Educational Apps, Websites & Devices to Prepare Your Child for Preschool and Kindergarten

Even though it may seems like summer just started back-to-school season is here! School shopping lists and new clothes and supplies are a big part of preparing for back-to-school and since parents always want to give their kids the best start when it comes to first school experiences, we’re also incorporating technology to get our kids ready. Tech can be the ultimate back to school tool to help preschool and kindergartners prepare for their first classroom experiences.

Incorporating learning in the every day is important. Taking trips to the library to select books encourages a love of stories that help contribute to pre-reading skills.  Counting during play integrating number concepts and math in a fun way. Fun games that require young children to find a letter while riding in the car helps them learn their alphabet.

But not every child learns in the same way. Apps and educational devices developed by trusted experts can reinforce learning at home and in the classroom.

Reinforce Morning and Bedtime Routines with Daniel Tiger 

Since learning routines are a big part of preschool, apps like Daniel Tiger’s Day & Night ($2.99) can help. This iOS app helps families solidify their morning and bedtime routine like setting the alarm clock, going through your morning rituals, and getting in the car or to the bus stop on time with the help of darling Daniel Tiger. Daniel Tiger’s Night & Day app features eight games about morning and nighttime routines, sing-along songs that help make routines familiar and fun, and a musical timer to help keep routines on-track. It’s a helpful tool that allows kids to familiarize themselves with routines along with a favorite friend they see on television or play with through the PBSKids.org website.

Get a Peek into What Your Kids are Playing and Learning with PBS Kids Super Vision App

 

Educational websites like PBS Kids serve as a great way to engage kids through fun, interactive content and when used in conjunction with the PBS Kids Super Vision app (free), parents can get real-time information on what their child is playing, watching, and learning on PBSKids.org. This first-of-its-kind app gives parents a window into what their kids are doing on PBSKids.org whether they’re at work or in another room, creating an opportunity for conversation about what they’re doing online. It even allows familiesto remotely set a timer to limit screen time, and provides related off-screen activities through helpful suggestions of additional learning activities you can do together.

Follow Learning Through the LeapFrog Learning Path

I’ve always been a fan of LeapFrog products because of the high quality educational content that kids learn through play. Developed by educators and LeapFrog’s team of learning experts, products like the LeapPad 3 ($99) provide a kid-friendly web experience. There are over 1,200+ age appropriate and educator approved games, apps, eBooks, videos, and more that kids can choose from so they’re always accessing content of interest.

It also features LeapSearch. a kid-friendly web environment of videos, games and more, all prescreened by LeapFrog learning experts so we can rest assured every content experience is safe and age appropriate. I also appreciate that the additional parent settings offer extra control if needed.

LeapPad tablets automatically adjust the learning to each and every child, asking more challenging questions as children’s skills develop. Progress is remembered from game to game and book to book, so the learning keeps moving forward. Parents can log into the LeapFrog Learning Path at any time to get a sense of how kids are progressing through certain academic tasks to learn how they can help support them at home.

Know What Your Child is Expected to Learn at Each Grade

As a former preschool and elementary school teacher, I’ve had a good sense of the academic progress my kids should be making at each grade level but as my daughter enters fifth grade, the world of middle school is completely unknown to me! I appreciate sites like Scholastic where their School Success section features The PreK-8^th Grade  Guide that can help me learn what to expect for each subject and provides activities that can be done at home to support classroom learning.

 No compensation was received for this post although samples were received for review purposes. Amazon affiliate links included in this post.