Choosing English games for young children: 10 things to check
Reviewed by Chinh Q. Hoang, PhD, founder, English for Fun · 2026-10-30
Short answer: a good English game for young children has no ads, does not ask children to create an account, has a clear voice for every word, fits the age range and goes from easy to harder. No game is best for every child. Here are 10 things to check yourself, English for Fun included.
10 things to check
- Ads: do ads appear during play? Young children tap them by accident.
- Accounts: does the child have to sign up with a name or email?
- Children's data: where is progress stored, and is anything sent elsewhere? Read the privacy page.
- In-app purchases: are there buy buttons a child can tap?
- Voice: is every word clearly recorded, or read by the phone's built-in voice (which differs between devices, and is missing on some)?
- Age range: what age does the developer state?
- Progression: does it go from easy to harder and bring old words back?
- Offline: does it work without internet?
- Session length: is a session short (10–15 minutes), or built to keep children playing?
- Price: free, one payment, or an auto-renewing subscription?
How English for Fun answers these
| Check | English for Fun |
|---|---|
| Ads | None |
| Accounts | Not needed |
| Children's data | Progress stays on the device; no personal data about children is collected. See privacy. |
| In-app purchases | None |
| Voice | Nearly every word is a recorded clip, in one consistent voice (Count & Collect uses your device's voice) |
| Age range | Island games: 4–6. Spelling games: 5–8. Sound Pairs: 8 to adult |
| Progression | Yes, island by island; see the 4-week plan |
| Offline | Yes, after the first visit (except Audio Memory, Count & Collect and Number Train) |
| Price | The first island of each island game and all bonus games are free; full access is prepaid (1 to 12 months) |
| Limits | No full phonics program yet; English only |
When another app may suit you better
- You want a full phonics program: several apps offer one, see the app comparison.
- You want many subjects (math, science, social-emotional skills) in one app: Khan Academy Kids is free and has no ads.
- Your child is under 4: our games are made for beginners who can tap and listen along; an app for very young children may suit better.
Questions
What should I check before choosing an English game for a young child?
Ads, accounts, children's data, in-app purchases, voice, age range, progression, offline use, session length and price. The guide has a 10-point checklist.
Should a game for young children have ads?
A good game for ages 4 to 6 has no ads, because young children tap them by accident.
Try it
Free practice that goes with this page: