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+process over product. When you have open ended materials, you get open ended outcomes. Translating this out of education-speak, you have more time you can get something done while your kids are occupied.
+
+> In terms of encouraging children to engage in self-directed play (so the parents working from home can get on with their work too), 
+
+The goal of these suggestions is two-fold. The first is to buy you some time in your day to get some work done, or just carve out a few minutes for yourself. Don't discount the importance of that. But these things also help to foster what education experts call independent play.
+
+That is, let your kids choose what to do. The younger your children are, the more it helps to limit their options so the aren't overwhelmed by choice, but don't be scared to get some of these materials and then turn your children lose without any clear goals or anything specific to make. The goal is the process, not product.
+
+Don't be scared to do nothing. As Dr. Amanda Gummer of [Good Play Guide](https://www.goodplayguide.com/) points out, "children need to get bored to learn how to entertain themselves." Start with small blocks of time, and then increase the amount of time before you step in and make suggestions on what your child might like to do. 
+
+Gummer also suggests "having a selection of different play types allows children to find an activity that suits their mood and energy levels. See Gummer's balanced play pyramid for some more ideas.
+
+
+
+It’s also a good tip for parents to suggest something that’s helpful around the house rather than a fun activity so the children soon learn to find their own amusement. 
+
+
+
+
+If you're stuck inside and your kids are climbing the walls, but you aren't yet ready to let them watch Netflix dawn to dusk, well, I don't blame you. Here are some games that are sometimes called "edutaining". Think of them as fun games that also teach something, but in a way your kids probably won't notice.
+
+I do suggest setting some screen time limits before handing your children a device, but with these options you can at least rest assured that your kids are learning something.
+
+
+####Animal Jam
+**[Computer](https://www.animaljam.com/en/welcome){: rel=nofollow}**, **[iOS](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/animal-jam-play-wild/id1003820457){: rel=nofollow}**, **[Android](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.WildWorks.AnimalJamPlayWild&hl=en){: rel=nofollow}**
+
+*For: Age 6-12*
+
+Animal Jam is an online virtual world originally created in collaboration with the National Geographic Society. It teaches kids about zoology, ecology, and habitats. There are games, adventures, and parties and online social elements. The latter may give you pause -- with 160 million registered users this is one of the largest online children's virtual worlds around -- but the parental controls here are pretty good, allowing you to lock down the game if you so desire.
+
+####*Captain Toad*
+**[Switch](https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/captain-toad-treasure-tracker-switch/){: rel=nofollow}**
+
+*For: Everyone*
+
+Great game that encourages spacial thinking and unique puzzle solving. Kids can pilot Toad through courses based on the *Super Mario Odyssey* game while hunting down treasures and solving puzzles.
+
+####*Prodigy*
+**[Computer](https://www.prodigygame.com/){: rel=nofollow}**, **[iOS](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/prodigy-kids-math-game/id950795722){: rel=nofollow}**, **[Android](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.prodigygame.prodigy&hl=en_US){: rel=nofollow}**
+
+*For: Age 6-12*
+
+This math-based RPG is free to play. Kids proceed through the game by answering skill-building math questions to earn rewards. There's an interactive element too, they can go on quests with friends. The difficulty levels increase as your kids make progress in the game.
+
+####*Thinkrolls*
+**[iOS](https://apps.apple.com/us/developer/avokiddo/id1137946176){: rel=nofollow}**, **[Android](https://play.google.com/store/apps/dev?id=6764088955104110890){: rel=nofollow}**
+
+*For: Age 3-8*
+
+This physics puzzle game features rolling aliens that teach your kids about acceleration, buoyancy, gravity, and more. There's no ads, no in-app purchases, and it doesn't need an internet connection.
+
+####Tinybop
+**[Computer](){: rel=nofollow}**, **[iOS](){: rel=nofollow}**, **[Android](https://play.google.com/store/apps/dev?id=6253744575658539819){: rel=nofollow}**
+
+*For: Age 4+*
+
+Tinybop has dozens of learning-oriented apps. On iOS you can [purchase them in bundles](https://apps.apple.com/us/developer/tinybop-inc/id682046582){: rel=nofollow} (sorry Android fans, I could not find the equivalent for us). My kids love the [Curiosity Kit ($16)](https://apps.apple.com/us/app-bundle/tinybop-curiosity-kit-18/id1350887193){: rel=nofollow}, which includes apps about the human body, animal anatomy, and space.
+
+####Dragonbox
+**[iOS](https://itunes.apple.com/app-bundle/id1141430657?mt=8){: rel=nofollow}**, **[Android](https://play.google.com/store/apps/dev?id=8158527847106528812){: rel=nofollow}**
+
+*For: Age 4+*
+
+Dragonbox games are primarily math-related, though they also partnered with chess champ Magnus Carlsen to create [Magnus' Kingdom](https://magnuskingdom.com/), a chess-learning game that's been very popular in my house. It uses an adventure-style approach to teach kids about different chess pieces and how to play. I strongly suggest picking up a real-world chess board (I like this [no-stress chess board for beginners $18](https://www.amazon.com/Winning-Moves-Games-Stress-Chess/dp/B0007Q1IO4/){: rel=nofollow}) as well, trust me your kids will ask for it.
+
+####Endless Alphabet
+**[Computer](https://www.originatorkids.com/?p=564){: rel=nofollow}**, **[iOS](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/endless-alphabet/id591626572){: rel=nofollow}**, **[Android](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.originatorkids.EndlessAlphabet){: rel=nofollow}**
+
+*For: Age 3+*
+
+Let delightful animated monsters teach your kids everything from basic ABCs to complex sentences. There's puzzle games with talking letters, and well-illustrated definitions to help your child learn to read. Originator, the creators of Endless Alphabet, have [a number of other games as well](https://www.originatorkids.com/), including Endless Reader, which helps kids learn sight words, and Endless Spanish which helped my kids significantly improve their Spanish vocabulary.
+
+####Starfall
+**[Computer](https://www.starfall.com/h/index-kindergarten.php){: rel=nofollow}**
+
+*For: Age 4-6*
+
+This language, arts, and music learning site has dozens of games and activities to help your kids learn to read, add, subtract, and identify shapes. 
+
+####PBS Kids 
+**[iOS](https://apps.apple.com/us/developer/pbs-kids/id324323339){: rel=nofollow}**, **[Android](https://play.google.com/store/apps/dev?id=8332149447945516079){: rel=nofollow}**
+
+*For: Age 4-8*
+
+PBS Kids has dozens of apps, many of them related to the shows on PBS Kids. My experience has been that if your kids like a particular show, they'll be engaged in the game as well.
+
+####Stop Motion Studio
+**[iOS](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/stop-motion-studio/id441651297){: rel=nofollow}**
+
+*For: Age 4+*
+
+This animation app will get your kids started on their way to creating their own animated masterpieces. The interface is reasonably simple, but some things might require an adult the first time through.
+
+####Podcast App
+
+*For: Everyone*
+
+Check out our [guide to kids' podcasts](https://www.wired.com/story/best-podcasts-for-kids/) for some ideas on great podcasts that will keep your kids entertained. If you're a podcast fan yourself, I suggest getting a separate podcast app for your kids, that way there's no way they'll accidentally end up listening to any inappropriate-for-kids content.