19 of the Best Reading Apps for Kids
Today’s kids are more exposed to digital devices than previous generations, and screen time is always a concern. But there are countless educational and reading apps to help children learn and develop critical skills in a fun and interactive way. Using the best reading apps for kids is a great way to introduce your child to the world of books and encourage a love of reading.
The best reading apps for kids provide many benefits, such as improving literacy skills, expanding vocabulary, and promoting critical thinking. But with so many options available, choosing the right one for your child can be overwhelming. In this article, we’ll look at some of the best reading apps for kids and explore what makes them so wonderful. Whether you’re looking for apps focusing on phonics, sight words, or storytelling, we’ve got you covered. So, let’s dive in and explore the world of reading apps for kids!
19 of the Best Reading Apps for Kids
Best Reading Apps for Kids for Alphabet Knowledge
1. ABC Mouse
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ABC Mouse is for children ages 2-8. It offers a comprehensive curriculum covering various subjects, including math, science, reading, and art. The app’s interactive lessons and games are engaging and designed to keep kids motivated and excited about learning.
ABC Mouse includes a unique feature allowing parents to track their child’s progress and customize their learning path based on their needs and skill level. This app is for children who are just beginning to learn to read and those looking to build on their existing skills.
2. AlphaTots Alphabet
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AlphaTots Alphabet is one of the best reading apps for kids ages 2-5 to learn the alphabet. The app includes 26 mini-games corresponding to each alphabet letter, engaging children in a fun and interactive way. Each game teaches children to recognize letters, learn their sounds, and build early reading skills. Through a series of entertaining games and activities, children learn to recognize and match letters, identify sounds, and spell simple words. The playful animations, catchy music, and colorful graphics capture children’s attention and keep them engaged as they learn.
3. Dr. Seuss’s ABC
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Dr. Seuss’s ABC brings to life the classic book by Dr. Seuss, teaching children the alphabet in a fun and interactive way. This reading app for kids includes four activities, each designed to teach children about different aspects of the alphabet, including letter recognition, phonics, and word building. The app features delightful illustrations and animations, bringing Dr. Seuss’s beloved characters and rhymes to life.
4. Starfall ABCs
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Starfall ABCs is one of the best reading apps for kids to learn the alphabet, phonics, and reading. The app includes various activities, including videos, songs, and games, covering multiple topics, from letter recognition to sentence building. With engaging and interactive content, Starfall ABCs aims to make learning fun and easy for young children.
5. LetterSchool
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LetterSchool helps children learn to write letters and numbers through interactive and engaging games and activities. This is one of the best reading apps for kids because it uses animations and sound effects to guide children through tracing each letter and number. It helps them to develop their motor skills and handwriting abilities. LetterSchool is an excellent tool for parents looking to help young children master the basics of writing in fun and engaging ways.
Best Reading Apps for Kids for Comprehension
1. Homer
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Homer is like having a personal digital tutor for your child, providing a vast range of educational content and activities that are engaging and effective. This reading app for kids has engaging stories, songs, and activities designed to foster a love of learning and encourage children to explore new topics. Homer makes learning fun and accessible for young children, helping them to develop essential skills and knowledge at their own pace.
2. News-O-Matic
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News-O-Matic is one of the best reading apps for kids because they can read daily news articles written specifically for children. The app offers a variety of stories covering current events, science, sports, and more, which are presented in a child-friendly format with colorful illustrations and interactive features. The News-O-Matic app helps children’s comprehension skills by presenting news stories in an interactive format, with engaging visuals and activities that encourage critical thinking and understanding of current events.
3. Question Builder
Question Builder helps children improve their language and reasoning skills by teaching them how to ask and answer questions. The app presents a series of illustrated scenes and asks the user to ask and answer questions about them, helping children develop the ability to express themselves and understand others.
Best Reading Apps for Kids with Learning Disabilities
1. Articulation Station
Articulation Station is a speech therapy app designed to help children improve their pronunciation and articulation skills. The app features over 1,000 target words and phrases and fun and interactive activities that make learning speech therapy engaging and enjoyable. While Articulation Station primarily focuses on speech therapy and pronunciation skills, improving one’s ability to articulate sounds and words can indirectly benefit reading skills by enhancing phonological awareness and the ability to decode and recognize words.
2. Blending Board
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Blending Board is one of the best reading apps for kids to learn to read and blend sounds into words. The app presents a series of letter tiles, and players must drag them together to form words and hear the corresponding sounds. Blending Board is an excellent tool for parents looking to help children develop their phonics and reading skills.
3. Bob Books Reading Magic #1 and #2
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Bob Books Reading Magic is an educational app designed to help children learn how to read using the popular Bob Books series. Two apps feature interactive stories with sight words and phonetic patterns for children to practice. Bob Books Reading Magic #1 and #2 are similar in format and content, with both apps featuring interactive stories and reading activities based on the Bob Books series. However, Reading Magic #2 builds on the skills introduced in Reading Magic #1, with more complex phonetic patterns and sight words, making it better suited for children who have already developed some reading proficiency.
4. Choiceworks and Choiceworks Calendar
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Choiceworks and Choiceworks Calendar are among the best reading apps for kids to help children with special needs develop organizational, communication, and self-regulation skills. While the primary focus of these apps is not on reading skills, they can indirectly help children improve their reading abilities by promoting literacy-related tasks, such as creating schedules, making choices, and communicating their needs and preferences through visual aids and text. Additionally, the apps feature customizable options and visual supports, which can be tailored to meet each child’s specific needs and abilities.
5. PocketPhonics
PocketPhonics is one of the best reading apps for kids to learn phonics and basic reading skills through fun and interactive games. The app features a series of lessons that cover letter sounds, letter writing, and early reading. It offers personalized feedback and support to help children progress independently. PocketPhonics also includes a handwriting recognition feature that enables children to practice writing letters and words on their device’s screen. It can be a valuable tool for developing fine motor skills and letter formation. PocketPhonics is an excellent app for parents looking to help children develop their reading abilities in a fun and accessible way. Additionally, the app includes various customizable options that allow parents to tailor the learning experience to each child’s specific needs and abilities.
Best Reading Apps for Kids for Phonics:
1. Duck Duck Moose Reading
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This app features a series of lessons that cover early reading skills, such as letter recognition, phonics, and sight words, and it offers personalized feedback and support to help children progress at their own pace. Duck Duck Moose Reading also includes interactive stories that engage children’s imagination and help them practice reading skills in a meaningful context.
2. Duck Duck Moose Word Wagon
Duck Duck Moose Word Wagon helps children develop vocabulary and word recognition skills through fun and interactive games. The app features a series of activities that cover a wide range of topics and concepts, from basic letter sounds and sight words to more complex vocabulary and spelling patterns. Duck Duck Moose Word Wagon also includes interactive stories that engage children’s imagination that helps them practice their reading skills. Using visual and auditory cues, Duck Duck Moose Word Wagon allows children to associate words with their meanings and encourages them to use context clues to decipher unfamiliar words. This is one of the best reading apps for kids because of its interactive and playful approach to learning, which helps children stay engaged and motivated.
3. First Words Deluxe
This reading app for kids features a series of interactive puzzles and games that teach children to recognize and spell common words, such as animals, colors, and shapes. First Words Deluxe also includes customizable settings that allow parents to adjust the difficulty level and focus on specific skills. With its colorful graphics and intuitive interface, this is one of the best reading apps for kids learning to read. The app’s interactive and playful approach to learning helps children stay engaged and motivated while providing valuable feedback and support. First Words Deluxe is designed to help children build their vocabulary and develop their language skills.
4. Montessori Crosswords and Montessori Words and Phonics
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Montessori Crosswords and Montessori Words and Phonics use the Montessori method to teach children to read. The Montessori approach emphasizes hands-on learning and encourages children to explore new concepts at their own pace. Both apps feature interactive games and activities that teach children to recognize and spell words. And they help them develop their phonetic and language skills.
Montessori Crosswords builds children’s vocabulary and language comprehension by teaching them to recognize and spell common words through interactive crossword puzzles. Montessori Words and Phonics focuses on phonetic awareness and helps children develop their phonetic decoding skills by introducing them to the sounds of letters and letter combinations. Both apps are designed to be engaging and interactive, providing children immediate feedback and support as they learn. These are two of the best reading apps for kids to motivate them to read.
5. Wonster Words
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This app features a group of friendly monsters that guide children through puzzles and games, teaching them to recognize and spell words. With its engaging and colorful graphics, Wonster Words captures children’s attention and keeps them interested in learning. The app also features a variety of games and activities that help children develop their phonetic and language skills, such as rhyming, word families, and sentence construction. Wonster Words is suitable for children of all ages, from preschoolers to early readers. The app includes customizable settings that allow parents to adjust the difficulty level and focus on specific skills. This makes it a versatile tool for various learning needs.
6. Word Wizards for Kids
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This is one of the best reading apps for kids to introduce them to phonetic and spelling rules. The app features a variety of games and activities that teach children to recognize and spell words. These include word families, compound words, and silent letters. Word Wizards for Kids also includes a progress tracker. The tracker allows parents to monitor children’s learning and identify areas needing support. The app suits children of all ages, from early readers to more advanced learners. The app can be customized to meet individual needs. Additionally, the app includes a variety of rewards and incentives, such as stickers and trophies. These can help children stay motivated and engaged as they progress through the games and activities.
Many apps are available for children to develop essential literacy skills in a fun and engaging way. These are some of the best reading apps for kids that can help. By incorporating these apps, you can help your child build a strong foundation in reading. Why not try one of these apps and see how they can help your child unlock the joy of reading!