Typing for Kids Software Review

Great typing skills are key to getting a good job in life, and typing for kids software provides the instruction that will hold a child’s attention as they learn these skills. These aren’t boring apps; kids will have fun and be engaged as they work through the lessons.

Our top three picks, Typing Instructor for Kids, Typing Quick & Easy and UltraKey have the tools to teach proper keyboarding technique, and they are fun and easy-to-follow. Be sure to read our articles on typing for kids software to learn more.

Some of the benefits of using typing for kids software include the following:

• Software offers the easiest and most effective way to instruct children on how to type.
• The best time to start teaching kids how to type is when they are young, before they develop bad habits, such as typing with just two fingers.
• It prepares children for the eventual typing tests that schools give at progressively younger ages.
• When it comes to research and writing projects, student typists have a huge advantage over those who don’t have the proper skills.
• Living in the information age, typing skills are required for a large number of jobs, including entry-level positions.
• The expense of typing software is nothing compared to the benefits for a child who has acquired keyboarding skills that will last a lifetime.
• The entertainment in typing software is sure to lure kids in and keep them at the keyboard.

Typing for kids software starts children off with the basics of proper finger placement and movement, and then reinforces those skills with creative exercises and visual rewards. Some of the software applications include games, which make learning even more fun.

Children will be able to learn at their own level and pace using typing for kids software. Because the apps are fun and interactive, children will gain valuable skills – eagerly – with little or no frustration.

Typing Software for Kids: What to Look For

Without test-driving the software yourself, it's tough to know what to look for in a typing program, particularly one for your children. Below are the criteria we used to evaluate typing software. 

Ease of Use
The software should be relatively easy to use so that everyone, from kids to grandparents, can easily work with the application and track their progress.

Feature Set
Quality typing software will offer new users a pretest to automatically determine their typing start level, and it should offer optional warm-up exercise. Below are several other features to look for in the best typing software for kids.

•  Typing software for children should include a variety of lessons, drills, tests and activities that cover all typing skills.

•  Advanced typing lessons should teach 10-key and other numeric typing skills.

•  The typing software practice library should be large enough to offer your child many interesting reading selections for typing practice, and the typing program should allow you
    to input new text for typing practice.

•  Typing practice should go beyond typing from text – children should learn to type from audio narrations as well.

•  Typing software should track typing speed and accuracy, and it should chart the typing progress of several typists.

•  Typing software should be customizable so that your child can focus on and practice weak typing areas – such as one hand, one keyboard row, or even a specific set of keys.

•  Typing software for kids should consistently demonstrate correct finger placement using hand guides, and versatile typing software offers lesson visuals for both standard and split keyboards.

•  Typing software for children should be loaded with a wide variety games to meet all typing skill levels, beginning to advanced.

Ease of Installation
Typing software installation should be easy and glitch-free, and there should be little setup required beyond taking a typing pretest.

Help & Support
The typing software should include telephone and technical support, a FAQs page, a manual, a Knowledge Base and tutorials. Not all manufacturers will have every one of these items, but they should have a majority of them.

If you are ready for your kids to have fun while learning to type, add typing for kids software to their daily activities. The valuable skills they learn will help them in school, every day computer activities and in their future careers.

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