Typing for kids: when to start and how to teach it
Most children are ready to start learning to type around age 6 to 8, once they know their letters and can sit for a few minutes. Start with the home row, keep sessions to 5 to 15 minutes, put accuracy before speed, and mix short lessons with games. Younger children can play letter games to find keys before they learn finger positions.
Children use keyboards for schoolwork earlier than ever, and many pick up a two finger habit on their own. Teaching proper typing early is much easier than fixing that habit later. The good news is that it only takes a few minutes a day.
This guide covers when to start, what to expect at each age, and a simple plan you can follow with the free kids typing lessons.
When should kids start learning to type?
There is no fixed age, but these signs show a child is ready:
- they know most of the letters of the alphabet;
- their hands are big enough to rest on the home row comfortably;
- they can focus on one small task for about 5 minutes.
For most children that is somewhere between 6 and 8. Before then, letter games like Balloon Pop help them learn where keys are without worrying about which finger to use.
What to expect at each age
- Ages 5 to 6: finding letters and pressing them one at a time. About 5 minutes, always with an adult nearby.
- Ages 6 to 8: the home row and the first top row keys, two keys at a time. 10 minutes a day is plenty.
- Ages 8 to 11: the whole keyboard, capitals and numbers, and short sentences. 10 to 15 minutes.
- Ages 11 and up: punctuation, longer passages and real typing tests. 15 to 20 minutes.
Realistic speed goals
Speed comes last. As a rough guide, a child who practises regularly might reach 5 to 15 words per minute at ages 6 to 8, 15 to 25 at ages 9 to 11, and 25 to 35 in early secondary school. These are goals, not rules: steady progress with correct fingers matters far more. See typing speed by age for more detail.
How to teach a child to type: 6 simple steps
- Set up the space. A real keyboard, a chair at the right height, feet flat (a box under the feet helps), and the screen at eye level.
- Start with the home row. Show them the bumps on F and J. Every key is a short reach from home. Print the home row chart and keep it next to the keyboard.
- One finger, one set of keys. Colour-coded hints show which finger to use. Gently stop two-finger typing early.
- Eyes on the screen. Looking at the chart is fine; looking at their hands is the habit to break.
- Short and often. A few minutes every day beats an hour on Saturday. Stop while it is still fun.
- Celebrate accuracy. Praise correct keys and steady rhythm, not just speed. Stars and stickers help a lot at this age.
Free lessons with big letters, finger hints and stickers. No ads, no sign-up.
Start the kids lessonsUse games, but not only games
Games keep children coming back, and that repetition is what builds skill. The best mix is a short lesson followed by a short game. Our typing games for kids are sorted by age, from letter balloons for kindergarten to races for middle school.
For teachers
Keyboarding fits well into a 15 to 20 minute block once or twice a week, with short practice at home. There are no logins to manage and the kids zone has no ads or tracking. The teacher guide has a 10 week plan and a lesson outline you can use straight away.
Frequently asked questions
What age should a child learn to type?
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Most children are ready between 6 and 8, once they know their letters. Younger children can start with letter games.
How long should kids practise typing each day?
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About 5 minutes for ages 5 to 6, 10 minutes for ages 6 to 8, and 10 to 15 minutes for older children. Short daily sessions work best.
Should kids learn on a tablet?
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A real keyboard is much better for touch typing. Tablets with an attached keyboard work well.
Is typing still worth learning?
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Yes. Schoolwork, tests and most jobs involve typing, and touch typing lets children focus on what they write rather than where the keys are.
Free lessons with big letters, finger hints and stickers. No ads, no sign-up.
Keep reading
Typing speed by age and job: what WPM should you aim for?
Realistic typing speed goals by age, from young kids to adults, plus the WPM that office, data entry, transcription and other jobs usually ask for.
Touch typing: the complete beginner's guide
Learn touch typing step by step: home row position, which finger presses each key, a 4 week practice plan and common mistakes. Free lessons to start today.
Typing games that actually make you faster (and how to use them)
What makes a typing game build real speed, which kinds of games train which skills, and a simple routine that mixes games with practice so you keep improving.