Writing isn’t just about using a pencil and paper anymore. Today, there are lots of writing apps for kids that can help them write better. According to Reading Rockets, in literacy and education, writing tools have traditionally been “low-tech,” with simple aids like pencil grips and graph paper being staples in the educational toolkit.
SplashLearn: Most Comprehensive Learning Program for PreK-5
SplashLearn inspires lifelong curiosity with its game-based PreK-5 learning program loved by over 40 million children. With over 4,000 fun games and activities, it’s the perfect balance of learning and play for your little one.
Try for freeHowever, the landscape of writing assistance is rapidly changing. The integration of AT in writing extends to computer platforms as well, with desktops, laptops, and mobile devices offering various interfaces, such as keyboards and touchscreens, to accommodate different preferences and requirements. This versatility in writing technology caters to children’s diverse needs and opens up new avenues for learning and creativity. In this blog, we’ll dive into the best writing apps for kids designed to make writing engaging and accessible for kids of all ages.
Curious about high-tech writing tools?
Here are our top picks of writing apps for kids:
1. SplashLearn
SplashLearn is not just about numbers; it also offers a kids writing app section where children can engage in story-based learning, which helps them practice writing through interactive games and worksheets. It covers topics like letter tracing and sight words, which are crucial for early literacy. What makes SplashLearn a standout as one of the best writing apps for kids is its interactive and playful approach to learning. The app encourages children to practice writing through games that capture their attention, making it a great tool for young learners to develop their writing skills in an enjoyable and stress-free way.
Features: Over 8000 games and worksheets, adaptive learning, personalized for each child’s pace, with a strong focus on math and reading and writing comprehension
Why We Love It: It integrates writing into a broader educational context, reinforcing literacy through a variety of subjects
Price: Free with in-app purchases
Availability: Available on iOS, Android, and web
2. ABCmouse.com
ABCmouse.com offers a rich, interactive curriculum that includes a wide range of activities from tracing letters to writing full sentences. It’s designed to help children grasp the mechanics of writing and understand the context behind their writing. The app’s colorful animations and rewards system motivate kids to progress through levels, reinforcing their writing skills with each step.
Grade: Pre-K to 2nd Grade
Features: Includes a comprehensive step-by-step learning path with over 850 lessons across 10 levels
Why We Love It: It’s a thorough educational tool that covers all the bases of early writing skills in an engaging and systematic way
Price: Subscription-based with a free trial
Availability: Available on iOS, Android, and web
3. Endless Alphabet
Endless Alphabet is one of the best writing apps for kids that introduces children to the alphabet in a world of playful monsters and unique puzzles. Each word features an interactive puzzle with talking letters and a short animation illustrating the definition. This approach not only teaches letter recognition and vocabulary but also enhances kids’ understanding of word usage in writing.
Grade: Pre-K to 1st Grade
Features: Over 100 words to play with, each with interactive puzzles and animations
Why We Love It: The app makes learning new words and their spellings a delightful experience, which is crucial for developing writing skills
Price: One-time purchase
Availability: Available on iOS, Android, and Amazon Appstore
Related Reading: Best ABC Songs for Kids That Will Make Them Dance & Enjoy
4. iWriteWords
iWriteWords is a handwriting app that teaches the fundamentals of letter and number formation through guided tracing. Its playful interface, complete with a friendly crab guide, encourages kids to practice writing while they drag a character to follow the tracing lines. This method helps improve hand-eye coordination and prepares children for traditional writing.
Grade: Pre-K to Kindergarten
Features: Handwriting practice with a focus on proper stroke order and letter shapes
Why We Love It: It’s a tactile experience that translates digital interactions into real-world writing skills
Price: One-time purchase
Availability: Available on iOS
5. Grammaropolis
Grammaropolis uses animated characters representing parts of speech to teach grammar engagingly. Each character’s personality and role in the grammar world helps children remember the functions of parts of speech and how to use them effectively in their writing. The app includes various educational content, from music videos to quizzes, ensuring comprehensive grammar instruction.
Grade: 1st to 7th Grade
Features: Animated lessons, quizzes, music videos, and an integrated book series
Why We Love It: It turns the often challenging subject of grammar into a fun and memorable experience, laying a strong foundation for good writing
Price: Free with in-app purchases
Availability: Available on iOS, Android, and web
6. Toontastic 3D
Toontastic 3D is a storytelling app that allows kids to create their own animated stories. By moving characters around on the screen and narrating the tale in real time, children learn the structure of stories, character development, and the expressive power of language. The app’s 3D drawing tools also enable them to design their characters, further personalizing their writing and storytelling experience.
Grade: K to 12th Grade
Features: A fully customizable 3D animation tool, complete with a variety of settings, characters, and story arcs
Why We Love It: It encourages kids to think critically about the storytelling process, which is a fundamental aspect of writing
Price: Free
Availability: Available on iOS and Android
Related Reading: Storytelling for Kids: Benefits, Books, and More
7. Storybird
Storybird stands out as one of the best English writing apps for kids that inspires children to write their own stories using an array of stunning illustrations. It provides a platform for kids to become authors, encouraging them to construct narratives around professionally drawn artwork, which can then be digitally published into books.
Grade: 1st to 12th Grade
Features: A vast library of images, collaborative writing options, and the ability to publish stories
Why We Love It: It fosters creativity and the love of writing by blending visual art with storytelling
Price: Free with premium features available for purchase
Availability: Available on web
8. Little Writer – The Tracing App for Kids
Little Writer is a tactile kids writing app that serves as the best letter writing app for young children learning to write the alphabet. It includes fun tracing games that teach kids how to write letters, numbers, words, and shapes.
Grade: Toddler to Kindergarten
Features: Customizable for names and words, fun animations and sounds to keep kids engaged
Why We Love It: It’s a hands-on app that makes learning to write letters and numbers exciting and interactive
Price: Free
Availability: Available on iOS.
Related Reading: Best Sight Word Apps for Kids [Android & iOS]
9. Mad Libs
Mad Libs brings the classic word game to digital life, offering an app for writing letters and creating stories that can be hilariously unpredictable. It’s a great tool for teaching parts of speech and sentence structure in a way that’s full of laughs and learning.
Grade: 2nd to 8th Grade
Features: Thousands of stories, new ones added regularly, and the ability to play solo or with friends
Why We Love It: It turns grammar and sentence construction into a fun game, which is a clever way to practice writing
Price: Free with in-app purchases
Availability: Available on iOS and Android
10. Writing Wizard – Kids Learn to Write Letters & Words
Writing Wizard is an app designed to help kids learn how to write letters, numbers, and words through a fun and interactive interface. It offers a range of customizable writing activities that make learning to write engaging and enjoyable. The app uses animated stickers and sound effects to provide feedback, encouraging kids to improve their writing skills.
Grade: Pre-K to 2nd Grade
Features: Customizable word lists, ability to create your own worksheets, fun animations and sound effects, and a system that teaches proper stroke order
Why We Love It: Writing Wizard stands out for its highly interactive approach, which transforms writing practice into a game-like experience. The app’s engaging and intuitive design ensures that children are not only practicing their writing skills but are also having a great time doing it.
Price: Free with in-app purchases
Availability: Available on iOS and Android
11. SentenceBuilder
SentenceBuilder aims to help elementary-aged children learn how to build grammatically correct sentences with an emphasis on connectors. By using this app, kids can enhance their writing fluency and complexity, making it a valuable tool for young writers.
Grade: 1st to 5th Grade
Features: Over 100 pictures to build sentences around, with three levels of play and a progress tracker
Why We Love It: It specifically targets sentence construction, which is a critical skill in writing development
Price: One-time purchase
Availability: Available on iOS
Related Reading: Best Reading Apps for Kids
How to Choose the Most Suitable Writing Apps & Websites
1. User Experience
- Assessment of the app’s interface: Is it kid-friendly and intuitive?
- Consideration of the app’s design: Does it engage children without being overly distracting?
2. Age Appropriateness
- Breakdown of the app’s content and complexity relative to different age groups.
- Analysis of how the app grows with the child, offering more advanced levels as the child’s skills improve.
3. Features and Functionality
- Overview of key features such as interactive games, progress tracking, and customizable settings.
- Evaluation of the app’s unique offerings that set it apart from other writing apps.
4. Feedback and Reinforcement
- Examination of how the app provides feedback to the user: Is it constructive and encouraging?
- Insight into the reward systems or achievements that motivate continued practice.
5. Accessibility and Inclusivity
- Consideration of how accessible the app is to children with different learning abilities and needs.
- Discussion on the inclusivity of content, ensuring it is culturally and linguistically diverse.
6. Safety and Privacy
- Analysis of the app’s safety features: Are children’s interactions secure?
- Review of the app’s privacy policy: How does it handle personal data?
7. Cost-Effectiveness
- Comparison of the app’s price relative to its features and benefits.
- Consideration of free versus premium offerings and the value each provides.
8. Parental and Educator Reviews
- Compilation of feedback from parents and educators regarding the app’s effectiveness and engagement.
- Discussion of any accolades or endorsements from educational institutions.
9. Regular Updates and Support
- Information on how frequently the app is updated with new content or features.
- Availability and responsiveness of customer support for troubleshooting issues.
By addressing these criteria, you can provide a comprehensive overview of why these particular apps were chosen and how they stand out in helping children develop their writing skills.
Conclusion
Finding the right app to support your child’s writing journey can be a game-changer in their educational development. The apps we’ve explored offer a variety of interactive and engaging ways to build writing skills, from mastering the basics of grammar to enhancing creative storytelling skills. Each app has been carefully selected based on its educational value, ease of use, and ability to make learning fun. Whether your child is just starting to trace letters or is ready to craft their own stories, there’s an app on this list that can meet them where they are. Remember, the best learning happens when kids have fun, so encourage them to try these tools and watch their writing flourish.
Related Reading: Best English Learning Apps for Kids
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What age group are these writing apps suitable for?
The writing apps cover a broad range of ages, from toddlers who are just starting to learn the alphabet to teenagers looking to enhance their storytelling skills.
Are these writing apps for kids safe and secure for my child?
These apps have been chosen for their strong safety features and privacy policies, ensuring a secure environment for your child to learn and create.
Do I need to supervise my child while they use these writing apps for kids?
While these apps are designed to be kid-friendly and intuitive, supervision is recommended to help guide your child’s learning and to ensure they get the most out of the experience.
