(Kaitlynn when she was 22 months old. Isn’t she precious? I can’t believe she’s already 4 years old now!)
If you’re looking for free children’s educational sites, here are a few I recommend:
::DLTK Crafts for Kids features a variety of printable children’s crafts, coloring pages, worksheets and projects for holidays. The site covers almost every subject and holiday and would be great for preschool, homeschool, or afterschool educational activities. (Thanks for the link, 1 All Natural Mommy!)
::HomeschoolShare is a site I go to often when I’m planning out themed units for our homeschooling. You can search by subject and there are many free lapbooks, unit studies, printables, and more.
::Preschool Palace offers free daily lesson plans, song lists, activities, monthly calendar, book suggestions, craft ideas, and worksheets plus hundreds of free printables. The lesson plans are only released one month at a time for free during the school year, though. (Thanks, Deanna, for suggesting this site!)
::Starfall is one of my girls’ favorite sites. When I was very sick with morning sickness during the beginning of Silas’ pregnancy, the girls and I spent a lot of time exploring this site. There are lots of simple phonics games and more to teach young children the basics of reading.
Find many more free educational ebooks, downloads, and worksheets here.
What are your favorite free children’s educational sites or blogs? Tell us in the comments.
Jess says
Thank you Crystal for these suggestions- and everyone else as well. I am trying to gather some activities for my 3 yr old daughter who is having some (ok, a ton of!) melt down issues… hoping that keeping her busy will help. One site that I just found today that has been very useful is do2learn.com. I am using their picture cards to make a schedule for my girlie. The site is geared to meet the needs of students with disabilities but would also work well for preschoolers. There are also activities as well.
Tabitha (Growing Up Homeschooled) says
A reader asked me about free websites for math games and I found one that I just LOVE: http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/math.htm
The games are so cute… and even addictive for the teacher. 🙂
As for my favorite homeschool blog ~ it’s cheesy to say my own, right? LOL. No, I really appreciate Confessions of a Homeschooler and refer to her a lot. She has so much available on her website that I need to create less. We are even using her Preschool and Road Trip USA curriculum this year.
Linda says
I am finding these links, WONDERFUL! If there is any preschool in another year when my daughter will be able to go, I will send her there, but these sites will be SO helpful in preparing her for PreK. If the state doesn’t fund the PreK program then I will be one step ahead in having sites to work from for PreK at home!
Kathy says
Thank you everyone for posting all these great web sites. I used to teach preschool and had lots under my favorites at work but now I don’t have those. Building up my favorities is great:) Can’t wait to have time to go onto each one and start making things for my 1 year old. Thanks everyone:)
Michele says
http://www.confessionsofahomeschooler.com is a great one too!!
Brandy says
I love these and the ones left by other people commenting. One I didn’t see mentioned is http://www.makinglearningfun.com. You must check out their activities.
One of my favorite things they have is “story sticks.” Here’s a link to the list of story sticks that go along with specific books (such as brown bear brown bear): http://www.makinglearningfun.com/themepages/StoryStickDirectory.htm NOTE: I have only used the story sticks for the three Eric Carle books. Not sure what the other stories are about.
For the people interested in making busy bags, story sticks would be great to add to a bag with the matching book. And really you could do any type of learning concept using this idea.
And don’t stop at the story sticks. They have tons of ideas and even more printables for specific books or themes.
Amy says
I would be interested in anything that has learning tools for a child 1 year and up. We haven’t really decided what we would be doing for schooling yet (we still have a few years to decide) whether we go the public, private or homeschooling route. I figured try to do some mini homeschooling to see if I can hack it!
amybee says
Starfall and ABCya (http://www.abcya.com/) are our favorites.
melissa says
Crystal, thanks so much for posting this, and thanks to all the people who put in their own links too. As a SAHM who plans to homeschool her 4 & 3 year old (and baby on the way too), I just don’t know were to begin. I’ve always wanted you to blog more about homeschooling, so this article is great. Thanks a bunch! Please consider doing more homeschool blogging!!
Stacy says
http://www.enchantedlearning.com
Lots of printable books, tracing pages, etc all organized by topic. We used tons of it when I was a teacher. You can access and print everything for free or purchase a 1 year membership to get easier access (such as being able to print books all at once instead of one page at a time). I think a year-long single membership is $20…well worth it.
Heather says
Thanks so much for the posts, I just started homeschooling with my kids they are 2 and 3 and your blog and others you point out are so helpful. If I had the time I’d probably do one myself 🙂 you are doing a great service to your readers though for sure, love and appreciate it 🙂
Toni says
Definitely Starfall. My 4yo’s preschool uses it to teach computer skills (we homeschool but I did opt to put him in preschool and he’ll come home for K).
Also…
We love Primary Games. The curriculum guide helps you select games that are appropriate for your child’s learning level by subject.
http://www.primarygames.com/curriculum/index.htm
And for sight and sound recognition of the alphabet, we like…
Fisher Price’s “Learn your ABC’s.”
http://www.fisher-price.com/us/fun/games/abc/default.asp
Cheryl says
Can you please post more about items that you would put into a 1 year old’s busy bag box?? Thanks!
Crystal says
I have a series on educational activities/busy bags soon — once I get all the other posts/series finished in the next few weeks! Here are some ideas to get you started:
http://unsolicitedadvice-n-such.blogspot.com/2011/07/young-toddler-1-2-yrsbusy-bag-swap.html
Casey says
My older daughter is also Kaitlyn with one less “n”:-) I love the learning websites you shared here! I find them very helpful to keep them busy and learning!
Here is another one I love: http://www.icanteachmychild.com/
Crystal says
Love Jenae’s blog! She’s a real-life friend of mine and she’s amazing!
Jenae {I Can Teach My Child!} says
You are too sweet, Crystal. Thank you!
Andrea says
Thank you so much for this post! My oldest just turned four and I have been trying to find some helpful sites for at home preschool. I love your site!!!
Kathy says
http://www.sheppardsoftware.com is a good free one also!
Charity says
My second born daughter just turned 4 years old at the end of last month and she doesn’t have half the hair that Kaitlynn does in that picture!
Thanks alot for the links!
su says
Love this info–thank you!
Nikki says
Crystal,
Is that a busy book? Did you make it or buy it? I’ve been looking for busy books for years now and can’t find them. I would love to know who sells them or if someone has a DIY tutorial. I’m not really gifted with sewing buy I could try.
Thanks
Crystal says
It’s this one: http://www.kidenergy.com/12-00003.html
My mom bought it for the girls at a homeschool conference.
Ann says
I’m also interested in hearing where the busy book is from. Looks like fun!
Nikki, this link may be helpful: http://www.teachpreschool.org/busy-books/
Dela Prado says
Awesome! Starfall is actually used at my kids elementary school! 🙂
Stephanie says
This is one of the sites my son’s teacher recommended we look at over the summer. He is very behind on speech, at 3, and they said this would give us a way to keep helping him over summer. It is great. He and his younger brother, 2, will automatically mimic what the speaker does. (Teacher said he likes it more than us correcting him because this is self lead.) We don’t even have to explain, beyond “push this button to go to the next page”. Our mouse has too many buttons for little hands, so we control the mouse, but the boys LOVE to do the rest themselves.
Kimberly says
We are big fans,too!
Kristin says
http://www.literactive.com
I used it all last year with my kindergarten students. You have to create a log-in but it is free and it has some wonderful games divided by skill.
Autumn says
She’s adorable Crystal, but all of your kids are. 🙂
Darlene says
http://www.notimeforflashcards.com is awesome!
Kristin says
http://www.literactive.com is one that I used in my kindergarten classroom two years all of the time. You have to create a log-in but it is free and has great educational games!
Allison says
ABC Jesus Loves Me! This is a great free website with separate curriculum for 3 and 4 year olds. It has lots of links to other websites (such as Starfall) as well.
http://www.abcjesuslovesme.com/
Naomi says
I like 1+1..etc. too!
Vieve says
Thanks bunches and that’s one kissable toddler!
Heather @ Family Friendly Frugality says
I like 1+1+1=1!
Heather @ Family Friendly Frugality says
sorry, here’s the link: http://1plus1plus1equals1.blogspot.com/