Learn Spanish Online with Kids: The Ultimate Free Guide for Families

Inside: Free resources to learn Spanish online with kids.

More and more, parents are realizing the benefits of learning Spanish and want to do what they can at home. According to Eton Institute,

“Language learning helps develop strong cognitive skills, such as a better concept formation, mental flexibility, multitasking, listening skills and problem-solving, in addition to improving social interaction and encouraging connection between peers.”

And right now, the internet is flooded with resources with online Spanish resources for kids. The hardest part is just knowing where to start and how to find them!

No worries on that end: here I’ve collected and sorted through the most popular online Spanish resources for kids, so you can find what you need.

For learning Spanish at home, this is the main thing to keep in mind: listening and reading are the most important components to learning a new language. It’s even better when you incorporate fun, play, and speaking opportunities. But the key component is getting language in, especially the high-frequency phrases we use over and over to communicate.

Not sure where to start? Here’s a round-up of the top free resources online.

LEARN SPANISH ONLINE WITH KIDS: TOP FREE RESOURCES

This is a big list, so here are quick links to jump to each section, in case you’re here looking for something specific.

• 10 YouTube Channels for Spanish Learners
• 10 Spanish Learning Apps for Kids
• 10 Pages with Online Spanish Books
• 10 Song Lists for Spanish Learners
• 10 Spanish Series & Cartoons
• 10 Spanish Learning Sites for Kids
• 10 Podcasts in Spanish for Kids 
• 10 Sources for Spanish Printables
• 10 Resources for Parents
• 10 Social Media Channels to Follow

LEARN SPANISH WITH ONLINE BOOKS

Here are five places to find free online audiobooks in Spanish for kids:

1. Unite for Literacy is one of my favorites for colorful, simple books with Spanish text (some very simple, and some more advanced language). 
2. The Spanish Experiment has five free fairy tales beautifully recorded for children, with scripts as well. 
3. Spotify actually has some good storytelling playlists that kids can listen to in Spanish. Try Stories for Kids in Spanish and Kids Learn Spanish Stories Vol. 2. 
4. Librivox is a project that records books now in the public domain, and includes a number of classic Spanish works (better for older kids). 
5. Storybooks Canada is a cool project that highlights African stories, and provides books with audio in dozens of languages.

And here are five sources for online Spanish kids’ books:

1. Maguaré is a huge collection of beautiful online picture books and poems for kids, sponsored by the Colombian Ministry of Culture. 
2. Read Conmigo does require an email sign up, but shares free book and has almost 50 bilingual titles available. 
3. International Children’s Digital Library has 100+ books in Spanish for kids, with no sign-in necessary. 
4. Fables in Simple Spanish includes ten free illustrated fables for kids. These are perfect for kids who are still learning Spanish.
5. Reading A-Z also requires an email, but is an excellent site with hundreds of books for different reading and literacy levels. 

See the complete list with previews here: Spanish Audiobooks for Kids and Free Online Spanish Books for Kids. 

LEARN SPANISH ONLINE WITH KIDS: THE BEST APPS

Most of the resources on this blog post are free. Some of the apps suggested below do have a small fee– I just found that the quality of most free apps was not high, so I bent the rules a little with these suggestions! Here are five Spanish apps for beginners and learners:

1. Gus on the Go is one of my favorites for young children who need a simple app for learning some new vocabulary words in Spanish. Their stories stories app is mostly paid but very good as well.
   ($3.99, some parts free.)
2. Spanish School Bus is another nice introductory app for young kids learning things like numbers, colors, and shapes in Spanish.
   ($4.99, some parts free.)
3. DuoLingo is the most comprehensive, easy to use, and engaging language app available right now for free. It’s best for kids who are older elementary and can read. (Free)
4. FunSpanish by StudyCat introduces 200 basic words, while teaching listening, speaking, spelling, useful vocabulary and simple sentences
   ($39.99 per year)
5. KinderLingo teaches basic vocabulary and includes games for practicing them, including 150 words.
   (Free) 

Here are five Spanish apps for more advanced Spanish learners:

1. Aprender a Leer – Silabario helps kids establish the building blocks of reading in Spanish sight and sound, through working with syllables.
   (Free) 
2. Lee Paso a Paso teaches phonics, beginning with vowels, then syllables, and then words. There are lots of games and activities for each skill.
   (Free)
3. Cuentos Clásicos – A collection of online stories to read, with 34 classic stories and fairy tales in Spanish, some with pictures. 
   (Free)
4. Jakhu Cuentos allows you to access dozens of animated stories with Spanish text and audio. 
   (Free)
5. Mundo Lanugo puts young learners in touch with Hispanic culture and Spanish language, through games and play. 
   (Free)

See the complete list with previews here: Top Spanish Apps for Kids

LEARN SPANISH ONLINE WITH SONGS

First, let’s start with five Spanish playlists on Spotify:

1. Spanish Nursery Rhymes and Folk Songs is a playlist I created for my kids to learn traditional Spanish songs for kids. 
2. Spanish Music for Kids – New Songs is a mix of more current children’s songs from Spanish-language artists.
3. Favorite Songs for Spanish Class includes popular, current music in Spanish for pre-teens who may feel like many of the other songs listed here are “baby-ish.”
4. 123 Andrés is a popular singer whose songs “bring families the diverse rhythms of all Latin America.”
5. Ana Calabrese has a wonderful collection of songs that are perfect for kids learning Spanish. 
6. Sonia de los Santos is another excellent artist with Spanish songs that the whole family will enjoy. 

Here are five of my favorite YouTube channels songs in Spanish:

1. Super Simple Spanish is always a hit with young kids. They have a huge collection of songs that are great for Spanish learners and Spanish speakers. 
2. Calico Spanish also has a good collection of songs specifically designed to teach basic concepts and conversational skills. 
3. Rockalingua is another great option for kids learning Spanish, with nice graphics and music. 
4. Basho and Friends is a good fit for slightly older learners (upper elementary). He has a big list of songs that cover all sorts of topics in Spanish.

If you would like to access lists of songs by theme (numbers, colors, greetings, etc.), see my huge collection here!

LEARN SPANISH WITH KIDS ON YOUTUBE

These YouTube channels (except for Calico Spanish) assume that viewers have at least some exposure to Spanish. Remember, you can always slow the speed on YouTube to make it more comprehensible.

1. Kids Learn Spanish Habla Videos introduces kids to Spanish through common conversational Spanish.
2. Dibujo Fácil para Niños is a huge set of drawing and craft videos for kids in Spanish.
3. Are We There Yet is an amazing travel show for kids. It’s in English but provides a really fun way to travel virtually.
4. Mundo VeoVeo is a children’s series produced in Ecuador. They have cultural playlists, cooking episodes, and more.
5. Here is a list of Yoga Channels in Spanish on YouTube for another fun way to get moving and learn Spanish.
6. Calico Spanish Calico Spanish is mentioned below for their songs, but they have stories and example conversations for beginners as well.

These channels are designed specifically for beginners and learners:

1. Mi Vida Loca  is an interactive show that teaches the basics of Spanish through a mystery set in Spain.
2. Señor Jordan has a huge list of videos that start with the very basics of Spanish, in both a direct teaching style and through stories.
3. Dreaming Spanish is an awesome series that teaches Spanish in a personal storytelling and conversational format.
4. Butterfly Spanish provides traditional grammar-based lessons in an easy-to-follow and interesting format.

See the entire list here: The Best YouTube Channels for Spanish Learners. 

FREE SPANISH SERIES AND CARTOONS

 Get in lots of listening with some comprehensible learning shows! TIP: You can slow down the videos in YouTube by selecting the settings button in the lower right corner.

Try these Spanish options for young children:

1.  Salsa This PBS series was designed to teach Spanish through 15 or 30-minute story segments and there are lots of episodes availabe.
2. Oh Noah! Another PBS series, these episodes are a mix of Spanish and English. Noah goes to live with his grandmother in a neighborhood where most people only speak Spanish. All are available on YouTube.
3. El Perro y El Gato is a simple animated show in which the characters speak both Spanish and English, perfect for beginners.
4. Pocoyó was originally created in Spanish and is fairly comprehensible for Spanish learners.
5. Peppa Pig episodes are available for free on YouTube, in Spanish. Kids who are familiar with the show in English should be able to understand quite a bit.
6. La vaca hace mu was created for Spanish-speaking children, but uses very simple language and would work for learners. Each episode features a different animal and tells all about them.

For older learners, here are some interesting learner-series for teens and pre-teens:

1. Buena Gente, also produced by Spanish Playground, is a new series with clearer and more modern visuals than some of the other series mentioned.
2. ¿Eres tú, Maria? Created by Realidades for Spanish beginners, this is another (somewhat dated) mystery show.
3. La Catrina is a mini-series about a 17-year-old Hispanic-American studies in Mexico for the summer.
4. Destinos does feel a little dated, but there are many episodes and it provides a lot of language for beginners.

Also see these lists: Spanish Cartoons on Netflix and G and PG Movies in Spanish 

ONLINE SPANISH LEARNING WEBSITES FOR KIDS

 Get in lots of listening with some comprehensible learning shows! Try these Spanish options for young children:

1. ÁrbolABC Literacy activities similar to ABC Mouse, but in Spanish.
2. Spanish Town The site is newly designed, with lots of games and activities.
3. Online Free Spanish divided by level, this site offers a variety of activities for practicing vocabulary.

For older learners, here are some helpful websites:

1. StudySpanish covers basic grammar concepts, from novice Spanish to advanced Spanish levels.
2. Video Ele, is an incredible resource for the entire family. It’s a catalogue of videos with simple audio, divided by by topics and levels.
3. Mango Languages is a comprehensive site (also an app) that teaches students Spanish in a sequential context.

PODCASTS FOR KIDS LEARNING SPANISH

Most podcasts designed for younger kids are designed for at least intermediate, if not advanced Spanish speakers. But here are some good podcasts you can try out and see how they work for your children!

1. La Estación Azul de Niños is a family radio show or children 3 and up that introduces literature, music, and culture.
2. Tres Cuentos narrates traditional tales from all across Latin America. Though the language is advanced, it’s produced in both Spanish and English and could help out beginners that way.
3. Allegro Mágico introduces children to famous classical music and the stories behind the music.
4. Cuentos Infantiles features class fairy tales, folk tales, and stories for children.
5. Cuento Aventuras includes stories, fables, and jokes for kids to listen to in Spanish.
6. Cuentos Infantiles y Para Todas las Edades also features mostly classic tales, mixed in with new stories as well.

For older Spanish learners, you can try these free designed-for-learners Podcasts:

1.  Duolingo has a story-based podcast created with learners in mind.
2. Notes in Spanish teaches conversational Spanish through two hosts (a native speaker and a Spanish learner).
3. Discover Spanish provides lessons in conversational phrases through 15-minute sessions.
4. Coffee Break Spanish is partially free, and you can access traditional-style lessons for beginners.

FREE PRINTABLES FOR KIDS LEARNING SPANISH

Here are some sources for printing free Spanish learning materials to use at home.

1. The Spanish Starter Kit for Kids is a free resource of over 500 pages for families beginning Spanish together. It includes notes for parents, online stories, printable games, and printable worksheets.
2. Spanish Playground has an extensive category page of free printables and worksheets.
3. Spanish Mama Downloads – here you can find all my free printables. 
4. Downloads from Calico Spanish. 
5. 123 Teach Me has a selection of free downloads in Spanish. 
6. The Learning Patio is another big collection for worksheets in Spanish. 

Here are printable resources for older learners:

1. El Libro de Español is perfect if you are looking for traditional workbook-style Spanish. It is a huge database of lessons for Spanish 1, 2, and 3.
2. Education.com is another sources for Spanish printables. 
3. The Comprehensible Classroom is a wonderful resources for older students – here are her freebies. 
4. Curriculum Associates has math and reading worksheets in Spanish. 

RESOURCES FOR PARENTS TO TEACH KIDS SPANISH

These are my top blog posts for teaching kids Spanish and raising bilingual kids:

1. Learn Spanish at Home with Kids
2. Tips for Teaching Spanish to Preschoolers
3. Raising Bilingual Kids as a Monolingual Parent
4. How I Began to Teach My Child Spanish at 4 – And Why It’s Never Too Late
5. Tips and Tricks for Raising Bilingual Kids 
6. 10 Vocabulary Game for Teaching Spanish 

Check out these online resources to ask questions and learn more about teaching Spanish:

1. Join our Teach Your Kids Spanish Facebook Group
2. Try my 10-Day Teach Your Kids Spanish Email Challenge
3. Follow our Spanish at Home Instagram Page
4. Use Spanish Dict or LingoHut for help with pronunciation. 

SPANISH SOCIAL MEDIA LEARNING CHANNELS

If you would like to bring some Spanish into your daily life, here are some fun social media channels to follow and keep your motivation up with your kids!

Instagram:

• @sipspanish (very comprehensible!)
• @luisitocommunica
• @marielainspanish
• @españolconmaria
• @spanish_english_rosie
• @turismoespaña (most countries have an official account you can follow!)
• @howtospanish
• @humanspanish
• @spanishphraseoftheday

Twitter:

• @muyinteresante
• @mydailyspanish
• @univision
• @spanishdict
• @vamosspanish