Is your little one always asking for your phone or tablet? If you’d rather that screen time came with a bit of learning built in, you’re in the right place. Here are 10 of the best learning games for toddlers and preschoolers — a mix of free online educational games sites and apps, all packed with fun and genuine educational value.
#1. Reading Eggs
Full of educationally sound, fun and interactive activities, Reading Eggs is an award-winning online literacy programme for children aged 3–13, focused on the most fundamental skill needed in school: reading.
Reading Eggs makes learning to read genuinely engaging, with reading games, songs, golden eggs and other rewards. Along with feeling proud of their progress, these little wins really motivate children to keep exploring and learning.
#2. Fisher Price
Fisher Price has a learning games section that’s searchable by age, character and activity type, and it appeals to toddlers and preschoolers alike.
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#3. Education.com
As part of their online games programme, education.com has a preschool section with free games teaching number counting, letter recognition, patterns, phonics and more.
With these fun free games, kids get to practise the skills teachers say matter most at preschool age, like counting and recognising letters of the alphabet.
#4. Topmarks
Topmarks.co.uk has games for different age groups, including a preschool section for 3–5 year olds, plus sections for older school-going kids from 5–7, 7–11 and 11–17 years.
There’s a diverse range of games for preschoolers, including maths games covering counting, shapes, data handling and problem solving, along with interactive reasoning and reading games.
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#5. NickJr
NickJr.co.uk, home to Dora, Peppa Pig, Ben & Holly, Blaze and many more of your child’s favourite TV characters, has a dedicated section of online educational games for preschoolers.
Kids can play along with their Nick Jr. friends and learn about shapes, pairing, music, colours, directions and problem solving.
#6. Baby First
Babyfirsttv.com has worked with child development experts to create interactive games your child can play using just the space and enter keys.
The games are simple and colourful, and because they’re so easy to play, they’re ideal for toddlers.
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#7. Learning Games For Kids
Learninggamesforkids.com has a range of preschool educational games to help your child learn about colours, shapes, phonics and music.
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#8. Fun 4 The Brain
Fun4thebrain.com has a dedicated preschool section with games to help with counting, reasoning, patterns and sorting — simple enough for even the youngest children. (For older kids, there are games on maths, science, geography, quizzes and lots more.)
#9. Mr Nussbaum
MrNussbaum.com has over 100 games created by a teacher for children of all ages and abilities, from preschool to sixth class. You can search by school age or subject, including geography, language, maths and more.
The preschool section has plenty of fun learning games, including letter shapes, simple maths, colours, geography, nature and more. Games are free to play and work across different devices.
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#10. Jumpstart
StoryLand is an online virtual world at Jumpstart.com, where preschool children can explore and discover more than 70 games teaching a variety of skills, including pre-reading, social science, art, music and maths.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are online learning games actually good for toddlers and preschoolers?
Used in moderation and alongside other play, well-designed learning games can support early skills like letter and number recognition, colours, shapes and problem solving. They work best as one part of a varied day that also includes active, hands-on and outdoor play.
Are the games on this list free to play?
Most of the sites and games featured here offer free content, though some — like Reading Eggs — also have paid programmes with additional features. Always check each site directly, as offerings can change.
What age are these games suitable for?
The games above are aimed broadly at toddlers and preschoolers, roughly ages 2–5, though several sites also cater for older primary school children within the same platform.
Do I need to download anything to play?
Most of these are browser-based games you can play on a computer, tablet or phone without downloading. A few sites also offer dedicated apps — check the individual site for details.
How much screen time is appropriate for this age group?
Every family is different, and guidance varies. Many parents find it helpful to balance screen-based learning games with plenty of active, imaginative and outdoor play, and to keep sessions short for younger children.
Related Articles
- 20 of the Best Educational Apps for Preschoolers
- Free Educational Apps for Kids Reviewed by Families
- Screen Time: How Much is Too Much for Kids?
- 7 Tips for Parents on Managing Kids Screen Time
- 7 Cool Math Games Websites for Kids
- Top Picks for Free Online Games for Toddlers
Save This for Later
Found some new favourites on this list? Bookmark this page or save it to your parenting board so you have it handy next time you need a screen-time win that doubles as learning time.
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