Age-appropriate phonics and early literacy apps to help your 5-6 year old learn to read.
SpellingJoy Team
•Last Updated: January 15, 2025
Kindergarten is when the magic of reading begins. Children move from recognizing letters to understanding that letters make sounds, and sounds make words. The right reading app can make this journey engaging and effective.
We've tested the best reading apps for kindergartners (ages 5-6), focusing on apps that teach phonics systematically, build sight word recognition, and make learning to read fun—not frustrating.
Teach Your Monster to Read uses a game-based approach to teach systematic phonics. Free on web, $4.99 mobile app. Covers first 2 years of learning to read.
By end of kindergarten, most children can recognize all letters, know letter sounds, read simple CVC words (cat, dog), and recognize some sight words. Apps should support this progression from letter recognition to simple word reading.
Our Verdict
Khan Academy Kids is the best free option with comprehensive phonics and early reading activities.
For a structured learn-to-read program, HOMER or Reading Eggs offer research-backed curricula.
For pure phonics fun, Teach Your Monster to Readmakes learning letter sounds engaging through gameplay.
The SpellingJoy team is dedicated to creating free, high-quality spelling resources for K-6 students and their families. We test every app we review and provide honest assessments to help parents make informed decisions.