Websites for pre-K/kindergarden?

January 26, 2015 4:54 PM

I have just started occasionally letting my precocious, smart but hyperactive four-year-old "play" on the computer. So far she loves Paint and writing herself "letters" on Notepad. I would like some more easy, fun, and ideally free things that I can give her to do on there. Bonus points for anything educational.

Normally my daughter has a pretty short attention span, but "drawing" on paint and "working" on notepad have really sucked her in and kept her focused for the last few days and I'd love to take advantage of this. I've seen a couple old questions from 2006-2007 about websites for 3-4 year olds but nothing recent (please give me links if I'm wrong!). She's knows her letters and sounds, is not actually reading yet but we're starting to learn. Preferably stuff that isn't complicated to navigate. Thanks!!

posted by celtalitha to Computers & Internet (10 answers total)

The PBS kids / Sprout websites have educational games. When my son was that age he liked those sites and I was always surprised about how much he actually really learned from them. He never had any problems navigating those on his own. Very occasionally I'd have to explain how a game worked.
posted by smashface at 5:19 PM on January 26, 2015 [2 favorites]

My kids liked PBS Kids & Starfall.
posted by belladonna at 5:32 PM on January 26, 2015 [2 favorites]

Dragonbox is a really well-designed game that teaches algebra instincts-- my 5-year-old is a big fan. They have a geometry-focused game, too ("Dragonbox Elements"), that seems to be based on compass-and-straightedge constructions, but I haven't seen enough of it to be able to comment. Both are in the $5 range, I believe.
posted by Bardolph at 5:36 PM on January 26, 2015

Thisissand.com remains a favorite with my paint-obsessed daughter.
posted by MonkeyToes at 5:46 PM on January 26, 2015

Tux Paint is good for a gentle step up from Paint itself.
posted by Drastic at 6:44 PM on January 26, 2015 [2 favorites]

Neopets can teach her the importance of raising a pet... and gambling.

_{I'm kidding!.. Sort of. I mean, it does teach gambling. But it's also fun. I don't vouch for the kind friendliness of it anymore, I have no clue.}
posted by DriftingLotus at 11:55 PM on January 26, 2015

Red Fish Soup and Peep and the Big Wide World are fun and lovely.
posted by lexie yodel at 6:00 AM on January 27, 2015

My kindergartener uses StarFall at school and has recently demanded that I purchase one of their apps for "her" ipad. Their website is Starfall.com.
posted by PorcineWithMe at 10:59 AM on January 27, 2015

My daughter loved ABCya, PBS Kids, NASA Kids Club, and some of the games on Cool Math. Most of those she got from her Kindergarten teacher.
posted by schnee at 11:07 AM on January 27, 2015

ABC Mouse from Scholastic is perfect for that age.
posted by Flacka at 2:01 PM on January 27, 2015