiences. Together, we can inspire curiosity, creativity and a lifelong love of learning, one STEM activity at a time.
