10 must-have literacy apps for early child educators

Literacy in young children helps lay the groundwork for education across all subjects and can encourage an excitement for learning, self-confidence and improved reading comprehension.

For professionals in the field of early childhood education, reading apps for preschoolers and kindergartners can help integrate the latest technology into their teaching while also building children’s technological proficiency. As more school districts provide tablets for classroom use, professionals can explore whether these tools could help their curriculum. 

Here are some examples of literacy apps for early childhood education:

1. Skybrary (Ages 4+)

What it offers: From the creators of Reading Rainbow, Skybrary aims to cultivate a love of reading in children. The app features a curated digital library of interactive books and tools designed for young readers, including video field trips hosted by LeVar Burton and educational activities.

Why get it: The Skybrary for Schools version offers lesson plans, reporting tools and activities for students. 

Availability: web browsers, iOS App Store

2. Endless Alphabet (Ages 3+)

What it offers: Designed by the creators of the Sesame Street classic The Monster at the End of This Book, Endless Alphabet helps children learn the alphabet and build vocabulary with monster-themed activities. Short puzzle games encourage them to learn complex words like gargantuan and cooperate, with monster animations and talking letters illustrating the definitions of words.

Why get it: Kids can work at their own pace while exploring the alphabet, and the app’s format provides a creative opportunity to learn definitions as a class.

Availability: Google Play, iOS App Store

3. Endless Reader (Ages 3+)

What it offers: If children enjoy Endless Alphabet, they can follow up with Endless Reader. This app helps develop literacy by introducing kids to “sight words” – the most commonly used words in children’s books. Recognizing sight words will help set children up for success as they learn to read.

Why get it: Both Endless Reader and Endless Alphabet were designed to limit stress in kids. There are no high scores or failures.

Availability: Google Play, iOS App Store

4. Homer: Fun Learning for Kids (Ages 3+) 

What it offers: Interactive games and stories teach children phonics, spelling, fluency and vocabulary. Children can develop their reading comprehension through a library of stories and activities catered to their personal interests and current reading level.

Why get it: This research-based program helps build excitement for reading in students.

Availability: Google Play, iOS App Store

5. Hooked on Phonics Learn & Read (Ages 3+)

What it offers: With songs, videos, games and e-books, kids of all skill levels can move through progressive lessons that introduce the building blocks of reading.

Why get it: This award-winning, research-based app is designed with input from educators and approved by the Children’s Reading Foundation.

Availability: Google Play, iOS App Store

6. Duck Duck Moose Reading (Ages 3+)

What it offers: This cute game helps teach phonics and reading skills in a fun zoo-themed adventure. Based on Common Core State Standards, kids can learn by playing with flamingos, monkeys, lions and more. A reporting section tracks student mastery of different concepts. 

Why get it: This app is a winner of the Parents’ Choice Gold Award and Children’s Technology Review Editor’s Choice Award. 

Availability: Google Play, iOS App Store

7. Metamorphabet (Ages 3+)

What it offers: Dynamic animations transform letters into things that start with that letter. After each transformation, kids see and hear the word it represents. The app covers basic material in a mesmerizing way that young kids and adults alike will enjoy.

Why get it: This app is a winner of the Apple Design Award and Independent Games Festival winner in the visual arts category.

Availability: Google Play, iOS App Store

8. Monkey Word School Adventure (Ages 3+)

What it offers: Kids play games to help a monkey and his friends explore the jungle, all while being introduced to the fundamental concepts of reading and writing. App activities include helping Monkey with spelling, letter writing, solving a word wall puzzle, recognizing sight words and rhyming.

Why get it: The game difficulty adjusts automatically so children are challenged but not discouraged.

Availability: Google Play, iOS App Store

9. Montessori Crosswords (Words & Phonics) (Ages 3+)

What it offers: This app helps kids learn and understand two fundamental concepts. First, it introduces phonemic awareness by helping children understand that words are made up of sounds. Second, it helps them recognize how phonic sounds are associated with letters. Kids drag and drop letters into a crossword to form words and hear sounds that correspond with picture hints.

Why get it: The activities are based on the Montessori learning method.

Availability: Google Play, iOS App Store

10. Reading Raven (Ages 3+)

What it offers: Guided by the Reading Raven companion, these games take children from pre-reading to reading full sentences. Starting with letter matching and tracing, children progress to spelling, reading aloud and forming word groups – all while meeting circus acrobats, underwater sea creatures and snow monsters.

Why get it: This app is a Parents’ Choice Award Winner and an Apple Staff Favorite for education.

Availability: iOS App Store

If you want to learn more about tools to engage students and improve your skills in early childhood education, you may be interested in the Capella University Master of Science in Education with a specialization in Early Childhood Education or Early Childhood Education Studies.