Guides and game stories
Practical ideas for learning at home with children aged 3 to 7, and the story behind each of our games.
Guides for parents
Counting to 10: everyday counting games before school
Count real things, one touch for each number, and ask how many at the end. Short games on the stairs, at snack time and in the car are all it takes.
6 min readHow to teach capital letters to a 3–5 year old
Start with the letters of your child's own name, a few at a time. Play, point, say each letter's name and sound together, and keep it free of pressure.
6 min readGame stories
A color game that starts with a guess
There are many ways to play with colors: naming, mixing, hunting and painting. This free game lets your child do all four, and all instructions, facts and questions are read aloud.
5 min readA counting game for preschoolers, with a hungry caterpillar
Saying one to ten is not the same as counting ten things. This game helps your child make that step, one tapped apple at a time.
4 min readA teen numbers game: counting to 20 with a hedgehog
Every number from 11 to 19 is a ten and a few more. Seeing that is a US kindergarten goal, and this game shows it again and again, in an autumn orchard.
4 min readWhen your child loves dinosaurs: a game that feeds the passion
Does your child love dinosaurs? Our dinosaur game gives that love real words, real science and a fossil to dig up. You can try it once for free.
5 min readMo the mood monster: the story of our feelings game
Mo changes color with every feeling, and children love helping Mo feel better again. Here is what the game teaches, why we made it and how to join in.
5 min readToby the toothbrush: the story of our healthy habits game
Toby turns brushing, handwashing, eating and bedtime into small games, most of them with steps in a clear order. Here is what children learn, why we made it and how to bring it into your day.
5 min readA phonics game for preschoolers: hearing the first sound
Before children can sound out a word, they need to hear that moon starts with mmm. This game turns that tiny listening skill into a game of sorting, spotting and flying.
4 min readAn alphabet game for preschoolers that starts with their own name
A good way into the alphabet is a few small wins a day: hear a letter, point to it, trace it, and find it in your own name.
4 min readA safari from the sofa: lions, giraffes and tracks in the sand
Your child may never see a lion in the wild, but they can still learn how a lion family lives. Our savanna game takes your child on a safari. All instructions, facts and questions are read aloud, so no reading is needed.
5 min readA shapes game where every corner counts
Learning shapes sets the stage for geometry: names, corners, sides and how things fit together. In this game, children build, sort and count with Tri the triangle, and all instructions, facts and questions are read aloud.
5 min readA space game that makes giant numbers feel small
Distances in space run into millions of miles. This free game turns space into a tennis ball, a beach ball and a rocket trip a young child can follow.
5 min readA weather game with a cloud for a friend
Weather is the science young children meet every morning at the window. This game, guided by Nimbo the little cloud, helps them name it, explain it and dress for it.
5 min readFrom scary to amazing: a shark game for curious little kids
Big teeth, big questions. Our free great white shark game answers them with real facts, read aloud, at your child's own pace.
5 min readLearn a language with games
Learn German for kids, one game at a time
Let your child hear German while playing: every Play & Learn game can be played in German, read aloud by a natural voice. For ages 3 to 7, no reading needed.
Dutch for kids, through play
Help your child hear Dutch while playing: every Play & Learn game plays in Dutch, read aloud by a natural voice. For ages 3 to 7, no reading needed.
French games for kids who love to listen
French learning games for kids: every Play & Learn game plays in French, read aloud by a natural voice. Playful listening for ages 3 to 7, no reading needed.
Spanish for kids, the playful way
Spanish for kids through play: every Play & Learn game can be played in Spanish, read aloud by a natural voice. For ages 3 to 7, no reading needed.