Some parents are pretty devoid of any knowledge about free educational software for preschool kids. And that’s not because there’s any dearth in variety or dearth in quantity; there is a plethora of good educational software out there — it’s just that most parents simply haven’t heard about it.
Free educational software for preschoolers is an essential part of the home computer setup for today’s modern family. We all know that kids learn by playing, and the best playgrounds they can use are engaging video games that they can play anywhere. It’s not just about fun though; this kind of game is also educational.
Check out our choices for the best educational apps for kids below!
1. HOMER Learning
HOMER is an early learning app that helps kids build confidence for school and life. Over 1.6 million families trust HOMER’s activities to help their kids build skills in reading, math, creativity, critical thinking, social-emotional learning, and more. The best part is that just 15 minutes a day is proven to increase early reading scores by 74%, keeping screen time limited.
HOMER’s kid-friendly design makes it easy for kids to learn and play on their own, which is great for busy families. HOMER is ad-free and has no in-app purchases, an ideal and safe option for kids to play on their own.
All of HOMER’s activities are research-based, kid-tested, and expert-designed to create playful experiences that make learning fun. With thousands of playful lessons to choose from your kids will be entertained without repeating the same lessons over and over again. Choose from free activities and printables for easy DIY fun all year long.
After a quick quiz, HOMER personalizes your child’s learning journey to their age and learning level, making it ideal for what your child’s specific needs are. The engaging and playful lessons will not even feel like work, which makes learning that much more fun. Families can create up to 4 child profiles which leaves plenty of room for individualization.
So, why not explore and test out HOMER for yourself with a free 30-day trial? Check out HOMER Learning for additional free trial information.https://cdn.playwire.com/bolt4/js/zeus/releases/4.3.65/frame/frame.html#id=zeus-player-9___pv=1___eu=false___eis=1637443082549
2. Fact Monster
Fact Monster is an excellent option for educational games. Learning games and videos range in topics, from the world, to science, to language arts, to math, and so much more. Fact Monster also combines essential reference materials, flashcards, fun facts and features, and homework help for kids. Kids five years old and up will love how fun Fact Monster makes learning. Check out Fact Monster to learn more.
3. Poptropica
This free story-based game allows kids to customize their own characters, complete quests and play with friends in a safe environment. Kids love creating their avatars and finishing quests for prizes. This app is best for ages 6 to 12, and it is for Android and iOS.
4. Coolmath Games
Coolmath Games features math activities and games for anyone ages 13 to 100. Coolmath Games is a brain-training app, where logic & thinking meet fun and games. These games have no violence, no empty action, just a lot of challenges that will make you forget you’re getting a mental workout! Escaping pigs, flying zombies, a bear who loves riding scooters, and much more! This app is for iOS and Android.
5. Khan Academy Kids
Khan Academy Kids is one of the most popular math apps providing a free, fun educational program for children ages two to eight. It was developed in collaboration with learning experts at Stanford and aligned with the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework and Common Core Standards. It also focuses on the whole child and incorporates social emotional learning skills. Learn more about Khan Academy Kids here. You can find it in the Apple App Store, on Google Play, and in the Amazon Appstore.
6. Fish School
Fish School exposes your preschooler to important concepts like letters, numbers, shapes, colors, matching, and more. Brightly colored schools of fish form letters, shapes, and the numbers 1–20, and your child can make the fish swim and do funny things with a simple touch and drag. Fish School is the winner of a Parents’ Choice Gold Award and a Children’s Technology Review Editor’s Choice Award. This app is best for ages 2 and up, and it is for Android and iOS.
7. PBS Kids Games
PBS has created hundreds of games based on their popular children’s shows. The games for each show fit in with their learning theme. Learn math with Peg + Cat. Explore creature powers with the Kratt Brothers. Or go on a space adventure with the kids from Ready, Jet Go! If your child loves PBS shows, they’re going to love learning with their favorite characters. This app is best for ages 2 and up, and it is for Android and iOS.
8. Pizza Fractions 1
Does your elementary-aged kid need some extra help with fractions? What more delicious way to illustrate the concept than with pizza? Pizza Fractions 1 gives your child a visual approach to fractions with denominators 1–12 (excluding sevenths and elevenths), and adjustable difficulty levels let beginners start with the basics and progress as they learn. Math has never been so tasty! This app is best for ages 6 and up, and it is for iOS.
9. Science360
The National Science Foundation’s Science360 app (for tablets only) brings cutting-edge science and engineering news, images, and video right to your child’s fingertips. All content is either produced by the NSF or gathered from scientists and universities around the world, so you can be assured that your child is receiving the best quality information out there, and new content is added every week. Your kid will love the cool 360-degree view that lets him explore images from every angle. This app is best for ages 12 and up, and it is for Android and iOS.
10. NASA Visualization Explorer
NASA Visualization Explorer, or NASA Viz, is the coolest way to explore the latest news and stories about the Earth, the sun, and the universe. The app features stunning images and video from space and animations that can make challenging concepts easier to understand. Older kids will love diving into everything this app has to offer on their own, and your younger ones can begin learning about the planets and stars with your help. This app is best for ages 7 and up, and it is for iOS.
11. Toca Kitchen Monsters
Toca Kitchen Monsters is the free version of the popular Toca Kitchen app. Cook up food for two hungry monsters using eight different ingredients combined in various ways. But be careful not to season the food too much, or the monsters just might spit it back at you! Like other Toca Boca games, the emphasis is on free, open play, where your child’s imagination can run wild. Note that while Toca Kitchen Monsters is available on iOS only. Toca Kitchen 1 and 2 are available for free on Android devices. This app is best for ages 3 and up.
12. Vocabulary Spelling City
Spelling tests can be stressful at any grade level, but Vocabulary Spelling City makes learning vocabulary and spelling fun with games like Word Unscramble and HangMouse. Students of all ages can use the free app to play nine games with 10 of the app’s most popular word lists. You can even upload a customized word list to Vocabulary Spelling City’s website for your child to use in the app. For families who want a more expansive experience, a premium version of the app with five student accounts is available for a yearly subscription. This app is best for ages 6 and up, and it is for Android and iOS.
13. Todo Math
Designed for kids in pre-K through second grade, Todo Math takes your child on a daily math adventure. There is a 10–15 minute practice drill available each day, a Mission Mode for tackling early word problems, and a Free Play mode. The app has won multiple awards, including a Parents’ Choice Gold Award and a five-star rating on Common Sense Media. The free app contains a basic version of every game, and the full version is available on a subscription basis. This app is best for ages 5 and up, and it is for Android and iOS.
14. Scratch Jr.
Scratch Jr. teaches children as young as five the basics of coding. Designed by researchers at Tufts University and MIT, the app was inspired by the Scratch programming language, redesigned for a younger audience. Your child can make the app’s adorable characters move, jump, and even dance and sing by snapping together different programming blocks. In addition to learning how to code, he’ll also be learning problem solving, design, and how to create his own story. This app is best for ages 5 and up, and it is for Android and iOS.
Writing and Illustrating
Young children love to create. Exploring creative options in the classroom is not only fun but with software or app, it’s mess-free. StoryBird is an app that can be made on tablet devices for children to write their own storybook. There are very simple tools that students can easily learn to navigate to create their own story, pictures, and words. Once it’s completed, students can share it in the classroom to show their peers and read their stories to their classmates. StoryBird is an excellent tool for teachers as well to custom-make their own stories that is oriented specifically for their own classrooms. Teachers can include their own students inside the book turning this classroom tool into an event.
Little Bird Tales is a similar learning tool that involves writing and creating e-books through a software. There is a drawing pad on this app for students to create their own illustrations. It is mess-free and can be an engaging way for students to flex their creative muscle. Students can use it to write their own stories or reports, depending on the assignment that teachers have for them. Families can also use this app to engage with their students and their school work. It’s also commonly used as a form of photo album that keeps baby photos.
Typing Software
Typing Instructor for Kids is a great software that is highly reviewed and consistently ranked highly on blogs and other review summaries. The interactive tutorial software is designed to get children engaged in typing, even instructing children on the best posture to keep when sitting and typing. Kids learn basic words or references such as WPM so that they get used to computer jargon starting at an early age. Children are exposed to various games such set in places like the west, underwater, in the air, under the sea or at the edge of a cliff. These various backdrops keep children focused and engaged. They play games while they learn to type and progress. This is an easy software that is simple for teachers to get used to, and for children to learn to navigate. It’s an important tool for classrooms to get children typing at an early age. Kids also learn the basics of where to keep their fingers when learning to first type.
Day-to-Day
Teacher Tube is a video channel that is great for teachers to upload videos that are educational or have announcements. Students and parents can stay abreast on classroom updates through this interactive video tool. There are documents that can be uploaded for sharing, groups for discussions, profiles for all teachers, blog sites, and audio clips for teachers to upload sound clips such as storytelling and announcements. It’s also a great tool for students to refer to if they are on break and need a day-to-day update source. Seeing their teacher on a video channel could keep their educational experience consistent so that students don’t fall behind. This is also a great tool for students who are out sick. Teachers can upload videos of class courses for students to check out at home. This would prevent falling behind at school as well.
Conclusion
Kids can learn a lot from educational software. The best free educational preschool software engages children and makes learning fun instead of dull. The right choice will help your child advance developmentally overall. It doesn’t matter if the software is designed for an older grade level if it’s appropriate for your preschooler.