Mrs. Dove's Top 10 Best Free Websites and Apps for Young Readers!

 Hey families! Here’s a list of  my top 10 and best free websites and apps for young children to learn to read:

1. Starfall

• Website: www.starfall.com 

• App: Available on iOS and Android

• Description: Starfall offers interactive games, songs, and activities designed to teach phonics, vocabulary, and early reading skills for young children. This is my favorite because it taught my children how to read at home!

 2. ABCmouse

• Website: www.abcmouse.com

• App: Available on iOS and Android

• Description: While it offers a paid subscription, ABCmouse provides a 30-day free trial. It covers a variety of early childhood subjects, including reading, with age-appropriate lessons.

3. PBS Kids

• Website: www.pbskids.org

• App: Available on iOS and Android

• Description: PBS Kids offers engaging games and videos from popular children’s TV shows like Curious George and Sesame Street, helping children develop literacy skills. PBS has been going strong for generations and continues to do so. 

4. Reading Rockets

• Website: www.readingrockets.org

• App: N/A

• Description: Reading Rockets provides resources for parents and educators, including free articles, videos, and guides on how to support early reading development. Parents, please take advantage of the free resources!

5. Epic!

• Website: www.getepic.com

• App: Available on iOS and Android

• Description: Epic! offers a vast collection of digital books and audiobooks for children. While the full service requires a subscription, there’s a free option for educators, and you can get a free trial for parents. The best part about Epic is that it reads to your child and also has audiobooks and video stories!

6. Teach Your Monster to Read

• Website: www.teachyourmonstertoread.com

• App: Available on iOS and Android

• Description: This game-based app is great for teaching phonics, letter recognition, and simple words, all while children have fun with a monster character.

7. Raz-Kids

• Website: www.raz-kids.com

• App: Available on iOS and Android

• Description: Raz-Kids offers a library of interactive e-books for different reading levels. Although it's mostly a paid service, a limited selection of free books is available.

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8. HOMER

• Website: www.learnwithhomer.com

• App: Available on iOS

• Description: HOMER provides personalized reading lessons based on your child’s age and interests. It offers a 30-day free trial and is designed to enhance early literacy skills. Homer is amazing for your Pre-K students!

9. Bluster!

• Website: www.blusterapp.com

• App: Available on iOS

• Description: Bluster! is a fun, free game that teaches children to recognize sight words, letter sounds, and other early literacy concepts.

10. Funbrain

• Website: www.funbrain.com

• App: Available on iOS and Android

• Description: Funbrain offers a variety of free games, books, and videos designed to help children improve their reading skills. It covers topics such as phonics, comprehension, and vocabulary.

These websites and apps are designed to make learning to read fun and interactive for young children while offering plenty of resources to help build strong foundational literacy skills.