Typekids online typing class

Typekids: online typing course for kids

Let me tell you a story.  About a year ago I set out to find a touch typing course for my kids.  I had several people recommend a FREE online typing course to me.  I was immensely excited, I liked free.  So I happily set out to use this free typing course.

Only to have my kids constantly accidentally clicking on flashing ads, and being redirected elsewhere.  Then to make matters worse I got so many viruses and Trojan horse programs I had to spend about 4 hours getting rid of all that junk.

By the end of those 4 hours, I was on the verge of crying, strongly considering throwing my laptop, and had vowed never to touch a free online typing course again.

TypeKids, pain-free typing classes

So I started looking at touch typing courses for kids on Amazon.

And I ran into more problems.  Every program I saw had rather iffy reviews.  I started asking around “What are you using for a typing course for your kids?”  And I got various answers, but I didn’t get any great answers.

{ Disclosure: I received a copy of Typekids for free and was compensated for my time trying this out}

High interest engaging graphics from TypeKids

Enter Typekids: online typing course for kids

I keep emphasizing typing course for kids, because I know my kids will not tolerate the same type of typing course I learned on.

I learned back when the course was just the letters appearing on the screen and when you messed up the letter you typed wrong changed to bright red.  That’s not going to cut it.

My kids need bright colors, an engaging lesson, and fun.

And that’s what Typekids has done.

It’s got games, it’s got a nice engaging screen, AND it’s educational.

Princess is enjoying her typing lessons and happily sits there typing away, and occasionally I catch her brothers trying to sneak in and see what she’s up to, and if they can play too.  It’s really rather cool to see.

Quick interjection here, I’ve got tons more curriculum reviews

Also, I’m adding this into my Homeschool How To series, because this is another of those soft skills we don’t always think to teach our kids.

Let me tell you about the benefits of Typekids:

Typekids progress report
  1. It’s not just games.  My daughter has to actually practice typing and earns the games by completing activities.  This is good because other “educational” programs are more games with a bit of education.
  2. I get progress reports every time she finishes a unit.  As you can see Princess is moving slowly along, and is okay, but not great yet in her typing.
  3. It’s personalized, so I’ve seen her doing a lot of lessons going over the letters up there.  This is not coming easily to her, so she is doing a lot of repeat work on it.

Those last two are the big things for me.  They make for a great combination because I can know how she’s doing without literally sitting over her and watching her type, and I know she’s getting all the practice she needs in her typing.

Typekids pirate lessons
proof I have a real house, there is a mess all over my desk

 Find out more about Typekids

If you’re ready to learn more and have been looking for a typing program like I was, then check out the Typekids course website.  Wander around there and check out the intro video and the sample lessons (you can do 3 lessons for free).


Comments

6 responses to “Typekids: online typing course for kids”

  1. Wow! $90 for typing course! We used Talking Fingers which was way cheaper. It taught the basics and we supplemented with free typing games.

  2. This typing course looks great! My kids all need more typing skills…

  3. We were just discussing today that we think it’s time for daughter to learn typing. $90, however, sounds like a pretty hefty price tag for 30 lessons. I guess I have to think some more about that.

  4. One of our sons used TypeKids and LOVED it! He has a hard time with motivation usually but was very engaged and moved through the program well.

  5. This does sound interesting! My kids have played around with this free program: https://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/typing/

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