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On this page you will find links to websites that are useful for children who are learning English as a second or foreign language. All of the sites listed below are aimed at children except for sites listed in the 'for parents' category. All the sites have free to access content, and contain no or very limited advertising.
Apart from these sites, it is also a good idea to find websites related to your child's favourite TV programmes, cartoons, books, musicians, sports or hobbies.
If you have found any useful sites, please tell us.
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for pre-school age children |
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These websites are aimed at pre-school children, generally aged 4 and under. It is a good idea to look at them by yourself first, to choose which sites you think your child would like best.
CBeebies is the BBC's site for pre-school age children. It has songs, stories, games and activities to print, plus notes for parents.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/
Links to all of the BBC's websites for pre-school children.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/websites/preschool/
This site has lots of free downloadable resources for younger children, including worksheets to practise phonics, the alphabet, nursery rhymes, and lots of craft downloads.
http://www.kizclub.com/
Short stories, games and lots of colouring in pages can be found here.
http://www.lil-fingers.com/index.html
A very colourful site full of games and activities for very young learners.
http://www.cubeez.com
The Hoobs is a TV programme aimed at 3-5 year olds. You will find lots of online activities to help your child learn about the world.
http://www.channel4.com/learning/microsites/H/hoobs/
This site contains a variety of games for younger learners. It includes spot the difference and colouring activities for very young learners, as well as activities for learning the alphabet, colours and shapes etc.
http://www.fisher-price.com/us/playtime/
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general primary education |
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This site from the BBC provides excellent supplementary material for the United Kingdom's National Curriculum. It is full of links, games, ideas, advice and other learning resources, organized into age groups. Have a look at the primary section. There is also a parents' area.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/websites/4_11/
A website with lots of simple activities for very young children who are learning Engish. You can find a 'practice zone' with songs, stories and game; a 'a phonics' zone for children to practise sounds; and a 'grammar zone'.
http://www.lcfclubs.com/englishzone/
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These links take you to websites that feature stories to read, or to websites which feature authors and children's books. Some of them have audio files, and some also encourage creative writing.
If you would like to find sites that help to develop literacy skills, have a look at the links in the 'writing and literacy' section.
Remember that children are developing their reading skills when they look at sites in English, for example, if they are finding out about a new film that has just come out. They are also often practising their reading skills when they are playing games in English on the web. To play games, children have to read instructions for example.
These pages have stories for children who are learning English. There are stories for different ages and levels. Children can also listen to the stories, and there are activities to download and print.
http://www.britishcouncil.org/kids-stories.htm
A site with stories, poems, interviews, and information about books. Children can also send in their own stories and poems.
http://www.storiesfromtheweb.org/sfwhomepage.htm
This website has kids stories that you can read from a big book on the screen. Stories available include folk tales, myths, comics, and Chinese fables.
http://www.starfall.com
Have a look at the Reading Zone where you will finds lots of links to free online stories and sites about children's authors.
http://www.ipl.org/kidspace/browse/rzn0000
Each year libraries in the UK organise a reading challenge based on a theme. This site is for children who are taking part in the reading challenge. It has a writer's blog, some great activities, and a place to leave messages.
http://www.bigwildread.co.uk/
Blue Peter is a children's TV programme by the BBC. Its website feaures a book club, with information about popular children's books and setting up a book club.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc/bluepeter/bookclub/
This site has stories from famous classic children's books by Beatrix Potter, Lewis Carroll and others which teachers and parents can use to read to younger children or for older children to read themselves.
http://wiredforbooks.org/kids.htm
This website puts you in touch with over 30 of your favourite authors and their books. There is also a writer’s toolkit, games and secret passages. This site is aimed at upper primary and lower secondary students.
http://www.channel4learning.net/sites/bookbox/home.htm
Children's book reviews, written by children for children, for use at school and at home.
http://www.kidsreview.org.uk/
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These links are for sites that help children develop their literacy skills, or are sites to help children develop their creative writing. You will also find links in the 'grammar' section to sites that help children with writing accurately.
An excellent website with activities and games to help your child learn and practise their English. There are notes for parents on how to use the activities and games
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/4_11/literacy.shtml
Lots of online activities to develop literacy skills, including a comic creater, book cover creator, or materials to help write poems and essays.
http://www.readwritethink.org/student_mat/index.asp
Children fill in the blanks to create their own stories, and can read stories written by other children. There is also a guide to parts of speech.
http://www.eduplace.com/tales/
Have a look at the learning page on the Sutton-on-Sea Community Primary School's website. Story Starts is a page with ideas to help children begin a story.
http://www.sutton.lincs.sch.uk/sas/index.php?page=9§ion=12
Children can read and write stories, read interviews with popular children's writers, read and write book reviews, and send in work and pictures.
http://www.storiesfromtheweb.org
Children can make their own comics on this site.
http://www.makebeliefscomix.com/
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These websites help children to learn about how words and sentences are put together in English. Have a look at the 'writing and literacy' section to find websites which will help your child to create longer pieces of writing.
An excellent website with activities and games to help your child learn and practise their English. There are notes for parents on how to use the activities and games
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/4_11/literacy.shtml
The grammar gorillas is a great game to help children learn the parts of speech.
http://www.funbrain.com/grammar/index.html
The activities and games on this site are aimed at adults, but they are simple and older children could use them. There are also some activities to help with spelling.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/words/grammar/
English Space has lots of activities, puzzles and games for learners of English. Users have to register but everything is free.
http://www.englishspace.ort.org/
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vocabulary and online dictionaries |
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These links take you to sites which have games and activities designed to hep children learn and practise vocabulary. You'll also find links to online dictionaries, and to Puzzlemaker, a tool that you can use to make your own word puzzles.
You'll find lots of online activities to practise vocabulary related to different topics that are appealing to children, plus activties to print and do offline. The games and activities are specially designed for children who are learning English as a second or foreign language.
http://stagingweb1.britishcouncil.org/cms/kids.htm
This vocabulary site has lots of vocabulary games for young learners. The hangman game is a mouse trying to steal cheese from a sleeping cat and includes a range of topic areas suitable for primary classes. There is also a wordsearch, crossword and a pelmanism activity.
http://www.vocabulary.co.il
This site for young learners has lots of simple vocabulary pairs games. It's very nicely designed with good graphics and audio. The games cover basic areas like animals, food, family and feelings.
http://www.1-language.com/memorymatchelem/index.htm
A page of online games related to words on the Funbrain site.
http://www.funbrain.com/words.html
A game for children to practise spelling words about common topics such as clothes, food and animals.
http://www.spinandspell.com/game.swf
With Discovery Education's Puzzle Maker, you can make wordsearches and crossword puzzles for your child. There are word lists to help you, and you can also add clipart to make your puzzles even more fun.
http://www.puzzlemaker.com/
This online dictionary is useful for older primary or secondary learners.
http://www.dictionary.cambridge.org/
An interesting site for children to use to increase their vocabulary and to look up words they don't know.
http://www.wordcentral.com/
Have a look at the Little Explorers Picture Dictionary, a site by Enchanted Learning. Words have pictures and links to interesting sites.
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/Dictionary.html
Find illustrations of words for topics such as animals and school, and there are flashcards and activities to.
http://pdictionary.com
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These websites feature educational games for children. In many cases the games are not designed to help children practise English. However, games such as these are useful. Children are using English to play the games, and games make learning fun. With younger children, it is helpful to play together at first so that they can learn how to play the games.
The games section on LearnEnglish Kids has games that are specially designed for children who are learning English as a second or foreign language.
http://www.britishcouncil.org/kids-games.htm
A large selection of games and puzzles. This site has great sections on science and maths as well as language practice games so there should be something for everyone.
http://www.primarygames.com/
This site has lots of interactive English language games suitable for primary and secondary aged learners. Games include Squanky the Tooth Taker, who deals with synonyms and Fearless Frieda, who skateboards if learners can spell the words that she says. Good reading and vocabulary practice.
http://www.cogcon.com/gamegoo/gooeyhome.html
This is another excellent website for primary students. Click on languages to find English activities and games.
http://www.funbrain.com/
A site with arcade games, alien games, word games, animal games, brain games, monster games and lots more. Children can also create comics and design their own avatar. Lots of fun and all in English.
http://www.bonus.com/
Games for ages 9-99. Users can choose from two levels. There is a game for each day of the year.
http://www.agameaday.com/
CBBC is the BBC's website for children. This page features games related to children's TV programmes and also games about sport, animals and music.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc/games/
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These sites feature traditional songs for young children, or songs that have been written for children who are learning English.
If your child is interested in popular music, you will find the lyrics to most songs by searching the internet (just type in 'lyrics' and the name of the song), and most popstars have websites. It is a good idea to look at the lyrics or sites first if your child is young to make sure that they are suitable.
You'll find traditional songs and also songs specially written for children who are learning English on the British Council's site for children. You can listen to the songs, and also print the words and activities related to the songs.
http://www.britishcouncil.org/kids-songs.htm
Go4English is the British Council's website for Arabic speakers. You'll find traditional songs and songs for children learning English on this site with help in Arabic.
http://www.go4english.com/ffk/archive.php?cid=10041001
Find lots of songs for young children on the BBC's website for pre-school children.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/music/
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ProjectBritain.com is a new quick shortcut to the extremely popular Woodlands Junior School's British Life and Culture website. The website contains fascinating facts and information about England, Scotland and Wales, in a way that is easy to read and to understand for people of all ages and cultures.
http://projectbritain.com/ |
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This site has lots of games, songs, communication cards and printed resources for special needs children. The songs and games section has lots of activities suitable for younger students such as emotions and feelings games, colour and room vocab games and songs on safety.
http://www.dotolearn.com/
CBeebies is the BBC's website for pre-school children and features activities for young children with special needs. This page is for parents and gives information about the content.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/grownups/about/specialneeds/
The British Dyslexia Association has information for parents on this page:
http://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/aboutdyslexia.html
There is also some really useful information about dyslexia and language learning. They are talking about English children learning French but the principles are the same. See:
http://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/mfl.html
Dyslexia Action is a UK charity with advice for people with dyslexia. There is a section for parents.
http://www.dyslexiaaction.org.uk/
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Children are interested in many different things: the TV, cartoons, science and technology, space, the environment, our world. Here are some sites aimed at children about all sorts of topics. The sites may be useful for research, or just for interest. If your child is really interested in a topic, then they may enjoy looking at sites about the topic in English.
This is a gateway to lots of games, cartoons and articles on sport, wildlife and music and links to children's television programmes on the BBC.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc/
Lots of information and games about Disney programmes and Disney favourites.
http://disney.go.com/index
This site has lots of interactive exhibits, games and quizzes about science and nature. Some examples of things you can do here are look down a microscope at small animals, learn about the science of music or find out about the weather in space.
http://www.exploratorium.edu/
Show Me is a gateway that brings the best online resources and games from the UK's museum, gallery and heritage sectors together into a '24 Hour Museum'. The content is aimed at children aged from 5 to 11. The site features a section to help teachers use the resources for lesson planning and a section for parents searching for suitable resources.
http://www.show.me.uk/
This is Nasa's children's section, and it has lots of information and activities about space, astronauts.
http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forkids/home/index.html
This site talks about the extremes of science, on earth and in the animal kingdom.
http://www.extremescience.com/
The yuckiest site on the internet. Entertaining facts about science from Discovery Kids.http://yucky.discovery.com/flash/
The children's site of the National Geographic Society, a scientific and educational organisation. Learn all about world cultures and animals, and global expeditions. Lots of cartoons, fun and games too.
http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/
Oxfam is a charity with the aim of getting rid of the world's poverty. Cool Planet is a site for children with information about children and countries around the world.
http://www.oxfam.org.uk/coolplanet/kidsweb/
Enchanted Learning has lots of information and printable activities about lots of topics of interest to children. A good place to research topics.
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/Home.html
This search engine is for children to use as the results are checked for safe sites and suitable for use for research projects. It also has its own directory and links to typical childrens' topics such as games, movies, jokes and sports.
http://kids.yahoo.com/
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Here is a list of sites that are aimed at parents and carers. You will find sites about:
General sites for parents about children and learning
Parents Centre has been developed by the UK's Department for Children, Schools and Famities to support parents. Much of the information relates to the UK, but there is a lot of information and advice about issues such as bullying and discipline.
http://www.parentscentre.gov.uk/
This is a website for parents by parents. Again, much of the content is UK-focused but there is a lot of information and advice for parents of primary school age children, and a section about helping your child learn at home.
http://www.parents.org.uk/
BBC pages for parents with lots of general information about helping children to learn, and also notes about using content on the website.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/parents/
Parentline Plus is a UK charity offering advice and support to parents. There are messageboards, and also a useful section on what to expect at each stage of childhood, with tips on how you can help your child learn.
http://www.parentlineplus.org.uk/
Sites for parents about literacy and reading
This is a campaign supported by the Department for Children, Schools and Families. The website has a section with lots of advice for families. You'll find information about why it's important for families to read together, tips on sharing books, tips on getting dads involved, and links to websites and resources.
http://www.nationalliteracytrust.org.uk/familyreading/parents/index.html
Read Together is the website of the Scottish Executive's Home Reading Initiative, which aims to encourage parents and carers to share books with children. Lots of ideas and things to do, and videos of parents explaining what they do.
http://www.readtogether.co.uk/
Have a look at the parents section of the Reading is Fundamental website which has advice for parents and carers of children of all ages, and lots of fun tips and activities to encourage reading.
http://www.rif.org/parents/
Lots of useful tips and advice for parents who would like to encourage their young children to read.
http://www.childliteracy.com/
This website provides book reviews for parents whose children are learning English as a foreign or additional language. You can search for books under different categories and ages. There is also advice about choosing books.
http://www.realbooks.co.uk/
This is another good site for parents who want to choose good books for their children to read. These is a parents’ corner and a section on encouraging reluctant readers to read.
http://www.wordpool.co.uk/
This site features audio downloads of parents reading stories.
http://www.astoryforbedtime.com/
This is the British Council's worldwide online book club, and has a section to help you choose the best books for your child.
http://www.encompassculture.com/
'Reading aloud is the best way to get your children hooked on books for life,' says the author Jacqueline Wilson. Find suggestions for books for different age groups, and also tips for sharing books with your child.
http://www.greatbookstoreadaloud.co.uk/
The Road to Reading is a collection of free wallcharts, flash cards, and stories designed to be used as an aid to teaching reading and English grammar. The site was developed for community schools in Africa.
http://theroadtoreading.co.uk/
Sites for parents about safe internet use
Know IT All is a set of award-winning resources developed by children’s internet charity Childnet International to help educate both young people, parents and teachers about safe and positive use of the internet. It contains a section for Teachers giving advice on how to cover the issues of E-Safety and how to use this resource in the classroom and with parents. It is available in Arabic, Mandarin, Polish, Gujarati, Punjabi, Bengali and Urdu.
http://www.childnet-int.org/kia/
Parents Centre has been developed by the UK's Department for Children, Schools and Famities to support parents. It contains a lot of information about using the computers and the internet.
http://www.parentscentre.gov.uk/usingcomputersandtheinternet/
This is a practical guide to using the internet for young people, schools and parents. Children will find advice about using mobiles, surfing, chat and file-sharing. Parents will also find advice about talking to children about safety.
http://www.kidsmart.org.uk/
This site is sponsored the the UK's government and leading businesses and offers free, objective advice. There is a section on young people and the internet, and you'll find lots of information about protecting your PC and your privacy.
http://www.getsafeonline.org/
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