Free Online Classes For Kids – Fantastic And Fun
With all our modern technology and access to the internet, free online classes for kids of all ages are available.
Whether they find themselves in another lockdown, have fallen behind due to the lack of classroom time, or enjoy learning new things, at Value4Money, we share some fantastic and fun educational tools.
The best part is that if your child isn’t enjoying a lesson, they can simply turn it off without having to endure the stress and boredom of a real classroom. Also, with online classes to work from home, you can continue working away whilst your children have fun, informative entertainment.
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What are the best free online courses?
Online classes for kids during lockdown took teaching and activities to the next level. Here at Value4Money, we have found the best resources to continue homeschooling or for you and your children to use whenever they like!
Websites:
Eventbrite – Eventbrite is an online event platform that brings individuals together with live experiences. This virtual world hosts a range of events for children. Some events are ticketed with a fee whilst others are free.
Over time Eventbrite adds new dates with new events. These displays range from chess classes to beatboxing lessons and book writing clubs.
Google for Education – one of Google’s many initiatives, this website teaches children computer science and coding for free! With the tech industry booming, ethical hacking and coding careers are becoming more popular.
Google’s CS First course also allows teachers to signup and receive a free classroom kit and access teaching materials.
E-learning for kids – provides free digital education for children worldwide. With a maths portal and science portal, kids from Kindergarten to grade 6 have access to fun lessons. Available online and offline!
ABCmouse – offering a free 30-day trial ABCmouse hosts classes for kids ages 2-8. There are 10 levels of learning and over 850 lessons.
Subjects include:
- Reading and language arts
- Maths
- The world around us
- Arts and colour
Fun Brain – with activities for pre Kindergarten up to grade 8, Funbrain offers hundreds of videos, games, books and comics that develop knowledge skills.
BBC Bitesize – online learning for kids UK with the curriculum for England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. This website offers material for primary, secondary, and post-16 aged children.
BBC Bitesize also has a support section focusing on mental well-being and educating emotion. A great addition to online learning for 12 year olds who are pre-teen!
Personally, I would recommend BBC Bitesize, having trawled through its resources many years ago when sitting my school exams. The website provides excellent revision advice and content that is easy to understand.
Secondly, BBC has another website, BBC Teach, with more free curriculum-mapped videos for a range of age groups and subjects.
The Maths Factor – maths with Carol Vorderman as your child’s tutor! A free 21-day trial is available. The website aims to build confidence in maths for children age 4-11.
Jamie Oliver – Jamie Oliver’s recipes for cooking with kids will teach them a skill they will need in the future. Cook up some delicious meals with little helpers using this website.
History Hit – an online channel for history fans. Hundreds of documentaries available online and on the app. 30-day free trial for you to try out.
Skillshare – hosts more than 2,000 free, high-quality classes. If you upgrade to a premium membership, you can participate in live workshops and discussions, and you will have unlimited access.
Skillshare offers online activity classes for kids and even yourself. For example, you could take cooking lessons, leadership coaching and artistic courses. You will be able to find free online courses for kids of interest.
Youtube:
One of the best free resources available! Youtube has an endless selection of videos on all matters for all age groups. However, you are advised to provide parental guidance for younger children.
Here are suggestions for educational channels:
- TED-Ed – TED’s mission is to spread great ideas. By expanding into the education of the younger population, they hope to continue this. Videos answer a range of quirky questions and also about everyday life.
- National Geographic – full episodes and shorter clips featuring the wonders of the world.
- Minute Physics – quick and concise science videos that aim to keep it fun.
- The Body Coach TV – Joe Wicks hosted live online classes for kids during lockdown to ensure they kept active. His channel has all kids videos saved along with videos for yourself. Why not, as a family, get your kit on and do some squats with Joe in the sitting room!
Apps:
Khan Academy Kids – Khan Academy has the best classes for 6 year olds in 1st grade with printouts, books, videos, and creative lessons. Furthermore, you will find content for their older and younger siblings.
This free app features an educational program for children aged two to eight. Available on iOS, Android and Amazon Appstore. Khan Academy takes a personalised approach to teach children at their own pace.
Duolingo – available online and as an app, Duolingo teaches languages for free! For children, teenagers or yourself, this app allows you to learn anywhere at any time and grade your work immediately. Check out their range of languages and see if you fancy learning one!
Additionally, Duolingo also has an app called Duolingo ABC aimed at teaching children to read. Interactive and bite-sized lessons help build confidence with reading, and before you know it, they’ll be reading independently.
TV:
CBBC regularly hosts education shows such as Blue Peter, Horrible Histories and Springwatch. Whilst fantastic David Attenborough shows can be found on BBC iPlayer.
Whilst ITV has its own educational shows. For example, Mission Employable, opening kids minds up to different careers, and IRL with Team Charlene, where Charlene White presents a show dealing with racism within the UK and how it impacts young lives.
How do I start an online class for kids?
Alternatively, you may be interested in starting online classes for kids yourself.
Skillshare is an online learning platform where you can share your own classes online and, in return, be paid in royalties. They offer a 30-day free trial. So if you’re interested, why not check it out via our link!
On the other hand, you could check out our post on online tutoring; we share practical tips and considerations that will help you be successful.
Does Netflix have educational videos?
Yes! If you already have a Netflix account check out these informative TV shows and movies:
Younger primary school ages:
- Brainchild
- Dream Big
- Emily’s Wonder Lab
- Magic School Bus
- Octonauts
- The Who Was? show
Primary school:
- A Plastic Ocean
- A Year in Space
- The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind
- Cutest Animals
- Kevin Hart’s Guide to Black History
- Operation Ouch
Secondary school:
- Abstract
- Bill Nye Saves The World
- Explained
- The Mind
- Explained
- The Social Dilemma
- The Universe
- David Attenborough shows, including The Life on Our Planet and Our Planet
Fun online clubs for kids
Besides missing out on classroom time, children haven’t been able to attend their clubs. These are some clubs for kids online free to join:
Scholastic Kids’ Club – this is an online book club. You can write and read reviews and enter giveaways. The website includes savings you can make on books. You could also have a look at our post on selling and buying second-hand books.
Nat Geo Kids Club – presents content created by kids for kids. You can take part in quizzes and surveys and share results with other club members.
NASA Kids’ Club – NASA’s child-friendly website with loads of space information. Includes fun activities to do at home and games.
Club Hub – a website that lets you search for kids clubs near you. These can be online or within your local area. Online choirs, film clubs and cooking classes are just a few of the clubs your kids could join.
If you are taking part in a no spend challenge, these free clubs are brilliant ways to keep your children entertained without costing you any money.
How can I help my child learn online?
Online school classes have become the norm over the last year during the pandemic. Now that children are back to school, it’s very easy to slip into the old routine. But, occasionally, classes and year groups are sent home to isolate themselves.
Subsequently, they may find themselves study at home again. But, with the help of online classes for kids, they can continue their education. Here are some tips on how you can help:
- Have a schedule
- Reduce distractions
- Fuel them with healthy foods
- Exercise to keep energy levels down
- Be positive and flexible
- Communicate with the school if you are struggling; teachers may be able to help
To summarise, there is a wide range of free online learning for kids available. Hopefully, we have been able to point you in the right direction and provide you with valuable resources.
Let us know if you’ve found this post helpful, and comment below if you have any other suggestions for others to use!