There was a time, not very long ago, when it was difficult to find educational tools for kids, and resources beyond school syllabi. Thankfully, technology has changed that!
Educational tools are more accessible, diverse, and fun! Whether your child is fascinated by black holes, the marvelous world of chemistry, or the nature of DNA, there are incredible resources to nurture their development! Acquiring knowledge and skills is so much easier.
Many of these resources are colorful, and have learning built into games. This goes a long way in increasing their internal motivation and interest in learning. What’s better? They are safe! These online learning tools for kids treat privacy very seriously, so you can be assured there is no data-sharing or tracking!
So, if you want your child to look forward to learning time (don’t we all 😊), this list may help:
1. Khan Academy
Khan Academy has become the benchmark in free, world-class educational resources.
They are a comprehensive learning website that offers free grade-specific courses in math, physics, art history, computer programming, economics and more. Each subject is accompanied by simplified and well-made videos (with particularly clear, explanatory voice-overs) which help your child understand the basics of a concept. THIS is where Khan Academy truly shines as a free learning tool for kids. They also have Khan Academy Kids, which is an educational program for children aged 2-8 years. Khan Academy Kids has great interactive and printable resources for parents, teachers and children across a variety of topics.
They have a cool backstory too! Their founder Salman ‘Sal’ Khan started tutoring his cousin in math using a service called Yahoo Doodle Images. His lessons started becoming popular among his other cousins, and eventually became available for the public! Go check their story out; it makes for a great tale to teach kids about how simple ideas can change the world!
2. Starfall
Starfall is an online learning tool for kids. They are mostly free, but there is subscription-based content available (for $35 a year). This is a particularly great service for children with learning difficulties like dyslexia. Their founder, Dr. Stephen Schutz, had difficulty learning to read due to Dyslexia. Hence, he wanted to create a website with multisensory, interactive games to help with learning. Starfall’s main focus is reading, but there are great activities to learn math, art, or other languages. The illustrations and animations that accompany the lessons are brilliant! The lessons are good for kindergarten up to grade 3.
3. Nat Geo Kids
The yellow frame of Nat Geo has been in the public consciousness since 1888! For 133 years, National Geographic has brought us stories of the human and natural world in a memorable, inimitable fashion. It should come as no surprise Nat Geo kids, their resource for children has that same stamp of quality. The website primarily focuses on the natural world. If you’re looking for a place to cultivate your child’s interest in animals, then this is where you should begin! It also has great videos and articles about a variety of other topics like art, history, space, and much more.
There are also incredible resources about recycling, plastic, climate change, and such. These are essential topics for young children, and Nat Geo delivers great content. Check out their Kids vs. Plastic initiative, for starters!
4. Nasa Kids’ Club
Among online learning tools for kids, this platform is great for those interested in space and science. It largely comprises videos, articles, and some interactive games. The content can be filtered by age group and categories of ‘educator’ or ‘student’. The website interface feels a little more ‘basic’ than other educational platforms, but don’t let that fool you. The content is great! Is it the best place to start learning about space? It may just be!
Does your kiddo have (yet another) question about a black hole? Get them on here, there’s plenty of cool black hole trivia! Because…well, they are so full of gobbling mystique after all. How can anyone not be fascinated!
5. Wonderopolis
Their tagline is “Where the wonders of learning never cease!” Such an apt way to describe the mindset of a curious child. We fell in love with this platform! It offers exciting videos and articles to answer uncommon questions like ‘Why does reading make you sleepy?’ or ‘Is space infinite?’ The platform also features kids’ questions like ‘Why do things rust?’, ‘Why do Olympians bite their medals?’, ‘Is the five-second rule really true?’ and ‘Why do we have weekends?’ Wonderopolis also provides content on Science, math, technology, social studies, art, and culture. The best part about the platform is the random nature in which it offers learning. Isn’t that how children’s questions usually pop up? Think of it as a learning toy for kids, if you will!
6. Avokiddo | DNA Play
So unique, so wonderful! This app introduces kids to the basic concepts of DNA. But how? The app allows you to build cute monsters and watch them transform in real-time as you tinker with their DNA. The tiniest changes in DNA code can lead to unimaginable new characteristics. Watch your creature turn from yellow to red, grow 6 eyes, have its ears transform into butterfly wings, and its belly pop out and crave food. There are over 200 billion unique creations possible. Honestly, must we say anymore? Oh yes, we should. The app is ideal for ages 3-10 years, but there’s no saying no to enthusiastic adults!
(I feel like creating a luminescent, back-fanged bear that can bounce on one leg. Hmmm. But first…onto the rest of this blog)
7. Entreprenaws
Can educational toys for kids tackle less-targeted areas like financial literacy? Well, Entreprenaws, is an app that does just that (much like Plugo Farm, from our own line)! Financial literacy, and overall business sense, have only recently become topics that are viewed as ‘necessary’ for children. In the game, to become a successful ‘Entreprenaw’, you have to make deliciously different smoothies to attract different customers in the market. It’s a good tool to introduce your child to concepts like market needs, pricing, and more. It’s also very easy to play, despite tackling some more advanced concepts. Ideal for ages 9-11 years.
8. ExplorArt Klee
Oh! Brilliant and then some! This app allows your child to explore the incredibly individualistic art of Swiss-born German artist Paul Klee. Klee’s dreamlike pieces come alive, in an interactive storybook, becoming enchanted animated scenes that children can explore with their own imagination and creativity. Children have natural artistry, yet introducing art education can be slightly complicated. This app does a brilliant job of bringing Klee’s work into their lives. Highly recommended educational tool for kids!
9. NCFL – National Center for Families Learning
This website deserves a mention for its focus on developing educational solutions and resources for displaced families and those in poverty. They are the parent org of Wonderopolis (#5 in this list). They focus on the concept of family engagement, and their ‘PLAY toolkit’ is one of many valuable resources that guide families on incorporating play into their daily routines, using things that the families already have.
10. Curious World
This app is an online learning tool for kids, with a paid subscription ($7.99 per month). There is plenty of content to encourage your child’s natural curiosity. The app offers a customized curriculum that is based on your child’s age and personal interests. There are videos, games, and books with a focus on encouraging reading, social skills, and hands-on learning. Not sure if it’s worth paying for? There is a 7-day free trial, to see if your child likes it or not.
In summary
There are plenty of valuable educational tools for kids–free and paid. They cover a diverse range of subject matter and have varied styles and artistic approaches, which keeps learning fresh for your child. This list balances formal academic subjects and ‘off-course’ interest-based learning tools. All of them are safe and privacy-conscious. What’s the best part? You can enjoy a lot of these with your kids! That will almost certainly multiply their drive to learn.