Our Why
Kids don’t need more screen time. They need better screen time.
Learning Samurai was born out of classrooms and living rooms where adults were doing their best with limited tools: shrinking budgets, crowded schedules, endless apps, and kids bouncing between devices and distractions.
We build small, calm, browser-based games that fit real life — free, ad-free, and customizable with schools — so learning can be steady, focused, and accessible to every child.
At a glance
Free & ad-free for families, classrooms, and small groups.
No child logins — kids stay on a single calm page.
5–10 minute sessions that fit real-life routines.
Customizable with schools around their own units and standards.
Who we’re building for
Students
Students who need calm, repeatable practice — not more noise.
Parents & caregivers
Parents & caregivers who want screen time with purpose.
Teachers & schools
Teachers & schools looking for adaptable, standards-aligned mini games.
Communities & funders
Communities & funders who want clear impact on early learning.
Fragmented learning
- Schools juggle public, charter, private, and homeschool needs with limited staff.
- Students bounce between random apps and websites that weren’t built together.
- Families often can’t tell what is actually helping their child progress.
Device overload, not real support
- Kids are given devices without a clear plan for healthy use.
- Many “learning apps” are driven by ads, in-app purchases, and endless scroll.
- Parents are left to manage both screen-time limits and learning goals alone.
Why we’re different
Free & ad-free
Funded by donors, foundations, and mission-aligned partners — not advertising or data sales.
Safe & simple
One-page browser games. No child logins, no accounts to manage, no links pulling kids away.
Customizable with schools
Games can be tuned around a school’s own word lists, math units, and social studies topics.
Purposeful screen time
Designed for 5–10 minute sessions with a clear beginning and end, so adults can say “yes” to screen time that counts.
How this looks in everyday life
For a busy parent or caregiver
- On the couch, in the car line, or waiting at practice — a child plays a 5-minute spelling or sight word set.
- They hear words read aloud, type or tap answers, and see instant feedback.
- Parent sees simple summaries over time without logging into a complex dashboard.
For a classroom teacher
- Uses Learning Samurai as a warm-up station, small-group activity, or independent practice.
- Requests a game built around their own spelling lists, math facts, or state standards.
- Optionally co-designs new games as a “Game Architect”, credited on the platform.
For a school or community partner
- Funds or co-funds games that target local priorities — reading, math, geography, bilingual support.
- Sees high-level, privacy-safe usage trends by school, grade, or zip code.
- Connects those trends back to broader community and workforce data via Data Samurai analytics.
Customizable and co-created with schools
Teacher & school-led game design
- Teachers can submit game ideas through our Request a Game form.
- We help turn those ideas into usable lesson-aligned games — from concept to on-screen experience.
- Schools can choose to be credited publicly and optionally receive benefits when their games are adopted elsewhere.
Student voice & creativity
- Students can suggest topics through the same form — “What would you like to learn next?”
- High school and university students can help design games for younger grades as part of STEAM or workforce development.
- Participants can be recognized on the site or in program materials where appropriate.
Safety, privacy, and data — by design
Minimal data, clear purpose
We collect only what we need to understand practice and access — accuracy, attempts, and time-on-task — not to build advertising profiles or maximize watch time.
No child accounts
Children don’t create usernames or passwords. Adults stay in control of when and how the platform is used.
Transparent practices
Our Privacy & Data page explains exactly what we track, how it’s stored, and how schools and partners can use those insights responsibly.