Both adults and children benefit from ongoing learning, whether at school, on the job, or at home. Guardians often help with homework, but they can also refresh their own knowledge. Trying out new topics is enjoyable, and imaginative cartoons, audiobooks and similar resources make it simple for families to learn together.
After school or on weekends, it’s easy to find low- or no-cost ways to learn. Below is a curated collection of companies, organizations and programs offering complimentary online educational tools. Most of these are geared toward elementary and middle school learners. (Teenagers usually navigate the web independently, but you might want to pass along a few suggestions for optional reading or activities.)
Use these tools to supplement lessons recommended by teachers or your school district, as suggested material for a tutor, or simply to expand your family’s knowledge. Keep in mind that everyone learns differently — there’s a learning curve for every topic — so be patient with your kids (and yourself) as you try new subjects and resources.
1. Audible
Bored of your current bookshelf? Audible is providing free listening options for students and adults interested in audiobooks.
Students can look up favorite stories or authors, browse titles by age group, or explore collections like classic literature and fairy tales.
If you’d prefer adult audiobooks, Audible also offers a 30-day free trial for adult memberships — a fine window to sample a new series or educational titles without cost.
2. Babbel
Babbel lets you try a quick introductory lesson in any language at no charge. One free lesson in a language is a great way for kids to test interest, and parents often find it useful to let children choose from several options so they feel ownership of their learning.
With Babbel, learners can explore one of 13 languages using conversational practice and repetition. Speech-recognition features help ensure proper pronunciation, and tailored reviews assist with retention.
3. BrainPOP
BrainPOP teaches elementary and middle school topics through videos, games and interactive activities across subjects like science, social studies, health and art. It also hosts webinars for parents on supporting kids during remote learning.
BrainPOP offers a chance to test the platform for free. Use the code TEACH25 for 25% off the first year — plus two weeks entirely free!
4. The History Channel
The History Channel provides a digital classroom with study guides, biography lessons, daily historical events and more. It also includes free access to a collection of educational shows tailored to middle and high school curricula. Whether your child wants to learn about the Magna Carta or review the Bill of Rights, The History Channel is a solid starting point.
5. Khan Academy
As a nonprofit, Khan Academy makes free educational content available year-round. It’s an excellent destination for math, science and other subject courses, and it’s accessible via app for families on the move.
For ages 2 to 7, try Khan Academy Kids.
Khan Academy has also published at-home schedules for parents, organized by age. These plans are helpful when you’re unsure about attention spans or how to build a routine for home learning.
6. Math Learning Center
Math Learning Center supplies lessons, workbooks and apps for kindergarten through fifth grade to support extra practice at home. Recognizing that math can be challenging, the center uses interactive activities, online games and family-friendly games to make learning enjoyable. No login is required, which is handy for families needing a quick resource.
7. National Geographic
National Geographic Kids helps young learners discover the world from home, and much of the site is freely available. There’s engaging content about animals, cultures and geography. Kids can play games, take quizzes and explore experiments. Subscriptions are affordable if you want extra features — around $30 per year.
For more National Geographic updates, consider signing up for its newsletter. The newsletter is informative and segmented by topics, so you can select subjects you care about — health, history, and more.
8. PBS Kids
PBS Kids’ parent site offers guidance on making home learning fun. Focus on specific areas — from math and literacy to emotional intelligence and social skills — and get instructions for crafts and science experiments. A straightforward menu lets parents choose the shows their children watch, the kinds of activities they prefer, topics and age ranges to find tailored options.
Sign up for the PBS Kids newsletter for daily activity ideas and tips.
9. Rosetta Stone
Rosetta Stone is enabling students to study foreign languages with its platform — unlimited access to all languages is priced at $299 + tax. While that isn’t free, Rosetta Stone includes a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try it risk-free to determine whether it works for your family.
Rosetta Stone offers immersion-based learning in more than 20 languages, with progress feedback and reports. Children as young as kindergarten age can begin language learning using this tool.
10. Scholastic
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Scholastic provides skill-building content for four age brackets, from pre-K through ninth grade. Children and teens can read stories and articles, watch videos and follow instructions to create hands-on projects at home.
Scholastic also has free worksheets, a collection of science videos (with a free trial option) and an app called Home Base that connects readers with characters from beloved books. From curated book lists to homework aids, Scholastic covers many needs.
11. STEM From the Start
STEM From the Start introduces children through second grade (and their parents) to science, technology, engineering and math. Video lessons are hosted by three friendly space aliens to make lessons fun, and quizzes let students check their understanding as they progress through each adventure.
12. Wow in the World
Wow in the World is an NPR podcast aimed at kids ages 5 to 12 that delves into science and technology. Full episodes are typically 30 minutes or less. For shorter attention spans, the “Two Whats?! and a Wow!” spinoff offers episodes under 10 minutes.
Recent episodes on the main site include “A-I-A-I-Oh WOW!” about AI-created art, “Blood Falls,” which explores one of the most extreme places on Earth, and “Bee Vaccine,” discussing efforts to protect a hive from a disease that affects bees.
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Kimberly Hart is a senior writer at Savinly.
