ScratchJr is the gold standard for 'virtuous' screen time. It is one of the few apps that actually lives up to the promise of being an educational tool rather than just a digital babysitter. By stripping away the text and the social noise of the main Scratch platform, it focuses entirely on the logic of 'if this, then that.'

It’s a closed loop, which is a parent’s dream. No chat, no trolls, no 'buy more gems' pop-ups. It just sits there, waiting for your kid to tell a story. If you’re going to let a five-year-old use an iPad, this is what should be on the home screen.