When it comes to children learning languages, sooner is better. Children make learning languages look easy. Learning another language early allows your child to fully enjoy the way it sounds. Encouraging in children a love of language at an early age prepares them well for school and life.
Exposing children to learning languages at an early age allows them to tap into their natural ability to hear and distinguish the sounds of other languages and their capacity to make sense of what they are hearing. Take a look at our 10 language learning apps for kids that introduce language learning in a fun-filled way.
Children learning an additional language tend to score better on standardised tests because learning languages develops listening, observation, problem-solving and critical thinking skills.
If you want to help your child learn Spanish, French, English, Japanese, or a possible eight other useful languages, check out the following 10 language learner for kids apps that are aimed at making language learning fun.
Language learning apps are a great way to celebrate diversity in the classroom. View other ideas and apps on Diversity in the Classroom.
Check out our list of the best language-learning apps for kids and help your child learn a second or third language!
Best Language Learning Apps for Kids
Learn Languages with Amy is a language-learning platform for children, which helps toddlers and preschoolers to increase their vocabulary through play across 6 languages: English, Spanish, Polish, German, Dutch and Esperanto.
Features
- Language-learning platform for children, covering 6 languages with themes like farm, numbers, and alphabet.
- Interactive elements including puzzles, memory games, quizzes, and an animated interface.
- Structured topics with 20 common words/phrases each, featuring slideshows and interactive games.
- Available for free with sample lessons; additional content available through subscription.
- Results tracking for parents/carers, and no set order for completing activities.
Pros
- Engaging and high-quality animations and audio features.
- Easy-to-navigate interface and intuitive design.
- Regular content updates and improvements.
- Ad-free and safe for children, with intuitive scrolling and no unnecessary buttons.
- Effective at introducing basic vocabulary in a fun, natural way.
Cons
- Limited free content; most features locked behind a subscription.
- Lack of in-depth language structure explanation.
- Some flashcard images can be unclear or lack context.
- Interactivity could be expanded for older children.
- Monthly subscription required to access full content and tracking features.
No of languages taught: 6 (English, Spanish, Dutch, German, Polish, Esperanto)
Price: Free with in-app purchases
Devices: iPhone, iPad and Android
If we missed any of the 10 Best Language Learning Apps for Kids, tell us about them!
Bookr Class is a story-driven English learning application with animated books and games for an engaging learning experience.
Features
- Interactive digital library with animated books and games for English learners, ages 4-14.
- Includes narrated literary classics, modern stories, and educational games for skill development.
- Subscription-based with a free trial, available on Android and iOS, works offline for some content.
- Teacher dashboard for monitoring student progress, flashcards, and karaoke themes.
- Personalized user experience with avatar selection, level assessments, and Lexile scores.
Pros
- User-friendly interface with engaging tutorial guides and seamless navigation.
- Educational and challenging games at the end of books, enhancing learning experience.
- Effective teacher dashboard for tracking student progress and classroom management.
- Parental controls and safe environment with no third-party ads.
- Diverse content with multilingual support, appropriate for varied learning levels.
Cons
- Requires subscription post-trial period for full content access.
- Limited to English learners, may not cater to advanced readers.
- Initial registration process might be cumbersome for some users.
- Internet connection required for downloading content and initial setup.
- Potentially limited in terms of content variety for older or more advanced learners.
No of languages taught: 1 (English)
Price: 14-day free trial with monthly or annual plans
Devices: iPhone, iPad and Android
Dinolingo is a multi-lingual, language learning app for children, which gradually leads the user through the initial study of a language – being broken down into a variety of sub-topics. The variety of languages on offer is hugely impressive, up to 50 global languages in total.
Features
- Language learning platform for children, offering 50 languages with a focus on ages 3-8.
- Includes instructional videos, immersive games, stories, and songs for interactive learning.
- Free app with 'sample' lessons, available on iOS, Android, and a dedicated website.
- Content divided into easy-to-navigate topics and subtopics, focused on the 200 most common words and phrases.
- Parental control features and tracking of children's progress through the app.
Pros
- High-quality animations and audio, providing an engaging learning environment.
- Wide variety of languages and comprehensive topic coverage.
- User-friendly interface, suitable for young children.
- Encourages learning through gamification, with rewards like unlocking new dinosaurs.
- Supports cognitive and emotional development, with additional printable worksheets.
Cons
- Full content access requires a subscription beyond initial free 'sample' lessons.
- Some content may be too advanced for complete beginners in a language.
- Occasional content errors, like misspellings and grammatical issues.
- Limited interactive features with earned rewards (dinosaurs and stars).
- Lack of support resources for understanding complex language elements in videos.
No of languages taught: 50
Price: 7-day free trial with monthly or annual plans
Devices: Android, iPhone and iPad
BravoBravo is the only Arabic language app to receive the highest score of 5-star rating. BravoBravo app helps Arabic learners practice different skills while having fun. It nurtures learners' curiosity, appeals to their imagination and keeps them engaged with gaming elements that include incremental progression, rewards and upgrades.
Features
- Comprehensive Arabic learning platform with 100,000 questions, 40,000 audio files, 550 books, 300 videos, and 200 flashcard sets.
- Interactive levels presented as planets, covering topics like the alphabet, sentence structure, and pronunciation.
- Compatible with international curricula, available in both Arabic and English.
- Incorporates various learning activities like drawing, matching, animations, and audio recording.
- Includes speaking exercises and a feature for students to record and submit their readings.
Pros
- Engaging and easy-to-use interface, suitable for children aged 2-10.
- Enhances reading, spelling, writing, and pronunciation skills in Arabic.
- Clear and error-free voiceovers for effective learning of standard Arabic.
- Extensive resources for teachers including worksheets, videos, and books.
- Analytics system for tracking student progress in various skills.
Cons
- Requires a subscription after the first free month.
- Primarily focused on Arabic, not suitable for learning other languages.
- May not cater to advanced learners or those above 10 years old.
- Reliance on digital platform may not appeal to proponents of traditional teaching methods.
- Limited offline functionality could be a constraint in areas with poor internet connectivity.
No of languages taught: 1 (Arabic)
Price: Free with in-app purchases
Devices: iPhone, iPad, Android, Windows
With Little Chatterbox, children can explore and learn many different languages ranging from Spanish and French to German and Mandarin. This interactive language-learning app is designed to teach young children vocabulary by combining colorful and attractive images with videos of native speakers pronouncing the words. The app offers nine languages including US English, British English, French, Spanish, German, Russian, and Japanese. Although we prefer apps that focus on interactive features and activities, it is one of the best language apps for kids to help with vocabulary development in native and foreign languages.
Features
- Language-learning app for young learners with eight language options including English, Spanish, French, German, Russian, Hebrew, Mandarin, and Japanese.
- Interactive software with engaging audio and video to aid in learning nouns in different contexts.
- Provides sixteen different contexts like undersea animals, home, school, zoo, and forest.
- Words enunciated by 'child teachers' with videos for better mimicry and pronunciation.
- Includes four reinforcement games for vocabulary practice and retention.
Pros
- Clear and effective presentation, suitable for primary-school-aged children.
- Enables children to learn vocabulary in an engaging, context-based manner.
- Peer-led learning with child teachers enhances motivation and mimicking skills.
- Fun and engaging reinforcement games to consolidate learning.
- Accurate and entertaining presentation, making it appealing for young learners.
Cons
- Requires constant Internet connectivity for full functionality.
- Limited to vocabulary learning, with no advanced language structures.
- Lack of score retention could be a drawback for more competitive users.
- Potential exploration beyond provided contexts is limited.
- Primarily suited for younger learners, possibly not challenging enough for older children.
No of languages taught: 8 (Mandarin, Spanish, French, German, Japanese, Russian, Hebrew, English)
Price: Free to try (in app purchases for $3.99 to $9.99)
Devices: iPhone and iPad
Fabulingua is a Spanish learning app that narrates interactive children’s stories. As this kids language app and the stories progress the child is introduced to more and more new characters, who allow you to interact with Spanish in a variety of different contexts and with engaging personalities.
Features
- Spanish language-learning app with interactive children’s stories for ages 3-11.
- Combines on-screen Spanish text with bilingual narration in Spanish and English.
- Character-focused stories, mostly animal-themed, with interactive animations.
- 'Magical Translations' feature to help immerse users in the story.
- Progress tracked through levels, vocabulary games, and storytelling activities.
Pros
- Engaging and charming tales suitable for young learners.
- Encourages natural and gradual language acquisition through storytelling.
- Interactive, tactile graphics that keep children engaged.
- Clear audio recorded by native speakers, enhancing pronunciation learning.
- Allows parents to control content with PIN-protected settings.
Cons
- Lack of formal vocabulary instruction and explanation in some games.
- May not cover in-depth nuances of the Spanish language for advanced learners.
- Requires regular interaction for effective language retention.
- Limited to storytelling, may not cater to all learning styles.
- Progression based on repetitive reinforcement, which may not appeal to all users.
No of languages taught: 1 (Spanish)
Price: 7-day free trial
Devices: Android, iPhone and iPad
Endless Spanish is a brilliant language app for kids that offer an engaging introduction to common Spanish words with silly and charming monsters. They act out the meaning of the new Spanish words, using hilarious antics shown in short video clips. This language learning app for kids also uses animated letters and words to encourage kids to learn new Spanish words.
Features
- Educational app introducing Spanish letters, phonics, and high-frequency words to young children.
- Two modes: Spanish immersion for native speakers and Spanish with English translation for beginners.
- Interactive word and sentence puzzles featuring animated letters and words.
- Monsters act out word meanings with funny video clips, aiding in understanding.
- Available for free download with additional in-app purchases for more content.
Pros
- Engaging and fun approach to learning Spanish, especially for young children.
- Clear pronunciation of words helps in learning correct Spanish phonetics.
- Interactive animations and characters make learning enjoyable and memorable.
- Two audio modes cater to both native Spanish speakers and English-speaking beginners.
- Helpful for bilingual children to enhance their language skills.
Cons
- Requires in-app purchases to unlock full content, which can be costly.
- Some users reported technical issues like app crashing and not unlocking content after purchase.
- Limited in scope, focusing primarily on basic words and phonetics.
- No consideration of Spanish variants, which may not suit all Spanish learners.
- May not provide enough depth for advanced learners or older children.
No of languages taught: 1 (Spanish)
Price: Free with in-app purchases
Devices: iPhone and iPad
One of the best apps for kids to learn French is Early Lingo. Early Lingo French Language Learning for Kids blends vocabulary instruction, videos, digital worksheets and interactive games and activities together in a wonderfully-designed and aesthetically-pleasing kids language app that welcomes your child in their early steps of French-language acquisition.
Features
- Language learning app with over 450 words and phrases in French.
- Authentic audio by native speakers, enhancing the learning experience.
- Combines videos, digital worksheets, and interactive games and activities.
- Engaging storylines featuring characters JoJo the monkey and Lulu the bird.
- Available for purchase individually or as a bundle, with some in-app purchases.
Pros
- Well-constructed and progressively builds upon prior knowledge.
- Visually pleasing graphics and animations suited for children.
- Interactive storylines facilitate natural language acquisition.
- Flexible learning paths catering to different ages and abilities.
- Encourages natural and immersive learning without formal education pressure.
Cons
- Main menu screen can be confusing with unclear links to content.
- Repetitive animations when returning to the main screen.
- Significant expense for full app access,over £40.
- No formal progress tracking or alignment with formal curriculum outlines.
- May not adequately explain aspects of grammar and syntax for advanced understanding.
No of languages taught: 1 (French)
Price: Free with in-app purchases
Devices: iPhone and iPad
9. Little Pim
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The Little Pim is a language app for kids series that is based on a collection of language learning videos which focus on teaching children the essential building blocks of a language. Most parents know the Little Pim videos, but the brand has a few apps to compliment the popular series, including PimTrack.
Features
- Offers 12 foreign language options, including Spanish, French, English, and Mandarin.
- Entertainment Immersion Method® designed for kids ages 0-6, making language learning fun and easy.
- 5-minute video episodes tailored to young children’s attention spans.
- Taught by native speakers, teaching over 360 words and phrases.
- Combines animated and live-action videos to keep children engaged.
Pros
- Highly engaging and entertaining for children, encouraging repeat viewing and learning.
- Simple, easy-to-understand sentences suitable for very young learners.
- No prior foreign language background needed for parents or children.
- Flexibility to learn anytime, anywhere with the mobile app.
- Supports cognitive development and improves memory and problem-solving skills.
Cons
- Subscription-based access might not be affordable for all.
- Limited content updates and few new features added recently.
- Focuses primarily on vocabulary and phrases, with less emphasis on grammar and sentence structure.
- May not cater to children over the age of 6 or those at an advanced level.
- Requires active management of subscription and auto-renewal settings.
No of languages taught: 12 (Spanish, French, English/ESL, Mandarin Chinese, Italian, German, Japanese, Arabic, Hebrew, Russian, Korean, and Portuguese)
Price: Free with in-app purchases
Devices: iPhone and iPad
Plenty of fun and giggles in this highly recommended kids language app. Designed especially to teach children the essential building blocks of a language, Peg and Pog is perfect for children over the age of 3. The game teaches a variety of skills including letter sounds, recognizing the difference between upper and lower case letters, vocabulary and pronunciation. Eight attractively illustrated, interactive scenes populated by themed animals/objects that serve as vocabulary builders.
Features
- Interactive play adventure app for young children featuring characters Peg, Pog, and Cosmo the cat.
- Beautiful graphics, rich sound effects, fun music, and an easy-to-use interface.
- Open-ended gameplay allowing for exploration, experimentation, and observation.
- Scenes that encourage discussions on various topics like emotions, logic, and science.
- Supports multiple languages for introducing young children to a second language.
Pros
- Encourages imagination and creativity in children through free play.
- Provides an opportunity for parents to engage in meaningful conversations with their children.
- Visually appealing and unique art style that is attractive to young children.
- Includes guidance and printable resources for parents to enhance the learning experience.
- No time limits or strict rules, allowing for a relaxed and enjoyable experience.
Cons
- Lack of structured goals or rules might seem aimless to those preferring more directed play.
- Relies on parent or caregiver interaction for maximum educational benefit.
- May not be as engaging for children who prefer more goal-oriented games.
- Potential for missed educational opportunities without adult guidance.
- Open-ended nature might not suit all learning styles or preferences.
No of languages taught: 6 (American English, British English, Spanish, French, Mandarin Chinese, Portuguese)
Price: Free with in-app purchases
Devices: Android, iPhone and iPad
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best age to start teaching a second language to my child?
Our abilities to learn a new language a strongest in our early years. Starting your kids learning languages young can give them a head start.It is never too late to start, though.
Can I help my child learn a new language of I don't speak it?
You don't need to be fluent in a language to help your child learn it. You can use resources like language learning apps, children's books, music, and TV shows in the target language. Remote tutor apps can help provide guidance and human-led practice.
Will learning a second language confuse my child or interfere with their primary language development?
Bilingual children often show greater flexibility in thinking and are better at focusing and multitasking. While some children might mix languages at the initial stages of learning, this is a normal part of language development and usually resolves with time and practice.
Many apps provide immersive language learning, so you can surround your family with your target language in the comfort of your own home.
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