What your child will type
Each run shows three short sentences picked from a small set of simple ones, such as “The cat sat on a warm mat in the sun.” The words are short and familiar. Each sentence starts with a capital letter and ends with a full stop, and there is no tricky punctuation.
The clock starts on the first key and stops at the last letter. Correct letters turn dark, mistakes turn red, and Backspace fixes them. At the end your child sees a score, which is typing speed multiplied by accuracy.
Tips for parents and teachers
- Seat them well. The keyboard should sit near elbow height, with feet resting on the floor or a box.
- Show them the home row. Left fingers rest on A S D F and right fingers on J K L ;. The small bumps on F and J help them find it.
- Praise accuracy first. A slow run with no red is a good run. Speed comes later.
- Allow some looking. Beginners often need to glance at the keys. Make not looking a goal for later, not a rule on day one.
- Stop early. A few runs, then something else. Ending before they get tired keeps them keen for next time.
Reading the score with a child
On this site, a score under 25 is labelled beginner. That is a normal place for any new typist to start, child or adult, so there is nothing to worry about. Avoid comparing a child with adults, older siblings or classmates. Compare them with their own earlier runs instead.
The Your scores panel keeps the best, the average and the number of attempts for this kids version on this device. A rising average is worth celebrating more than one high score.
When the sentences feel easy
Once your child types these sentences with few mistakes, a game can keep things fresh. The typing games for kids page turns the same skills into play. Older children who are ready for real keyboard technique can move on to typing practice for beginners, which starts on the home row.