For most of you, it’s work from home time and while you’re at it, I’m sure the kids in the house have a free run. Fun and frolic are alright but free time can also be utilized for learning. While most of us are not sure when the schools are going to open, a great option is to use technology to teach pre-school and kindergarten kids basic language skills. So, here are the best language learning apps for kids.
Read: 7 Best Offline Games for Kids Under 6 Years: WFH Series
Best Language Learning Apps for Kids
1. Montessori Preschool
If you’re looking for an app that does tons more than just teach alphabets, this is one app your kid surely should try. It’s a fun learning app certified by Montessori teachers. What I like most about the app is has a vast curriculum. You can choose subjects such as Maths, English, Drawing and even lessons on practical skills like how to know what time it is, how to read the calendar, etc. While most of these lessons are free to use, there are some sessions that need a subscription. If you’re just using it for fun, I won’t suggest subscribing, but I’m sure your kid can learn a lot for $4.5/month.
Download Montessori Preschool (iOS | Android)
2. Khan Academy Kids
Khan Academy Kids is a serious learning package developed in collaboration with Standford Graduate School of Education and has bagged multiple Parents’ Choice awards. You need to sign-up to use the app and track the progress of the kid. The language section is comprehensive and interactive games are used to teach alphabets, words, vowels. Not just that, there are lessons on writing letters with the use of interactive tracing just like a paper. Well, if your kid is bored, the drawing board can be a great time-buster. The best part is, it’s graphical, completely free, contains no ads and doesn’t require a subscription.
Download Khan Academy Kids (iOS | Android)
3. Lingokids Playlearning App
This app relies on content from Oxford university press. To start, you need to signup and select your kid’s language skill level for a tailored English course accordingly. For example, if he can read individual words, simple phrases, or can communicate easily. The type of lessons covers all the basics. You can find exercises on numbers, alphabets, colors, shapes, and other rudimentary lessons. To keep the learning in check, you can also set practice reminders, so the learning is continuous. You have a seven-day trial period after which it costs $15/montly.
Download Lingokids Playlearning App (iOS | Android)
4. Learn English for Kids – First Words
Kids pick a lot of words from their surroundings and already have a small vocabulary to start with. This app helps them to enhance this vocabulary with games, sounds, animation, and flashcards. You start by selecting a category, for example, animals, vehicles, etc. This way you can see the picture in the selected category along with the pronunciation. Personally, I think kids see most of these things around the household and it is easy for them to relate and learn. The only drawback is that there are banner ads at the bottom which can be removed for $0.99.
Download Learn English for Kids (Android)
5. Unuhi: Bilingual Books for Children
Made by The University of Oxford, Unhi is an app that uses a bilingual method in the form of stories and flashcards to teach. All you have to do is download and select two languages. You can change the language anytime and download stories for offline viewing. The app doesn’t require a sign-up, however, most of the stories and flashcards need to be bought in order to read in its entirety. If you kids like to listen to stories, there is a narration option as well, which pronounces sentences in both the chosen languages.
Download Unuhi: Bilingual Books for Children (iOS | Android)
6. Learn English for kids
Adults love quizzes and I’m sure kids will love them too. This app is filled with dozen of quizzes and games. It starts with a minute test, to determine the rest of the curriculum. There are games that involve sentence formation through the fill in the blanks, guessing the word through an animated video, etc. This app has just two language support, English and Hindi. Moreover, you also get weekly reports on Whats-app and worksheets for your child. A major drawback is that you require an Indian Phone number to sign-up. But if you do have one, this app is a treasure.
Download Learn English for kids for (Android)
7. Bolo
Bolo is a voice-based app by Google. It uses a tutor bot named “Diya” which makes this similar to a one on one teaching experience. You can read the sentence aloud and get a real-time review. It’s a great approach and also encourages the child to speak the language from time to time. The app has mostly Indian languages such as Hindi, Tamil, etc, but there’s is an option to select just English as well. It’s filled with many interactive activities such as stories, jumble word games, speed reading, etc. However, this app isn’t for someone who is just starting with alphabets, but your kid can already form and understand words. Try this right away!
Download Bolo: Learn to read with Google (Android)
Closing Remarks
These interactive games are a fun way for kids to learn without getting bored. The apps range from basic English language skills to learning how to read. So you can try all of them and probably create a list of fav. apps for your kid for a holistic approach. Mixing and matching these apps will make a great schedule for your kid’s language growth. Download and let your kid try for himself. Here is my list of the best language learning apps for kids. So, What’re you waiting for?
Also Read: 10 Best Coding Apps for Kids
