From about four to ten. Little Learners find first letters and spell three-letter words. Kids spell three-letter words, then four and five letters, then longer words.

Does my child need to read?

No. Every word is spoken and drawn as a picture, and Rupert says each letter as he lands on it.

What happens after a wrong letter?

The pad wobbles, Rupert says which letter it was and which he needs, and the child tries again. After two tries the right pad glows.

Six words, at your child's own pace. There is no timer.

No ads are shown in the Little Learners and Kids areas.

Yes. It is free in your browser, with no download and no account needed.

Rupert's Letter Pond

Kids

About Rupert's Letter Pond

Spelling by hopping. A word is spoken and drawn, lily pads float about with letters on them, and the child taps them in order while Rupert the frog hops from pad to pad, saying each letter. First letters for beginners, three-letter words, then longer ones.

Rupert's Letter Pond is spelling with a frog. A word is said out loud and shown as a picture, and lily pads drift about the pond with a letter on each. The child taps the pads in the order the word is spelled, and Rupert hops from pad to pad, saying each letter as he lands, then the whole word. A wrong pad wobbles and Rupert says which letter it was and which one he needs. Little Learners start by finding the letter a word begins with.

Tips

Say the word slowly together before tapping, stretching it out, so your child can hear the letters in order.
In the first-letter game, the wrong pads often hold letters that look alike, such as b and d or m and n. Pointing out the difference helps more than any rule.
Letters are said by their names, and words whole. The game never plays a lone sound like buh, which a computer voice says badly and a child hears unclearly.
After two wrong tries at the same letter, the right pad glows. There is no rush, and getting there with help still counts.
Words your child gets wrong come back more often in later rounds.
Away from the screen, write a word in big letters and let your child hop along them on the floor, saying each one.

Questions

What age is it for?: From about four to ten. Little Learners find first letters and spell three-letter words. Kids spell three-letter words, then four and five letters, then longer words.
Does my child need to read?: No. Every word is spoken and drawn as a picture, and Rupert says each letter as he lands on it.
What happens after a wrong letter?: The pad wobbles, Rupert says which letter it was and which he needs, and the child tries again. After two tries the right pad glows.
How long is a round?: Six words, at your child's own pace. There is no timer.
Are there ads?: No ads are shown in the Little Learners and Kids areas.
Is it free?: Yes. It is free in your browser, with no download and no account needed.