4 of the Best Reading Apps for Kids

In the tech-driven world, it’s no surprise that children start using devices at an early age. While kids might watch content on YouTube or play simple games on their devices, they can also benefit from educational apps. 

One category of apps that can make a real difference in your child’s learning is reading apps. The best reading apps help children learn their ABCs, the meaning of words, how to read, and how to follow a story. Take a closer look at the benefits of reading apps and some of the best reading apps for kids on the market today.

Benefits of Learn-to-Read Apps

Did you know that from birth, children are gathering the skills needed to help them learn how to read? Parents play an important role in helping foster children’s reading skills. However, parents may find teaching their children how to read challenging. It requires patience, kindness, and understanding, especially if young children have difficulty reading at first. 

Thankfully, reading apps, sometimes called learn-to-read apps, are helpful tools children can use to gradually improve their reading skills. No child can learn how to read overnight, but these apps — when used correctly and with physical books — can help children develop their knowledge of words and sounds. 

4 of the Best Reading Apps for Kids

If you’re looking for reading apps to help get your little ones started with reading, you’re in the right place. Below are five of the best reading apps for kids to consider downloading.

1. Skybrary

One reading app that will give your kids plenty of books to read — nearly 1,000 — is Skybrary. Skybrary is an interactive library of ebooks that come with real-world video explorations to help children feel engaged with what they read. 

It offers a one-month free trial, so you can monitor how your child uses the ebooks and decide if you want to purchase a full membership.

Available online and on iPhones and iPads.

2. Homer

Homer is another reading app to download onto your device for your children. Its Learn & Grow program is tailored to your child’s age and school level. You can use Homer as soon as your child turns two years old. 

It’s ad-free, safe, and easy to use, so you can allow kids extra screen time without worrying that they’ll click on ads or come across anything inappropriate. The Learn & Grow program helps children increase early reading scores by 74%, according to Homer’s official website.

Available on iOS, Android, and Amazon.

3. ABCmouse

A highly popular app is ABCmouse, which features hundreds of interactive educational games to ensure your child is on the right track with their learning. ABCmouse offers a free 30-day trial, and will sometimes offer discounts on its monthly pricing. 

As for its reading curriculum, ABCmouse offers uppercase and lowercase recognition, phonics, rhyming words, and word families, and over 450 books for beginners. Additionally, the first-grade level curriculum includes writing and language skills to help get your little one ready for school.

Available online and on tablets and smartphones.

4. Starfall

Starfall’s educational content helps children learn reading, phonics, and math skills. It offers helpful educational resources for preschool, kindergarten, and first, second, and third grade. The app focuses on phonetic awareness, common sight words, and audiovisual interactivity to keep kids engaged. Starfall is available on the Google Play Store, which gives you built-in security features, as well as the iOS App Store. 

Available on the web, smartphones, and tablets.

Before children learn to read, it’s important to teach them pre-reading skills, including:

• Motivation to read
• Language skills
• Concepts of print
• Letter knowledge
• Phonological awareness

All of these skills will help make the learning process easier for young children. Thankfully, there are a ton of online resources available to help parents and teachers develop their children’s or students’ reading skills early on in their academic careers.

Download Reading Apps to Help Kids Learn to Read

It’s important for children to start recognizing letters, understanding words, and reading text before they even enter formal schooling. In doing so, kids will be better prepared for preschool, kindergarten, and elementary school. Consider downloading these reading apps if you want your child to get a head start on reading!