Free typing games that teach real typing
Most typing games race the clock. We think that's backwards for kids. Letters come first, then where they live on the keyboard, then accuracy, and speed shows up last on its own.
Typing Melody is a free typing game where every right key plays the next note of a tune. Here is our take on when to start and what to look for. Try the first lesson on our home page.
When should kids start typing?
- Ages 3 and 4: finding letters, not typing. Touch typing is a school-age skill. In one small study, even 5 and 6 year olds did not become touch typists [5]. At this age, finding and tapping a letter is the right goal.
- Ages 5 and 6: letters on the keyboard. In the early grades, kids spend their time learning to recognize letters on the keyboard and where they are [6]. The home row and the bumps on F and J are a good start.
- Ages 7 and up: real touch typing. Most schools teach keyboarding from grade 3 [6], and by grade 4 kids are expected to type a page in one sitting [7].
What makes a good typing practice game
- Accuracy before speed. One state's grade 5 typing test checks whether kids type without looking, not how fast [6]. A game that rewards speed early teaches kids to look at their hands and guess.
- The home row first. Fingers rest on A S D F and J K L ; and reach out from there. Every lesson after that adds a few keys.
- Short sessions on many days. A little practice spread over several days sticks better than one long sitting [19].
- Praise for the doing. Praise for what a child did, like "you slowed down and got it", helped young kids handle setbacks better than praise for who they are, like "you're a great typist" [24][25].
- No ads, no tricks to keep them playing. The American Academy of Pediatrics has asked app makers to drop ads aimed at kids and designs that keep them playing longer [23].
Touch typing games, and why music helps
Touch typing means typing without looking at the keys. Your fingers find their place by feel, using the little bumps on F and J, and each finger looks after its own keys.
In Typing Melody, every right key plays the next note of a tune on a tin whistle, so a child hears right away when they got it. Keep an even beat and it sounds like a song. Music makes the practice feel good. It does not make kids smarter, and we won't tell you it does [15][17].
What's in Typing Melody
Three stages that grow with your child. Sprout, for 3 and 4, is finding and tapping letters and hearing their sounds. Little Hands, for 5 and 6, is the home row with bigger keys. The full game, for 7 and up, has 72 lessons across seven worlds, from the home row to capitals, numbers, punctuation and whole stories.
It's free to practice typing in your browser, with no ads and no account. It works on a tablet or phone by tapping, but learning to type by feel needs a real keyboard, so use one when you can.
Our take: reading and typing start in the same place, knowing your letters. Here is why.
Questions parents ask
What age should kids learn to type?
Real touch typing usually starts around 7 or 8, when most schools teach keyboarding. Before that, kids can learn letters and where they live on the keyboard.
Are typing games good for learning to type?
They can be, if they reward accuracy over speed, start with the home row, and keep sessions short. Games that race the clock early teach kids to look at their hands and guess.
Is Typing Melody free?
Yes. It is free to play in your browser, with no ads and no account. It works on a tablet by tapping, but a real keyboard is the best way to learn.
More from Typing Melody
No ads and no account. The full game, for 7 and up, is picked for you when you start, and you can choose a younger stage.