Are you looking for an amazing app for your kids or toddlers to learn Spanish? Or do you want an app just to keep them entertained on the way to the mall while making good use of their laptops, tablets, or iPhones?
Every time, many parents ask me to recommend them efficient apps for young children to learn Spanish. My advice as an experienced tutor with over 19 years of teaching English & Spanish (and also as a mother of a 9 and 4-year-old) is to first find a qualified Spanish teacher. The teacher will include the 4 skills in the path of learning Spanish (listening, reading, writing, and speaking), but an app won’t do that, they are only for some specific skills, such as reading, vocabulary, or pronunciation. It is not so complicated nowadays to get a teacher, there are many sites where you can choose an Online Spanish Teacher (like here, Lingua Linkup), according to your budget, needs, etc. In my opinion, for very young learners (2/3 years old) the session couldn’t be more than 30 minutes, taking into consideration that the attention span at that age is very short. And before that, it would be ideal to have a discovery call of 15 minutes to get to know each other. Choosing one-to-one lessons would help your child learn faster. Once your child starts Spanish lessons, you can also find an app for children just to complement what they learn from their Spanish teacher, instead of spending their time playing Roblox or so, they can have fun and learn Spanish!
It’s important to consider that most of the apps in the market are for learning vocabulary only, and just a few of them include pronunciation and listening.
Here are the 5 of the Best Spanish Learning Apps for Kids
I chose them in order of completion, which ones include most skills (listening, speaking, vocabulary) and also, in that way the children don’t get bored doing repeated activities.
- Duolingo ABC Kids
- Fun Spanish form Studycat
- The free version only teaches basic vocabulary
- Paid full version $3.99 per year
- For iOS
- Beginners (3 to 10 years old)
- This app offer games that teach listening, speaking, useful vocabulary, and simple sentences. (colors, shapes, numbers). While the paid version includes parts of the house, food, actions, and more.
- Get it for: iOS or Android.
- Spanish School Bus
- Free version (only includes 1st level)
- Very young learners (from 3 to 6 years old)
- It could be in the top Spanish apps because this app was created by a Spanish teacher inspired by her Montessori-based approach. The activities involve some movement, which for me is very important to teach young learners. It is a must to get involved in more than just do a click on the screen. In this app, it both shows and says the words. (numbers, colors, shapes, etc.)
- Get it for: iOS.
- Gus on the Go Stories
- 2 free stories, then $1.99 per additional story.
- Young learners (+5 if they are interested in learning Spanish), if not I may say that is recommended for +7)
- It uses whole sentences. Audio/listening and reading skills are developed through stories.
- Get it for: iOS.
- Gus on the Go.
Now that you have a quick review of the 5 best kids Spanish apps, you may agree with me that they are not complete enough. The grammar part is missing, explanations and most of them offer repeat exercises that can be boring for kids learning Spanish. As I said before, the apps are a great way to complete your kids’ Spanish lessons, just to offer them more input and as a way of using their tablet, computer, and or mobile device in a more productive way. Take into consideration that students of all ages, from kindergarten kids up to adults, need to be emotionally involved. So, it is so important that you can find a teacher to be funny, patient, dynamic, and can understand in which way is the student learning. (But multiple intelligences is something for another blog)…
About the Author:
Specializations: Spanish Tutors on Zoom
Bio: My greatest passion in life is teaching. I was born and raised in Argentina, and experienced great success at school and at university due to amazing and unforgettable teachers. I studied in Norwich, England to improve my English according to help my students and bring better explanations in their Native Language. This is the foundation of my commitment to helping out my students, whatever their abilities may be. Currently, I am taking courses to be upgraded in the Spanish Language and methodologies. I have received a diploma as a Home Education Professional. I have been tutoring and teaching for 20 years in various settings – tutoring small and large groups to private individual tutoring. Working with both adults and kids as well. My strongest point is that I help people get conversational in Spanish, fluent and accurate. I also prepare paperwork, notes, and curriculum for people looking for Medical Spanish, Business Spanish, and IT staff.