Get ready to be amazed, parents! We’ve discovered the top 5 best free reading apps that will make your 1st grader fall in love with reading, whether they’re neurodivergent or neurotypical. These groundbreaking apps are like magic keys that unlock the door to a world of interactive stories, exciting games, and endless learning opportunities, all while helping your child develop essential reading skills in the most engaging way possible.
Table of Contents
1. Starfall
Starfall is an educational app that offers a variety of engaging activities for kids in pre-K through 3rd grade. The app focuses on:
- Phonics: Through interactive games and activities, Starfall teaches letter sounds, blending, and word recognition, making it an excellent tool for early readers.
- Reading comprehension: With a wide range of stories and reading exercises, Starfall helps children develop their comprehension skills by answering questions and sequencing events.
- Vocabulary development: Starfall introduces new words in a fun and interactive way, expanding children’s vocabulary and improving their language skills.
- Spelling and grammar: From practicing spelling words to learning about sentence structure and punctuation, Starfall provides a solid foundation for writing skills.
Goally’s tablet comes pre-loaded with Starfall, giving your child access to this fantastic educational app right at their fingertips. With Starfall, your child can embark on a journey of learning and discovery, all while having fun. Whether they are practicing phonics, improving reading comprehension, expanding their vocabulary, or honing their spelling and grammar skills, Starfall provides a well-rounded learning experience. It’s a winning combination that will set your child on the path to academic success.
Read more: 3 Apps to Help With Reading
2. Epic!
Next up is Epic!, a digital library app that offers unlimited access to over 40,000 high-quality books, audiobooks, and educational videos for kids aged 12 and under.
The app includes:
- Popular titles and series
- Non-fiction books
- Read-to-me books
- Learning videos
Most importantly, Epic! Encourages a love for reading by allowing kids to explore a vast collection of age-appropriate content, making it one of the best reading apps for 1st graders. The app offers personalized recommendations based on your child’s interests and reading level, ensuring they always have something new and exciting to read.
3. Reading Eggs
Reading Eggs is an award-winning app designed to help kids aged 2-13 learn to read through a series of interactive games, activities, and e-books. For 1st graders, the app focuses on:
- Phonics
- Sight words
- Reading comprehension
- Spelling and grammar
With over 2,500 e-books and a structured learning program, Reading Eggs is an excellent choice for parents seeking the best reading apps for 1st graders. Furthermore, the app’s progress tracking feature allows you to monitor your child’s improvement and celebrate their achievements.
4. Homer
Homer is a personalized learning app that offers a step-by-step program for kids aged 2-8. The app focuses on building essential reading skills through:
- Phonics
- Sight words
- Reading comprehension
- Vocabulary development
Read More: Best Kids Apps
Similarly, Homer’s engaging content and interactive features make it one of the best reading apps for 1st graders. The app adapts to your child’s learning level and interests, ensuring a tailored and enjoyable learning experience.
5. ABCmouse
Last but not least is ABCmouse, a comprehensive early learning app that offers a wide range of activities for kids aged 2-8. With over 10,000 learning activities, including reading, math, science, and art, it’s no wonder this app is a favorite among parents and educators.
For 1st graders, the app focuses on:
- Phonics and word recognition
- Reading comprehension
- Vocabulary development
- Spelling and grammar
Moreover, ABCmouse’s engaging content and interactive features make it one of the best reading apps for 1st graders, keeping them motivated and excited to learn. The app also offers progress tracking, so you can monitor your child’s improvement and celebrate their achievements.
Goally | Apps To Support Child Development
Looking for fun ways to help your child learn life skills? Try Goally! The Goally tablet comes with award-winning learning apps and video classes to help kids develop the skills they need to become independent with FUN & evidence-based practices.
Our apps teach executive function, language, emotional regulation, finger dexterity skills, and more.
As your child develops new skills, you can increase the difficulty level of the tasks in the app to challenge and motivate them even further. This helps your child grow and progress at their own pace, while also keeping them engaged and excited about their development.
These top 5 best reading apps for 1st graders offer a variety of engaging and educational content to help your child develop reading skills. Whether your child is neurodivergent or neurotypical, these apps cater to a wide range of learning styles and abilities. So, why not give one (or all) of these apps a try and watch your child’s reading skills flourish? And remember, many of these apps can be used on devices like Goally. This makes learning even more accessible and enjoyable for your child.
FAQ’s About Free Reading Apps for Kids
What are the benefits of using free reading apps for kids?
Free reading apps can help kids build literacy skills and develop a love for reading in an engaging and interactive way.
Are free reading apps suitable for beginner readers?
Yes, many free reading apps offer content and activities tailored for early readers and those just starting to learn.
Do free reading apps include read-aloud features?
Most quality free reading apps provide read-aloud options to support kids' reading comprehension and pronunciation.
Can free reading apps replace physical books?
While apps are a great supplement, experts recommend balancing digital reading with physical books for a well-rounded literacy experience.
How can parents find high-quality free reading apps?
Look for apps from reputable sources like educational publishers or non-profits, and check user reviews for age-appropriateness and quality.
This post was originally published on 06/05/2023. It was updated on 05/01/2024.
Emily is a seasoned blog writer for Goally, leveraging her extensive background in child psychology and special education to provide valuable insights and resources for parents. Her commitment to understanding and addressing the unique needs of these children, combined with her expertise in educational strategies, makes her a credible and empathetic voice for families.
