I swear all we did was play in Kindergarten 35 years ago. I don’t remember learning anything except colors. When my oldest was gearing up for kindergarten, we didn’t do any educational preparation. I figured he would learn everything in school. Yet only after a couple days of school and already he’s behind. Times have changed. I didn’t realize they are supposed to know sight words and all the alphabet sounds and sound spelling entering kindergarten! We’re trying to play catch up now. Below are some apps, books, and resources recommended and friends and family.
Apps
Apps are a nice interactive way for kids to learn through play. Below are the most highly rated and successful apps for learning reading and math.
- Khan Academy Kids (Reading, Math)
- DragonBox (Math)
- Reading.com (Reading)
- Hooked on Phonics (Reading)
- Duo Lingo ABC (Reading)
Books
- BOB Books
- BOB Books SIGHT WORDS COLLECTION Book Box Set [Kindergarten & First Grade]
- Bob Books, Collection 1: Beginning Readers and Advancing Beginners
- Complete Set of Bob Books, Sets 1-5 (42 books)
- Bob Books Set 3- Word Families
- Bob Books Complete Sets Collection (12 Sets) – Set 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, Animal Stories, Rhyming Words, Alphabet, Sight Words Kindergarten, Sight Words First Grade, First Stories, Pre-Reading Skills
- Bob Books – Phonics for Early Readers Box Set | Phonics, Ages 4 and up, Kindergarten (Stage 1: Starting to Read)
- World of Reading Marvel: Meet the Super Heroes!-Pre-Level 1 Boxed Set
- Step Into Reading
- Pigeon Series 7 Books Collection Set By Mo Willems (Pigeon Needs A Bath, Duckling Gets a Cookie, The Pigeon Wants a Puppy, The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog!, Don’t Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late! & More)
- An Elephant & Piggie Biggie! (An Elephant and Piggie Book)
- Can I Play Too?-An Elephant and Piggie Book
- Today I Will Fly!-An Elephant and Piggie Book
Miscellaneous
- Bob Books – Beginning Phonics Flashcards | Phonics, Ages 4 and up, Kindergarten (Stage 1: Starting to Read)
- Coogam Wooden Reading Blocks Short Vowel Rods Spelling Games, Flash Cards Turning Rotating Letter Puzzle for Kids, Site Words Montessori Spinning Alphabet Learning Toy for Preschool Boys Girls
- LITTLE BUD KIDS Spin-and-Read Montessori Phonetic Reading Blocks with CVC Phonics Flashcards for Beginner Readers, Montessori Reading Wooden Toys for 3 Years +
- Coogam Wooden Short Vowel Reading Letters Sorting Spelling Games, Site CVC Words Learning Flashcards Alphabet Puzzle Montessori Educational Toy Gift for Kids 3 4 5 Years Old
- Coogam CVC Word Builder, Magnetic Sight Word Games with Flashcards, Matching Letter Reading and Spelling Game, Montessori Alphabet Educational Toy Gift for Preschool 3 4 5 Year Old Kids Toddlers
Sets
If you want to stay away from all types of screen time, you can go the traditional route and use play sets. We love all things Lovevery. All About Reading is also highly rated by our friends. The math set is also a fun one with lots of play features.
- Lovevery: The Reading Skill Set
- Lovevery | The Reading Skill Set | Sounds to Reading | A Phonics-Based Program for Learning to Read, Learn Letter Sounds Through Fun Games, Reading Skills: Ages Pre-K & Kindergarten
- Lovevery | The Reading Skill Set | Words to Books | A Phonics-Based Program for Learning to Read, Learn Blending Through Fun Games, Reading Skills: Ages Kindergarten & 1st Grade
- All About Reading
- Math Manipulative Toolbox – K-Gr. 1
YouTube
We do try to stay away from YouTube as our kids can go down the rabbit hole of watching other videos. But if your kids are better disciplined or you’re able to monitor their YouTube activity, then below are some great ones that have helped friends kids learn to read and count.
