As a parent, teaching your child to read is one of best ways you can encourage them to explore the world around them and set them up for success. You want to raise a good reader, but unless you have a background in education yourself, you may have no idea where to start. If you're looking to foster a love of learning in your little ones, you should know about the apps that help kids learn to read.
According to Baby Center, most children begin reading around age 5. This is because, at this time, a child is developmentally ready to make the connection between letters on a page and the sounds they make. That doesn't mean, however, that you can't start planting the seeds of learning much earlier. Even at 6 months old, babies can enjoy board books with simple words and colorful pictures, Baby Center added.
The idea of teaching your kids to read may give you some anxiety, but fortunately you have plenty of help available at your fingertips. Your favorite app store is loaded with programs geared towards kids as young as 2 years old. Using interactive games, songs and videos, these apps will introduce your kids to letter sounds, sight words, and other important early reading skills. And they can be so much fun for your children that they won't even realize they're learning to read on their own.
So charge up your tablet and download some of these fun reading apps for your little ones. The only down side will be that soon you won't be able to spell things you don't want them hear anymore.
1Bob Books Reading Magic
The best-selling books that have helped so many kids learn to read now come to life with Bob Books Reading Magic ($4). Using short stories and plenty of repetition, kids are able to connect letters and sounds. And you'll love to see them light up when they realize they can eventually read the stories on their own.
2Homer
Designed for kids ages 2 to 8 years old, Homer (Free) fosters a love of reading in kids with games, stories, and music. With more than 1,000 lessons that cover phonics, sight words, and more, you can track your child's progress as they learn new words and sounds each time they play.
3Starfall Learn To Read
The publicly supported nonprofit, Starfall.com has helped children learn to read since 2002. Now your kids can take Zac the Rat on the go with the app, Starfall Learn To Read (Free). Your kids will learn all about vowel sounds, and can put their knowledge to the test with a variety of interactive games.
4Teach Your Monster To Read
Teach Your Monster To Read ($5) is geared towards kids ages 3 to 6. With this app, kids can make their own monster who will take them on an educational journey. Along the way, they'll learn the fundamentals of reading as they play games that focus on letter and sound matching and more.
5Elmo Loves ABCs
Learning to read starts with learning all about the alphabet. With Elmo Loves ABCs ($5), your toddlers and preschoolers will have fun with that adorable fuzzy red character from Sesame Street. Learn all about letters as they trace them, hear the sound they make, and see words that start with the letter. There are also lots of fun videos that help kids reinforce what they've learned.
6Sight Words Learning Games
According to Speech Buddies, sight words are commonly used words that early readers are encouraged to memorize, particularly since many of them don't follow traditional phonics principles. Early readers can learn more 300 elementary sight words with Sight Words Learning Games (Free). This app can be a fun tool to reinforce what your kids are learning at school at home.
7Word Wall
Word Wall ($2) is a fun app geared towards young readers ages 5 and older. The games teach kids about word families, and lets them use sounds to learn new words and grow their vocabulary. The app also lets kids collect stickers and save their favorite words on their personal word wall.
