Learning a new language is an invaluable skill for children to help them connect with others, travel, and open opportunities for further education and future careers. As parents, you understand the importance of nurturing your child’s English proficiency from an early age. With the rise of technology, educational apps have emerged as powerful tools to support language learning, making the process engaging and interactive.
English apps for children offer a fun and immersive way to build vocabulary, improve reading and writing skills, and grasp grammar concepts. These apps help interlink improving children’s digital literacy skills alongside their English language. They provide opportunities for studying through gamification, a proven method of learning for children with a range of fun, stimulating, and progressive activities.
But not all apps are created equally and some do not offer the same value as others. To save you time in searching for the right apps for your family, this post contains 28 English apps for children that can help support their English language development. Read through the descriptions below and age suitability to help you select a range of apps that will benefit your children at home.
Table of Contents
- Apps for Pre-schoolers (ages 3-5)
- Apps for Kindergarten and Elementary School (ages 5-8)
- Apps for Elementary and Middle School (ages 8-12)
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28 Educational English Apps for Children
Educational Apps for Pre-schoolers (Ages 3-5)
1. Khan Academy Kids
Khan Academy Kids is a free app designed to introduce young learners to reading, language, writing, math, and more. It features engaging activities, games, and books tailored for children aged 2-7. The app emphasizes phonics, letter recognition, and early literacy skills through interactive and colourful lessons.
2. Endless Alphabet
Endless Alphabet is a paid app that teaches letter sounds and word construction through interactive puzzles and animations. It features adorable monster characters and engaging visuals, making it a fun and effective tool for introducing pre-schoolers to the building blocks of language. (available on Google Play / Apple App Store).
3. Lingokids
Lingokids is a freemium app that offers a comprehensive English learning experience for children aged 2-8. It combines games, songs, stories, and activities to develop listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. The app adapts to the child’s pace and includes progress tracking for parents.
4. Little Pim
Little Pim is a paid app that introduces English to children aged 0-6 through immersive videos and interactive games. It features native speakers and focuses on building vocabulary and comprehension through repetition and engaging content.
5. Starfall ABCs
Starfall ABCs is a free app that teaches letter recognition, phonics, and early reading skills through interactive games, songs, and animations. It offers a structured curriculum-based approach suitable for pre-schoolers and kindergarteners.
6. ABC Kids
ABC Kids is a free app that introduces young learners to the English alphabet through interactive games, songs, and puzzles. It helps develop early literacy skills by teaching letter recognition, phonics, and basic vocabulary in an engaging and fun way. (available on Google Play / Apple App Store).
7. Endless Reader
Endless Reader is a paid app that uses a unique word-building approach to teach sight words and phonics. Children can construct words from movable puzzle pieces and unlock fun stories and mini-games, making it an enjoyable way to improve reading skills. (available on Google Play / Apple App Store).
8. Homer Reading
Homer Reading is a subscription-based app that offers a comprehensive reading curriculum for kids aged 2-8. It combines stories, games, and lessons to teach phonics, sight words, and reading comprehension. The app adapts to each child’s learning pace and provides progress reports for parents.
9. Little Stories
Little Stories is a free app that uses interactive storybooks to teach language skills. Children can read along, record their voices, and engage with the stories through animations and narration. The app includes a library of stories and supports multiple languages. (available on Google Play / Apple App Store).
10. ABC PocketPhonics
ABC PocketPhonics is a paid app that focuses on teaching phonics and letter sounds. It uses interactive games, flashcards, and activities to help children learn letter-sound associations, blending, and word-building skills. (available on Apple App Store).
Join the FREE Resource Library
Looking for FREE quality printables, templates, and guides to help you teach your kids ESL at home?
Join theOET’s FREE Membership and gain access to 10s of resources designed by a qualified teacher to help your family learn English at home.
New resources are added every month. Save time, money, and stress with pre-made educational printables and guides.
English Apps for Kindergarten and Elementary School (Ages 5-8)
11. ABCmouse
ABCmouse is a paid comprehensive learning program that covers reading, math, science, social studies, and art. It features engaging activities, games, and books designed to build foundational skills in a fun and interactive way.
12. Reading Eggs
Reading Eggs is a paid app that focuses on teaching reading and literacy skills through games, activities, and guided lessons. It offers a structured curriculum tailored for ages 2-13, with progress tracking and rewards to keep children motivated.
13. Duolingo for Kids
Duolingo for Kids is a free app that teaches English (and other languages) through interactive games and stories. It uses a gamified approach with rewards and progress tracking to make language learning engaging for children aged 4-10.
14. Sight Words by Little Speller
Sight Words by Little Speller is a paid app that helps children aged 4-8 learn and practice high-frequency sight words through interactive games and exercises. It includes progress tracking and customizable word lists. (available on Apple App Store).
15. Learn English – Studycat
Learn English is a freemium app that combines games, stories, puzzles, and songs to teach English language skills to children aged 4-10. It covers vocabulary, grammar, reading, and listening comprehension in a fun and engaging way. (available on Google Play / Apple App Store).
16. ABC Spelling Magic
ABC Spelling Magic is a paid app that helps children practice spelling and word recognition through interactive games and activities. It includes various levels and spelling lists to accommodate different age groups and skill levels. (available on Apple App Store).
17. Bitsboard Pro
Bitsboard Pro is a paid app that offers a wide range of educational games and activities for various subjects, including English language learning. It covers topics like spelling, vocabulary, grammar, and reading comprehension through engaging and interactive exercises. (available on Apple App Store).
18. Sago Mini World: Kids Games
Sago Mini World: Kids Games is a paid app that offers a collection of educational and creative games for children. It includes activities that foster language skills, problem-solving, and creativity through interactive stories, puzzles, and open-ended play.
19. Teach Your Monster to Read
Teach Your Monster to Read is a paid app that combines games and interactive stories to teach phonics, reading, and writing skills. Children can create their own monster characters and progress through various levels, making it a fun and engaging way to learn.
20. Toca Life World: Build a Story
Toca Life World: Build a Story is a paid app that encourages children to create their own stories and narratives using various characters, settings, and props. It promotes creativity, imagination, and language development through open-ended play.
Educational Apps for Elementary and Middle School (Ages 8-12)
21. Vocabulary Spellings City
Vocabulary Spellings City is a paid app that helps children aged 8-12 build their vocabulary and spelling skills through interactive games, quizzes, and activities. It includes progress tracking and customizable word lists.
22. Learn English Grammar
Learn English Grammar is a paid app that teaches grammar concepts and rules through interactive lessons, exercises, and quizzes. It is suitable for children aged 8-12 and includes progress tracking and explanations for different grammar topics. (available on Google Play / Apple App Store).
23. Bedtime Stories
Bedtime Stories is a paid app that offers a collection of classic and modern children’s stories with read-along narration and interactive features. It is suitable for children aged 6-12 and can help improve reading comprehension and vocabulary. (available on Google Play).
24. Montessori Crosswords
Montessori Crosswords is a paid app that combines crossword puzzles with a Montessori approach to teach vocabulary, spelling, and language skills. It is suitable for children aged 8-12 and includes progress tracking and customizable word lists. (available on Google Play / Apple App Store).
25. Rosetta Stone
Rosetta Stone is a subscription-based app that uses an immersive approach to teach reading, writing, and speaking skills in a range of languages including English. It includes 10-minute bite-sized lessons, progress tracking, and interactive activities to help practice English. (available on Google Play / Apple App Store).
26. Imagistory – Creative Storytelling App for Kids 4+
Imagistory is a paid app that allows children to create their own digital stories by combining text, drawings, and voice recordings. It encourages creative writing, storytelling, and language expression in an engaging and multimedia format. (available on Apple App Store).
27. Toontastic 3D
Toontastic 3D is a paid app that enables children to create their own animated stories and cartoons. It supports creative writing, storyboarding, and storytelling skills, as well as language development through narration and character dialogue. (available on Google Play).
28. PicaBook: Picture Book Creator
PicaBook: Picture Book Creator is a paid app that allows children to create their own digital picture books. They can write stories, add illustrations, and record audio narration, fostering creative writing, language skills, and multimedia literacy. (available on Google Play).
Incorporating English apps into your children’s language learning journey can be a game-changer. With a wide range of interactive and engaging apps available, you can build your children’s English proficiency while making the process enjoyable and rewarding.
Remember to prioritize age-appropriate content, engaging visuals, and progress tracking when selecting apps. Most importantly, actively participate in your child’s learning experience, provide support, and create a balanced daily routine that includes screen time and other activities.
By leveraging the power of educational apps, you can not only improve your children’s English language skills but also foster a love for learning.
Join the FREE Resource Library
Looking for FREE quality printables, templates, and guides to help you teach your kids ESL at home?
Join theOET’s FREE Membership and gain access to 10s of resources designed by a qualified teacher to help your family learn English at home.
New resources are added every month. Save time, money, and stress with pre-made educational printables and guides.
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