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    The Children's Book Review

    10 Educational Websites to Improve Reading Skills and More

    Bianca SchulzeBy Bianca Schulze5 Mins Read Quest for Literacy
    10 Educational Websites to Improve Reading Skills & More
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    A list of free websites for improving reading and learning skills.
    The Children’s Book Review

    Free and Safe Educational Websites For Kids and Students

    Here is a list of 10 free, safe, and educational websites for your children to explore. Each of these sites has a strong offering for kids that are learning to read, ready to enhance their current reading skills, or those simply wanting to relish in the delight of reading for pleasure in an interactive way (reading for pleasure puts children ahead in the classroom).

    PBS Kids

    PBS KIDS is a leading educational media platform for children, offering an extensive range of programs through television, online, mobile, and community-based initiatives. They provide children with the chance to broaden their minds and discover new ideas and the world around them. PBS KIDS makes education accessible to all children and strives to ensure that its programs are inclusive and engaging.

    National Geographic Kids 

    National Geographic Kids motivates young explorers to discover the world through various media channels like magazines, books, websites, apps, games, toys, television series, and events. The brand prides itself on having a world-class scientific organization that is the cornerstone of its work. Its website, kids.nationalgeographic.com, is an award-winning platform that captures the hearts of children with thrilling games, videos, contests, photos, quizzes, and blogs on cultures, animals, and destinations. It encourages children to develop their curiosity and affection for the planet in a fun and engaging way.

    If you are looking for an incredible educational opportunity for your kids, National Geographic Kids is the perfect brand to embark on a journey of discovery and exploration.

    Get 30 Days FREE of ABCmouse.com! (then $12.99 mo. until canceled)

    ABCya.com 

    ABCya.com is a renowned platform that offers a wide range of educational computer games and activities specifically designed for elementary students. All the educational content available on the website has been approved by certified school teachers and modeled from primary-grade lessons. These interactive educational games are provided to children at no cost to aid in their learning experience.

    Storyline Online 

    Research indicates that reading to children offers countless benefits, such as enhancing their reading, writing, and communication abilities, logical reasoning, concentration, and overall academic proficiency. Additionally, it fosters a passion for reading, which is an essential life skill. To aid in this journey, the Screen Actors Guild Foundation has recorded celebrities reading popular children’s books and transformed these stories into visually stimulating videos. With just a click on a Storyline Online video book image, children from anywhere in the world can access the exciting world of storytelling.

    Seussville

    The official website of Dr. Seuss and the Cat in the Hat showcases a range of engaging games, printable activities, and a complete illustrated character guide. In addition, it provides detailed information about the creator of these beloved characters, Theodor Seuss Giesel. The website has been proudly crafted by Random House Inc. to be an informative and entertaining resource for all fans of Dr. Seuss.

    Starfall.com

    Starfall.com launched in September 2002 as a free public service with the goal of using phonics to teach children how to read. Their approach incorporates systematic phonics and phonemic awareness and is suitable for a wide range of groups, including preschoolers, kindergarteners, first and second graders, as well as those in special education, homeschooling, and those looking to improve their English language development. By offering an educational alternative to other forms of entertainment, Starfall aims to promote early childhood literacy and help children build foundational reading skills that will serve them well in the future.

    Into the Book

    Into the Book is a program specifically designed to improve students’ reading comprehension and enhance their ability to think and learn across various subject areas. Their product is grounded in current research and puts emphasis on eight essential learning strategies to provide students with the necessary means to succeed both in and out of the classroom.

    Get 30 Days Free of ReadingIQ! (then $7.99 mo. until canceled)

    Funbrain

    Funbrain is a free educational resource that has been providing kids, teachers, librarians, and parents with high-quality content since 1997. Designed for preschool to grade 8 students, Funbrain offers over 100 engaging and interactive games that foster skills in math, reading, and literacy. In addition, the site provides access to a variety of popular books and comics, including Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Amelia Writes Again, and Brewster Rocket. Funbrain is a valuable resource that enables students to learn and develop important skills in a fun and engaging manner.

    The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

    The Wizarding World is an online platform designed to offer a unique and immersive experience for fans of J.K. Rowling’s beloved Harry Potter novels. Users have the opportunity to further explore the enchanting world of Harry Potter through interactive maps, engaging games, and free first chapters of the novels. This comprehensive platform provides a one-of-a-kind opportunity for Potter enthusiasts to immerse themselves in the magic of this beloved universe and discover new aspects of the story and characters.

    Highlights Kids

    Highlights for Kids is a renowned children’s magazine that also provides an online platform for young children. The website is packed with various educational and entertaining features such as poetry to both listen and read, animated stories, arts and crafts activities, and science experiments.

    There is certainly an abundance of educational websites available. We think you’ll find the websites listed above a great place to start. Happy learning, reading, and having fun!

    What to Read Next:

    1. 20 Sites to Improve Your Child’s Literacy
    2. Fun Tips and Tricks to Encourage Reading and Writing This Summer
    3. Literacy Tips and Activities That Work for Families
    4. ReadingIQ | Educational Kids App Review

    *Disclosure: Please note that this post may contain affiliate links that share some commission. Rest assured that these will not affect the cost of any products and services promoted here. Our team always provides their authentic opinion in all content published on this site.

    Educational Websites Learning Websites Literacy Activities Literacy Resources Reading Reading Tips Spelling Skills Summer reading Writing Tips
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    Bianca Schulze
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    Bianca Schulze is the founder of The Children’s Book Review. She is a reader, reviewer, mother and children’s book lover. She also has a decade’s worth of experience working with children in the great outdoors. Combined with her love of books and experience as a children’s specialist bookseller, the goal is to share her passion for children’s literature to grow readers. Born and raised in Sydney, Australia, she now lives with her husband and three children near Boulder, Colorado.

    5 Comments

    1. Gina on February 27, 2014 8:34 pm

      http://www.learninggamesforkids.com/ is another Great Free one! My kids play on it all the time.
      O’and thanks for sharing those other Freebies 🙂

      Reply
      • Bianca Schulze on February 27, 2014 10:02 pm

        Thanks for the tip!

        Reply
    2. Julie Wysocki on March 4, 2014 10:03 am

      I have heard of some of these websites. At my old job, I worked in an after school daycare and the children used ABCya.com Starfall.com and Funbrain.com. I also have heard of PBS kids. These are good websites to know.

      Reply
      • Bianca Schulze on March 4, 2014 1:46 pm

        So glad you agree with the list! 🙂

        Reply
    3. Tristan on November 4, 2023 3:14 am

      This is a fantastic list! It’s amazing how many resources are out there to help kids improve their reading skills and spark their imagination. My kids and I have explored a few of these websites, and they particularly enjoyed the interactive games on Starfall.com. Recently, we also discovered Bedtime Stories website https://naratopia.com/, which has become a new favorite in our household. They have a lovely collection of fairy tales, bedtime stories, and other narratives, along with AI-generated illustrations that really bring the stories to life. It’s been a wonderful way to wind down in the evenings with a good story, especially before bedtime.

      Reply
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