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Most Popular Online Word Games For Kids In KS1
While your kids may no longer be physically attending school, there are still plenty of educational KS1 games that your little ones can access online.
Whether your kids are screen time addicts or just can't seem to let go of their iPads, introducing these types of games is a really great way to get them doing something educational and to keep them busy - all whilst they're having heaps of fun.
We've rounded up our top 10 word games for some valuable learning - check them out!
Karate Cats
Fill in the missing words, choose the correct spellings, complete sentences with punctuation, and more - all with the help of the Karate Cats!
This exciting KS1 game will have your kids chopping and fly-kicking their way to a better understanding of grammar, spelling, and sentence structures.
The aim of the game is to win treats that you can swap in to get more cats. The more you train and the more answers you get right, the more cats will join you - with the goal being to make it through levels all the way up to earning a black belt.
Karate Cats is a great game to improve your kids' word skills whilst they're having the time of their little lives.
Ready to earn your black belt? Begin playing here.
Pirate Treasure Hunt
Help Pirate Jack find the island's hidden treasure! Pirate Treasure Hunt is a fun and diverse word game in which your mini adventurers have to complete eight different word related challenges in order to discover the buried treasure.
Begin the game by creating words out of letters to rescue Pirate Jack from a tree, and then use his trusty map to choose where you start your adventure.
Kids will win items after every challenge to help them along the way. The game is super easy to use, a great tool for improving vocabulary and spelling, and is also tablet-friendly.
Start your Pirate Adventure here.
Help a Hedgehog
A great way to make learning fun, Help a Hedgehog is an exciting, interactive game that parents can get involved in too! Kids have 90 seconds to read and say as many words as they can before the timer runs out.
Select a category such as mixed vowel phonemes, or enter your own choice of words for your kids to read out. Press the egg timer to begin, and see how many words they can manage within the time limit.
At the end of the game, your kids can view their high scores, which are recorded each and every time they play.
Help a Hedgehog is also great for if you have more than one child, is there anything kids love more than competing with each other? If you're looking to improve your children's reading and word pronunciation - then this is the one for you!
Ready, set, go! Get reading here.
Small Town Superheroes
With a whopping 18 different mini games to play, Small Town Superheroes is a fantastic way for the kids to improve on their word and English skills.
Solve problems and mysteries with superheroes such as Evergreen Ena and Sporty Steve by perfecting your compound words, punctuation, grammar and spelling. For superhero lovers, there's no better way to play and learn at the same time than saving a Small Town!
The game is perfect for KS1-aged children and is a valuable educational tool that your little ones will enjoy interacting with - and one that will keep them occupied for a while.
Get started by heading over to HQ and suiting up.
DJ Cow's Phonics Finder Word Search
A great way to re-enforce the learning of phonics, DJ Cow's Phonics Finder allows parents to select a set of phonics from a wide selection such as 'Sh', 'Th' or 'Ch' all the way to the 'Ee-Ea's.
A word search will then be generated around your chosen phonics in which kids can look for and pick out a list of words including those sounds.
The game is a wonderful way to improve spellings and sounding out, and it helps children to read, discover, and maybe even learn a few new words.
Take your time going through the various different versions with your kids for a well-rounded learning experience. Who doesn't love a word search?
Begin your search here.
Spooky Spellings
Spooky Spellings is no ordinary spelling game.
All of the words used are listed in the UK National Curriculum as 'Common Exception Words' - in simpler terms, they're a little bit tricky for your little ones to grasp.
The game allows you to choose a year group, a book from the dusty old shelf, and then get started with a fun drag and drop spelling game led by a Skull Teacher and helped out by lots of little bats who'll come and take the letters away when your kids have spelt a word correctly.
Each correct word helps players to fill up the five stars you need with colour to help you finish the game.
Spooky Spellings is a simple but great way for kids to improve their spelling skills and their vocabulary - perfect for at home learning.
With some pretty cool sound effects and spooky puns, it also makes for a fun teaching environment!
Ready to get spelling? Enter the spooky game here.
Words and Pictures: Beginning Letters
Can you help Di with her paintings? Words and Pictures is an interactive game lead by Di, a painter who loves to create pictures of things beginning with the same two letters - like a shark in a shirt, for example.
Kids can select a canvas and help Di come up with new ideas to paint by choosing words with the same two beginning letters.
There are options to hear the words out loud if kids need extra help picking their answers, and each pair correctly selected is rewarded with a cute painting of whatever was chosen.
Complete all three canvases to finish the game, and play again to try out new word combinations! If you're after a word game to help your little ones with their phonics, spelling, and vocabulary skills - this is the one for you.
Begin painting with Di by playing here.
Letter Blocks
Keep your kids on their toes with this exciting word game. Letter Blocks is sort of a funny mix of the games Boggle and Tetris, in that players have to find words and make blocks disappear so that no block reaches the top of the screen.
How does it work? Words have to comprise of three or more letters, either in a row or diagonally.
You can't use the same letter more than once, but must click on each block, clicking on the last letter of each word twice to make it disappear.
When blocks disappear, more letters fall down from the top of the screen - making for a fun, high-pressure learning environment in which children can work on their spelling and vocabulary, as well as their ability to get creative and spot words. It's certainly addictive - so watch out!
Ready to play Letter Blocks? Begin here.
Does It Make Sense?
Help Zara make sense of her dreams without waking her up! Kids are tasked with selecting which of the displayed sentences is correct in terms of spelling and grammar.
If you choose the correct sentence, you won't disturb the sleeping Zara and you'll earn a piece of the rocket you need to build to win.
If your answer is wrong, you'll wake Zara up from her dream and the game is over - but don't worry, you can keep playing until you make it to the end!
Does It Make Sense is the perfect educational game to help children learn how similar sounding words are correctly spelt, and to work on their sentence structuring. Not to mention, it's plenty of fun too.
Help Zara figure out her dreams here.
Alphabetical Order
Little Mo has discovered a Word Plant - can you help him put all of the words into alphabetical order?
Pluck each of the five words from the word plant and place them in alphabetical order to win. Your kids can play over and over again with different words each time to practice their word ordering, and there's even an alphabet listed along the bottom to help out those who need it.
Alphabetical Order is a great learning tool and an easy to use game for those looking to work on and practice their alphabet skills!
Ready to get started? Play here.
10 Best Sand Toys For Beach Or Sand Pit Fun
Every parent knows that while sand play might be messy, it's a fun and easy activity that keeps kids entertained for hours.
While a simple bucket and spade set could be all you need for the kids to create that perfect sandcastle, there are so many types of beach toy that encourage creative thinking, pretend play skills and sensory development.
Whether you're heading off to the seaside or simply looking for some sandpit toys the kids will love, we've searched far and wide to find the best options for you.
Image © Nadezhda1906 via iStock
50% Off Text Quest! Check Out Our Top Tips
Text Quests are family-friendly scavenger hunts with a twist, and we’ve got 50% off! Instead of looking for physical clues, they will be texted directly to your phone as you make your way around the city.
You can choose to start at London Bridge, Piccadilly or Bank but who knows where you’ll end up! Gather a group of family and friends and head off on your detective adventure.
We’ve put together a few top tips to make your quest as easy and enjoyable as possible.
Team-size
Your team can be as big as you want but we think it’s most fun with about 4 people. If you’re feeling competitive, you can go head-to-head in different teams as up to 4 phones can register to receive clues throughout the game. May the best hunter win!
Know Your Stuff
Depending on how seriously you’re taking the quest, you may want to brush up on your knowledge of the city. You could get riddles and questions about some of London’s most famous sites and attractions so it’ll help to be prepared.
Timings
There are no restrictions on when you can play which gives the game great flexibility! We recommend starting to play in the late afternoon so you can experience sunset and a bit more atmosphere when it gets dark.
Food is Fuel
Depending on how good your hunting skills are, the game can last around 2 hours so make sure you take some snacks to keep the team going, remember, food is fuel!
Layers
Obviously the quests happen outside so make sure you’re dressed for the weather. You may want to take a waterproof and plenty of layers but if you keep moving we’re sure you’ll stay warm.
Help is On Hand!
Don’t worry if you get stuck, it doesn’t mean game-over! You’ll be able to contact a Text Quest team member who will be able to give you a hint if you need it.
Ages 10+
Some of the Text Quest clues are a bit more tricky so depending on which game you choose, we suggest that players are all over 10 or 12. If you’ve got younger kids, why not check out a Picture Quest?
Now you’re all set for your scavenger hunt, what are you waiting for? Book now for 50% off!
As Young As You Feel Day
As Young As You Feel Day is celebrated in the United States. It was also introduced in a 1951 comedy movie, stating that age is just a number and that number shouldn't define how young or old we are.
This day allows you to not feel restricted by your age and to feel free to act as kid if you want.
Blah Blah Blah Day
National Blah Blah Blah day is observed mainly in the USA.
Big Word Day
Big Word Day is observed in every corner of the world with the same energy and enthusiasm.
10 Best Baby Playpens That Babies (And You) Will Love!
Image © iStock.
When your baby starts rolling off their play mat, you know you're in trouble.
Gone are the days of popping your baby on the play mat and knowing that they will happily stay in that one spot. Once those tiny feet and hands have worked out how to bounce and get mobile (probably when they're aged around six or seven months) it's even more important to keep them safe while they play.
Of course, babies shouldn't be left alone but it's great to have the freedom of enjoying a quick sandwich or coffee on the sofa! Just make sure you keep an eye on them, as when they start working out how to climb out of their cot, it'll probably be the end of the playpen too, sadly.
Whether you need a play area for large or small spaces, a travel cot combination for visiting friends or for using outside, we've taken a look at the best playpens for babies.
10 Best Kids' Cycling Shorts For Little Sports Stars
Is your child a cycling fanatic?
A lot of parents choose not to bother with cycling-specific clothing for their kids, but if your child spends a lot of time on two wheels, it may be worth considering. Cycling clothing is specially-designed to be lightweight, airy and uber comfortable.
If long bike rides are a common occurrence in your family, if your teenager is particularly into cross-country rides with friends, or if your child is part of some sort of cycling team, the comfort and convenience that cycling shorts provide could make all the difference.
Plus, if your child is really into the culture around cycling they'll probably get a buzz out of wearing the gear.
Cycling shorts are designed to aid comfort on longer rides, particularly with the use of padding in the back portion that helps prevent aches, friction and chafing occurring after hours on the saddle (many avid cyclists claim they couldn't ride long distances without this addition).
They're designed to fit the contours of the body and are usually made with lightweight, breathable fabric (often lycra, nylon or polyester) that allows for movement and temperature control.
Special shorts also protect the legs from rubbing against the saddle itself and will be better at not catching on the bike or pedals, as normal clothes can.
These are the sorts of features you'll want to look for when sourcing the perfect kids' cycling shorts, and we've based our selection around this criteria. Peruse our guide to the most popular bike shorts on the market today, and see which sound most suited to your child's needs!
Image © Flickr
National Thesaurus Day
National Thesaurus Day is celebrated in the USA.
9 Best Baby Ball Pits For Babies And Toddlers
Not only are ball pits great fun - they're a brilliant way to develop babies' fine motor skills.
Grabbing and catching the balls will work towards fine tuning those skills, while they can also learn other social skills, like sharing, if they play with other kids. Baby ball pits are also an ideal place to start introducing those primary colours that are often to your child.
Some ball pits are designed for older children, so always check the recommended age of the ball pit before purchasing.
Babies and young children will love a ball pit at home, so if you want to recreate some of the soft play centre and keep them busy indoors, read on to discover our best ball pits for kids.
Get A Different Name Day
Get A Different Name Day is celebrated worldwide.
9 Best Kids' Microphones To Suit Every Budget
Image © iStock
The days of all the family gathering round the TV to watch 'X Factor' may be over, but why not carry on the fun with a karaoke machine or microphone?
If a children's microphone would make the perfect gift for someone you know, it can be difficult to know where to start looking - but we've done the ground work for you.
Whether you've got a mini Ariana Grande on your hands or you all just want to have a bit of karaoke fun with special voice effects, we've taken a look round for the best toy microphones and microphones for kids.
Take a look and see which is the best kids' microphone for your next karaoke party...