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Free online learning games for preschoolers: UK guide

date 05/08/2026
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The best free online learning games for preschoolers available to UK parents right now are BBC CBeebies, Sesame Street, Topmarks, Sheppard Software, and Starfall. Each is free at its core, requires no account to start, and aligns with the kinds of early skills the EYFS framework prioritises.

  • BBC CBeebies — Ages 1–5 | Skills: coordination, early counting, language. Browser and tablet-friendly; broadcaster-backed with limited third-party ads.
  • Sesame Street — Ages 2–5 | Skills: social-emotional learning, letter recognition, problem-solving. Free core library; check app privacy settings before use.
  • Topmarks (Early Years) — Ages 3–5 | Skills: numbers, shapes, colours, early literacy. Teacher-curated; desktop and tablet; no account needed.
  • Sheppard Software — Ages 2–5 | Skills: colours, animals, counting. Low-clutter layout; designed for independent child navigation.
  • Starfall — Ages 3–5 | Skills: phonics, phonemic awareness, reading readiness. Untimed and multisensory; free core content with optional paid tier.

Pro Tip: Open these on a tablet for the best touch experience. Sit alongside your child for the first two or three sessions so they learn how to navigate, then step back gradually as their confidence grows.

Table of Contents

What BBC CBeebies offers for toddlers and preschoolers

BBC CBeebies provides a curated selection of free games built around familiar characters such as Bluey, Hey Duggee, and Bing. That character familiarity matters: children engage more readily when a face they recognise from television is guiding the activity, which reduces resistance to short learning sessions. Core content is accessible without a subscription or login.

Games cover:

  • Coordination and motor skills — simple tap-and-drag activities suited to ages 1–3.
  • Early counting and number recognition — short, visual games for ages 3–5.
  • Language and communication — story-led interactions that build vocabulary alongside familiar narratives.

The site is browser-based and works well on both desktop and tablet. CBeebies operates under the BBC’s editorial standards, which means third-party advertising is limited and content is age-labelled clearly.

Toddler engaging with BBC CBeebies content

How Sesame Street games support social-emotional and early literacy skills

Sesame Street games, produced by Sesame Workshop, concentrate on two areas that many preschool platforms overlook: social-emotional learning and early literacy. Activities include scenarios around feelings and kindness, letter recognition exercises, and simple problem-solving games driven by characters such as Elmo and Abby Cadabby. The core library is freely available on the Sesame Street website with no subscription required.

Key features for parents:

  • Social-skills scenarios — short interactive stories that model sharing, empathy, and managing emotions.
  • Letter and word games — phonics-light activities that build early literacy for ages 2–5.
  • Routine-based play — games tied to everyday moments (bedtime, mealtimes) that help children connect learning to real life.

Privacy note: Before handing a device to your child, open the site’s settings or the app’s privacy panel and check what data is collected. Sesame Workshop publishes a children’s privacy policy; reviewing it takes under two minutes and gives you confidence about what information, if any, is stored.

Why Topmarks is a reliable choice for curriculum-aligned preschool activities

Topmarks stands apart from broadcaster hubs because its resources are teacher-curated and organised by topic and age, making it straightforward to match a game to a specific learning objective. Rather than entertainment-first content, Topmarks is built for direct learning, which is why classroom practitioners use it to bridge gaps in basic skills before formal school begins.

To get the most from Topmarks at home:

  1. Go to the Early Years section and filter by age (3–5) and topic (numbers, shapes, or letters).
  2. Choose one activity per session rather than letting your child browse freely.
  3. After the game, extend the learning offline: if the activity covered shapes, cut shapes from paper and sort them together.
  4. Return to the same game two or three times across a week; repetition at this age consolidates understanding more effectively than variety.

Topmarks works on desktop and most tablets via a browser. No account or download is needed, and the layout is deliberately simple so children can focus on the activity rather than the interface.

Hands guiding child using Topmarks game on tablet

Sheppard Software and Starfall: focused practice for letters, numbers, and colours

Both Sheppard Software and Starfall are recommended by educators specifically because they strip away the visual noise that can overwhelm young children. Where broadcaster hubs prioritise engagement through characters and stories, these two platforms prioritise clarity and repetition.

  • Sheppard Software covers colours, animals, numbers, and basic geography through short, self-contained activities. Teachers use it for targeted practice because the navigation is simple enough for a three-year-old to manage independently, building confidence alongside the skill being practised.
  • Starfall was developed to support emergent readers through untimed, multisensory activities that combine audio, visuals, and touch. Dr Stephen Schutz, Starfall’s founder, frames educational screen time as an alternative to passive entertainment: interactive media should feel like play and allow children to progress at their own pace.
Feature Drill-focused platforms (Sheppard Software, Starfall) Broadcaster hubs (CBeebies, Sesame Street)
Primary goal Targeted skill practice Broad engagement and character-led learning
Visual style Low clutter, minimal animation Rich visuals, familiar characters
Pacing Untimed, child-led Story-driven, varied pace
Best for Letters, phonics, counting drills Social-emotional, language, routines
Cost Free core; Starfall has optional paid tier Free

Use drill-focused platforms when you have a specific skill to reinforce. Use broadcaster hubs for general engagement or when your child needs a familiar, low-pressure experience.

How to choose and use preschool games safely and effectively at home

Selecting the right preschool learning game takes less than a minute if you know what to check. Before you hand over the tablet, run through this list:

  1. Age label present? The site or app should state a recommended age range clearly.
  2. Clear learning goal? You should be able to name the skill in one sentence (e.g. “this game practises counting to five”).
  3. Simple navigation? A child aged 3–4 should be able to move between activities with minimal adult help.
  4. Ad and privacy controls? Check whether ads appear during play and whether the site collects personal data. Opt for ad-free or broadcaster-backed options where possible.
  5. Accessibility features? Look for clear audio, large tap targets, and the option to repeat instructions, particularly for children with SEND or EAL needs.
  6. Encouraging feedback? Games should respond to errors with gentle prompts, not penalties or time pressure. Expert guidance recommends step-by-step progression and playful sequences over timed or punitive responses.

For session structure, a 10–15 minute guided session works well for most preschoolers. Sit with your child, name what you are doing (“we’re going to practise counting”), play together, then move straight to a short offline activity that mirrors the game. This digital-then-physical loop consolidates learning more effectively than screen time alone.

Pro Tip: Avoid sessions immediately before bed or during transitions. A calm, predictable slot, such as after lunch, reduces overstimulation and helps children associate the activity with focused learning rather than wind-down time.

How Thesunflowernursery uses online games to support EYFS learning

At Thesunflowernursery, short digital sessions are built into the daily routine as one part of a broader EYFS programme, not as a standalone activity. The approach follows the EYFS curriculum goals for communication and language, mathematics, and physical development.

Practical examples from the nursery’s approach:

  • A letter game on Starfall or CBeebies is followed immediately by a craft activity, such as forming letters with playdough, to consolidate the learning physically.
  • Counting games on Topmarks or Sheppard Software are used before snack time, so children count real objects (pieces of fruit, cups) straight after the screen session.
  • Digital and outdoor play rotate across the day; no child spends more than one short session on a screen without a physical or social activity in between.

For children with additional needs or EAL, the nursery looks for games with clear audio, repetition, and the option to slow progression. Offline printable extensions can make content more accessible for children who need a different pace.

Pairing a short online activity with an immediate hands-on task is one of the most consistent approaches we see working across age groups. The screen session plants the idea; the physical activity makes it stick.

Parents can find further educational activity ideas for Ilford preschoolers on the nursery’s website, including offline extensions that pair directly with the games listed here.

Screen time guidance tailored for preschoolers

The NHS and leading early years organisations advise that screen time for children under five should be limited, purposeful, and always accompanied by adult engagement where possible. For toddlers aged 1–3, very short sessions of five to ten minutes are appropriate; for preschoolers aged 3–5, sessions of up to 15 minutes with a clear learning purpose are reasonable.

Practical steps for managing screen time at home:

  • Set a consistent daily slot rather than allowing on-demand access.
  • Use a visual timer so your child can see when the session ends, reducing transition difficulties.
  • Keep devices out of bedrooms and away from mealtimes.
  • Review what your child played after each session; a brief conversation about the game extends learning and gives you insight into their progress.

Monitoring does not mean watching every second. It means knowing which sites your child visits, checking those sites’ age ratings, and staying close enough to step in if content shifts unexpectedly.

Privacy and data protection for children’s games in the UK

Under the UK Children’s Code (formally the Age Appropriate Design Code), online services likely to be accessed by children must apply high privacy standards by default. This includes limiting data collection, switching off location tracking, and turning off profiling for advertising. When choosing a preschool game or app, check the following:

  • Does the site or app have a dedicated children’s privacy policy?
  • Is data collection limited to what is strictly necessary for the service to function?
  • Are advertising trackers disabled or blocked for child users?
  • Does the app request permissions (microphone, camera, contacts) that are not needed for the game?

Broadcaster-backed platforms such as CBeebies operate under public service obligations that align closely with the Children’s Code. For third-party apps, check the Google Play or Apple App Store privacy label before downloading. If an app lists “data linked to you” under a long list of categories, consider a browser-based alternative instead.

Key takeaways

Free, reputable online learning games for preschoolers work best when sessions are short, purposeful, and followed by a hands-on activity that reinforces the same skill.

Point Details
Best free sites BBC CBeebies, Sesame Street, Topmarks, Sheppard Software, and Starfall cover the core preschool skill areas.
Session length 10–15 minutes per session is appropriate for ages 3–5; keep sessions for toddlers under 10 minutes.
Co-play matters Sitting with your child, especially in early sessions, builds confidence and extends learning through conversation.
Privacy check Review each site’s children’s privacy policy and check app permissions before your child plays.
Thesunflowernursery The nursery pairs short digital sessions with offline EYFS activities and can advise on games suited to your child’s stage.

A note on digital play and balance from our nursery team

Screen time is one of the questions parents ask most often, and the honest answer is that the quality of the activity matters far more than the medium. A well-chosen preschool game that builds phonics or counting skills is not a passive experience; it is structured play with a clear learning goal. The resources listed here are ones the team at Thesunflowernursery recognises as genuinely useful, not simply popular. That said, no screen session replaces the value of a conversation, a shared book, or an afternoon outdoors. The nursery’s approach has always been to use digital tools as one strand within a richer daily programme, and parents who want tailored guidance on which games suit their child’s current stage are welcome to ask at any time.

Thesunflowernursery: in-person EYFS learning in Ilford and South Woodford

Online games are a useful supplement, but the structured, relationship-led learning that happens in a nursery setting is something no app replicates. Thesunflowernursery offers day nursery and pre-school care for children aged 0–5 across locations in Ilford and South Woodford, with a full EYFS curriculum, daily nutritious meals, outdoor play, and dedicated support for EAL children and those with additional needs.

Thesunflowernursery

Parents who want to see how digital and physical learning are woven together in practice are welcome to book a trial session. The nursery’s settling-in approach means children and families can experience the environment before committing to a placement. To find out more or arrange a visit, contact Thesunflowernursery directly via thesunflowernursery.co.uk.

Useful sources and resources to open now

The sites below are the primary resources referenced in this article. Each link opens the relevant page directly.

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