10 Best Online Learning Platforms For Kids In The World

Rosemary December 12, 2021 | 21:51

Onlien learning is becoming popular in the time of COVID-19. What are the best online learning platforms for your kids in the world?

Top 10 Best Online Learning Platforms For Kids In The World. Photo KnowInsiders

Whether it’s discovering a foreign language, learning to read, or brushing up on social studies, here are top 10 best online learning platforms to teach kids of all ages.

How We Chose the Best Education Sites for Kids

In addition to the above criteria, we also ranked sites highly for having:

-Reliable, trustworthy, and accurate content

-Educational hooks, meaning the material was either directly related to academics or lets kids explore topics that have educational value

-Compelling materials and designs that draw in the learner

-Stable and easy-to-use interactive components

-Clear pricing and payment information, where relevant

What should you look for in choosing a good online learning platform?

Photo PCMag

The answer, of course, depends a little on the student you’re looking for, but in general, all good online learning platforms should meet the following criteria:

It should not be weighed down in ads.

Free educational apps might sound good, but bear in mind that free platforms often require advertising to keep the app running — and some of that advertisement might not be kid-friendly.

It is especially important to avoid ads if you’re looking for a learning platform for young children because studies of children under the ages of four or five have shown that this age group doesn’t consistently distinguish what an ad is. This greatly diminishes the educational value of the platform.

Ads can also just be cumbersome, crowding the screen or slowing down how quickly the learning platform loads, making for a clunky user experience.

They should be educational

This might sound obvious, but just because something is labeled as educational doesn’t mean it actually provides the best educational experience. Games should mostly — if not entirely — be focused on teaching.

They should also engage kids so they're actively learning. If the platform allows the child to zone out and just “watch,” chances are they won’t remember as much. But if the platform asks them questions, has them create something, or invites them to actively use their new knowledge — much like a teacher in a classroom — chances are the child will pay more attention and recall more information.

They should be clear about what age they’re geared for

Nothing can hamper a kid’s self-esteem or confidence faster than material that is way too hard. Similarly, material that is too easy can bore children. To make sure that neither of these scenarios occurs, parents should know what ages the content is made for so they can help pick an age-appropriate platform.

Top 10 Best Online Learning Platforms For Kids In The World

1.Brainscape

2.CoolMath

3.CoolMath4Kids

4.DOGOnews

5.Reading Eggs

6. Monterey Bay Aquarium Learning at Home

7. Outschool

8. Code with Google

9. National Geographic Kids

10. ReadingIQ

*****

1.Brainscape

Ages 12+ years, with some content for younger learnersFree; paid accounts starting at $9.99 per month

Brainscape is an adaptive flashcard app and website that comes preloaded with excellent study sets for students in high school and beyond. For example, there are flashcard sets to study for the drivers' ed exam in several states, decks for AP classes, and so on. Professionals can find study sets for passing standardized vocational exams, too.

With a paid account, you can make your own custom study sets. There's a little premade content for younger students, such as sight reading cards, but Brainscape is ideally suited to learners from 12 years and up.

2.CoolMath

Ages 13+ years/Free

CoolMath is a free site that explains pre-algebra, algebra, and pre-calculus concepts in ways that students may not have encountered. By getting a fresh take on, say, polynomials, students age 13 and up have a great chance at getting many mathematical concepts to click.

There are many benefits of online education, here are some of them:

Avoiding the transmission of the virus: a year ago, this would not have seemed like a very important advantage, but in the current situation, it is undoubtedly one of the most important benefits of online classes. Preventing your son/daughter from being in contact with as many people as possible is a key aspect in preventing contagion. In the case of teenagers, it is a way of protecting them, as they are the ones who tend to have the most social contacts.

Learning to be more independent: online classes not only allow us to learn the subject we want, they also help students to learn how to learn. Students will develop the necessary skills to acquire knowledge more effectively.

More resources and greater flexibility: Online classes are totally different from face-to-face classes. There are no students, just a teacher and a blackboard. Technology can provide numerous didactic materials, videos, simulations, forums, etc. All this makes it possible to review content in a more dynamic way, which can be beneficial when studying.

Helps relieve the stress of confinement: Focusing on doing something new helps them deal with the stress of confinement, especially if the extracurricular activities chosen include activities that encourage creativity and imagination.

3.CoolMath4Kids

Ages 12 years and youngerFreeThe same group behind CoolMath makes CoolMath4kids, which is suitable for younger kids working on more basic math concepts. This site covers addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and fractions. It's more interactive than the version for older learners, with games, brain teasers, and quizzes.

4.DOGOnews

Photo Edshelf

Ages 7–17/Free

Encourage kids ages 7–17 to read age-appropriate news on DOGOnews. This site has timely articles covering current events, science, the environment, civics, and other topics, all written in a way that young people can understand. It's available in English and Spanish.

5.Reading Eggs

Photo ReadingEggs

Reading eggs helps your child learn to read and for older kids, it improves their reading and comprehension. It’s targeted at children between 2 and 13-years-old and includes phonics. They use this program in schools too. My kids used this, sometimes just for fun, it’s bright and colourful, up to about 8 years old. For older kids, you’ll find reading materials to improve literacy and understanding.

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6. Monterey Bay Aquarium Learning at Home

Ages 5–17/Free

The Monterey Bay Aquarium has a subsection of its site called Learning at Home that contains online courses and activities for young people to learn about marine animals, ecosystems, ocean conservation, and related topics. The site is available in English and Spanish. In addition to online courses, which you can view by grade level, the site also has crafts, suggestions for parent-led activities, and short readings (facts and photos) about various animals and plants.

If you are thinking about signing your children up for online classes, we are going to give you a push. All parents are afraid of their children surfing the Internet on their own. This excuse no longer works, because the devices have parental control options so we can establish where we want our children to access and where we don't. Haven't we convinced you? Don't worry, I'm sure that with the following points you won't have any doubts about which is the best option for educating your children:

Flexitime: this may affect you as a parent more than your children. You probably get off work and have to rush to pick them up and take them somewhere else. Well, with online lessons that's over, you will have the possibility to choose the time of the classes and your children can enjoy them from home.

More effective sessions: if your child needs revision classes, look for a good online tutor. On platforms such as Classgap, the teachers are verified and also give classes from the platform's virtual classroom, so their training will have many more resources.

7. Outschool

Photo Outschool

Ages: 3 and up

Why It’s Great: If variety truly is the spice of life, then Outschool is a dish with something for everyone. You choose a class based on age, interest, start date, and the length of the class. The courses run the gamut, from beginner reading (for $23/class) to film animation ($40/class) to basic multiplication ($19/class). There’s even a class on mindfulness because of course there is. So while the classes aren’t free, the sheer number of them, coupled with the very affordable rates and the expertise of the instructors make this one very worth your while.

8. Code with Google

Ages: 9 and up

Why It’s Great: Surely you’ve heard of Google. Well, the massive entity is now offering classes that teach kids 9 and up coding, and technical skills. And the classes are, well, fun. For real. Students in fourth grade and up learn coding through activities, hands-on lessons, and lesson supplements. Sample challenge: Kids program a conversation between two characters to explore the very vital role of dialogue in storytelling because words matter. A lot. Creating and sticking to a coherent storyline is a critical part of learning.

9. National Geographic Kids

Photo Common Sense

Ages 5–16/Free

The online, kids version of National Geographic gives young people educational articles, videos, and quizzes on a variety of topics, including animals, history, science, and space. National Geographic Kids isn't as interactive as some sites, but it's a nice place to find short articles related to timely topics, such as a kids-appropriate history of Juneteenth. With a name like "National" Geographic, however, it is very US-centric in what it covers and how.

10. ReadingIQ

This app is like having your very own library right at your finger tips. Kids ages 2-12 have access to over 7,000 books, including titles by Disney, National Geographic Kids, Highlights, Boxcar Children and more. Kids can choose from picture books, chapter books, graphic novels, in addition to fun joke and song books. All the books are available on computers, tablets and phones. Parents can track their child’s progress, and early readers are able to get guided reading help for their stories. You can try the service for free for 30 days, then pay $7.99 a month after that.