Awesome Educational Websites for Kids
Here's a collection of fun and educational websites for kids offering engaging brain teasers, teacher-approved curriculum, online math games, and much more educational content geared for independent learners! These are all great resources to help reinforce what kids are learning at school, and can even add to your growing list of ideas for indoor fun.
For kids who enjoy this type of interactive online experience, check out these engaging podcasts and free keyboarding games to supplement your child's learning, too!
National Geographic Kids
Shila: National Geographic Kids features tons of brain boosting articles and fun facts about the world and current affairs. The content is easily digestible for a young audience. There are age-appropriate videos, quizzes, and games too.
Prodigy
Alexandra F.: This is a fun role-playing game where kids get a wizard avatar and have to use math to cast spells against their enemies. My kids have loved playing it through most of their elementary school years and even into middle school, especially since the game adapts in difficulty based on the child's ability and grade. You can play the game on your web browser without having to download anything. It also has multiplayer options so kids can play online with friends, too.
Spelling Training
Shila: Check out this website for free online spelling training with simple audio and visual lessons. Take as many no-stress spelling tests you want from the comfort of your own home.
Epic!
Shila: Epic! is a digital library for kids. Many schools may already have subscriptions for their students, but you can subscribe at home, as well. This will open the door to a remote library at your fingertips.
Explore
Free
Kristy Pepping: Explore.org is bringing live streaming daily of animals to you. Watch a different video to learn about various animals. For example, they have a penguin beach in California, a sea lion beach in British Columbia and more. They also feature domestic animals like cats and dogs.
Khan Academy
Shila: Khan Academy has free online courses and lessons available for kids that cover all subjects and all grade years, including specific content in subjects like Calculus, Storytelling, AP®, SAT®, and much more. Pop in for brain exercises anytime, or login to create a personalized progress account.
ABC Mouse
Shila: ABC Mouse is a downloadable app that offers a full online curriculum for the youngest learners, including animations, games, activities and lessons for various subjects such as math, reading & language arts, science and social studies. The program is tailored to each child using a step-by-step learning path, with hundreds of lessons and activities to choose from. Sign up for a free 30-day trial to see if it's right for your family!
Puzzle Prime
Shila: Puzzle Prime promotes "educational recreation" for kids. Boost your mental and analytical skills with a carefully curated selection of fun and engaging puzzles, brain teasers, detective mysteries, funny jokes for kids, and optical illusions.
Braingle
Free
Shila: Braingle features a collection of over 15,000 brain teasers, flash cards, puzzles, riddles, trivia, IQ tests, and games - many of which are ranked by a community of users. Braingle also posts exercises called Mentalrobics. These can help kids stay mentally fit and range in variety of subjects.
How Stuff Works
Shila: Research anything on this website to receive simple, illustrative, easy-to-read results! The How Stuff Works Play page features addictive quizzes and educational trivia, too.
PBS Kids
Shila: PBS Kids will feature some of your child's favorite characters as you explore alongside them in education video games. Learn about feelings with Daniel Tiger, travel with The Cat In The Hat, go on conservation missions with Wild Kratts, etc.
Duolingo
Free
Alexandra F.: Duolingo uses games and short, mini-lessons to teach a new language in a way that is fun and effective. My middle schooler enjoys logging in to her Duolingo account throughout the day when she has free time because the lessons are like quick little games, and she has been making great progress learning Spanish at her own pace. Tons of different languages are offered.
Google Earth
Free
Shila: Google Earth is "the world's most detailed globe." Enter in and search any place in the world for an up-close-and-personal 3D view, or delve into a 360 street view and roam around. Travel the world from the comfort of your own home - literally anywhere!
Cool Math 4 Kids
Shila: This website uses a simple format to provide math lessons for kids. The math games use colorful animation and kid-oriented themes, such as Alien Addition or Drag Race Division. They supply a handful of quick brain teasers that can help warm up your at-home school day, too.
Ducksters
Free
Shila: Ducksters' educational platform is a great tool for geography and history lessons for kids. Browse their categories to capture quick overviews on very import time periods in US and world history.
Primary photo: Patricia Prudente on Unsplash
Upparent collects community-submitted recommendations and reviews, and any ideas that are shared reflect the opinions of individual contributors.