16 Fun and Free Learning Websites for Kids

Your children can learn something new today in a safe online environment. These free educational websites for kids are fun while offering online learning games, printables, videos, and more. Pull them up the next time your child asks to use a cell phone or tablet!

1

Sesame Street

Grand Opening Of National Museum Of American History's Innovation Wing
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Younger children will love everything about Sesame Street's online home. They can watch hundreds of the show's video clips and play games that help them learn letters, animal sounds, rhymes, colors, and more.

2

Scholastic

Scholastic is one of the more unique educational websites for kids. This site, from the publishers of the educational magazines you find in schools, contains activities organized by grade level. Kids from pre-K all the way up to high school can find learning activities geared toward them.

3

PBS Kids

Each of the educational shows your children watch on PBS has its own section on PBSKids.org. Find sing-a-long songs, sorting and counting games, bonus videos, and more.

4

CoolMath

CoolMath.com calls itself "an amusement park of math and more." Children can play online math games that help them with addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, decimals, money and more. CoolMath is geared toward ages 13 and up, but sister site CoolMath4Kids.com is appropriate for ages 3 through 12. CoolMath Games offers "brain training" games for all ages.

5

TIME for Kids

From the publishers of TIME magazine, TIMEforKids.com is loaded with fascinating articles, photos, and videos, covering politics, the environment, entertainment, sports, health, and more. TIME for Kids isn't as interactive as most of the other sites on this list, but it tackles subjects that are in the news in a kid-friendly way.

6

National Geographic Kids

Watch animal web cams, learn interesting animal facts, see and share photos of nature, learn about different countries, try science experiments, and much more on Kids.NationalGeographic.com. There's also a "Little Kids" section for the younger explorers in your home.

7

How Stuff Works

When your child wants to know why the sky is blue, how a tornado forms, or who invented the Chia Pet, head on over to How Stuff Works. The articles answer questions about cars, culture, entertainment, science, money, technology, and more. Games, quizzes, and videos round out the learning experience.

8

Starfall

Starfall.com has been online since 2002. It's ad-free and offers learning games and activities for kids in pre-K through grade 3, covering math, reading, writing, and music, plus seasonal options.

9

The KIDZ Page

TheKidzPage.com has more than 5,000 pages of learning games and activities. Online coloring pages, jigsaw puzzles and word games are just a few categories on this massive site. Each holiday has its own section of activities and games to enjoy with your children.

10

Fun Brain

One visit to Fun Brain and you'll want to bookmark it for your kids. Math, reading, online books, and learning games are just some of the site's many treats. Fun Brain caters to preschoolers through 8th graders.

11

Nick Jr.

If you don't mind TV characters, you'll find printables, games and other activities your young kids will enjoy at NickJr.com. The games allow your children to explore their creativity, play dress-up, learn new music, put together puzzles, and work on numbers and shape recognition.

12

Exploratorium

It's hard to narrow the list of science websites because there are so many helpful resources out there. But San Francisco's Exploratorium at the Palace of Fine Arts website teaches kids about science and art in new ways. The activities let kids tinker with gadgets, go below the sea, rocket into the galaxy, as well as learn about the science of gardening, animals, and cells, to name a few.

13

Highlights for Kids

The magazine for kids that's been around for more than 60 years also offers online ways to play, read, and craft with your children. The site includes matching games, art activities, animated stories and science experiments to help kids learn while having fun on the Highlights for Kids website.

14

Learning Games for Kids

The name of the site says it all. Learning Games for Kids is all about games that teach kids almost every subject you can think of. Word, spelling, social studies, brain, science, art, vocabulary, literature, and keyboarding games will take your kids on a learning adventure.

15

Old Farmer's Almanac for Kids

It's learning with a twist. The Old Farmer's Almanac for Kids features riddles, puzzles, a question of the day, a timeline of interesting history facts, sky events, and weather conditions to track at home with your children.

16

Disney Jr.

Fans of Mickey and friends will love visiting Disney Jr. Games, coloring pages, and videos are a few of the highlights. The games focus on memory, hand-eye coordination, color matching, and other important skills for developing minds.

By Apryl Duncan
Apryl Duncan is a stay-at-home mom and internationally-published writer with years of experience providing advice to others like her.