An online preschool curriculum your kiddo loves might sound like a modern miracle (or a total mystery). How does it work? What should it include? And can it really keep a preschooler engaged for more than three minutes?
Whether you’re homeschooling or just adding structure to your little one’s day, the right online curriculum can make learning feel like play.
From free printable programs to full-on virtual preschools, we’ve rounded up the best online preschool curriculum options to help your child grow, learn, and stay curious.
Online preschool might not come with juice boxes or tiny chairs, but it still covers all the essentials, just in a more digital (and flexible) way.
Here’s what to expect:
So what’s the difference between an online preschool curriculum and a traditional homeschool preschool? It mostly comes down to who’s leading the learning — you or someone on the other side of a screen.
If you're looking for a tech-supported routine that runs itself (mostly), online might be your match. If you want full control and don’t mind getting involved in every activity, traditional homeschooling could be the way to go.
There are a lot of options out there. Some promise kindergarten readiness, while others promise your child will be reciting Shakespeare by age five. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, here’s a simple checklist to help you figure out which programs are actually worth it.
Even if a program is online, it shouldn’t keep your child glued to a screen all day. Look for programs that build in hands-on activities like crafts, sensory play, or movement breaks. These real-world moments are just as important as what’s happening on the tablet or laptop. They help preschoolers build motor skills, burn energy, and connect learning to their everyday experiences.
Preschoolers have short attention spans — that’s just science. Since little ones aren’t known for sitting still, the content needs to meet them where they are.
Great programs keep lessons short, varied, and interactive. They should include sing-alongs, storytelling, silly games, and colorful animations, all designed to match their attention span and spark curiosity (ideally without too many tantrums in the process).
A strong curriculum should gently introduce your child to the skills they’ll need for kindergarten and beyond. That includes pre-reading and early literacy, basic math concepts like counting and sorting, fine motor development (cutting, drawing, tracing), and social-emotional learning like sharing, expressing feelings, and working with others.
Whether the lessons are live or pre-recorded, it helps when they’re created or led by people who understand how preschoolers learn. Good programs include clear instructions for parents, thoughtful lesson pacing, and activities with a purpose, so you’re not just filling time, you’re building skills.
The best early learning happens through play. Storytelling, music, dancing, building, and pretending aren’t just fun distractions; they’re how young kids process the world. Look for a curriculum that uses these elements to teach, not just passive videos or repetitive drills.
Preschool is the perfect time to help kids see the world beyond their own backyard. A great curriculum introduces different cultures, languages, family structures, and ideas. It helps build empathy and awareness in ways that feel natural to a preschooler.
We’ve sorted through the noise and rounded up the best online preschool curriculum options by category. This way, you can find something that fits your budget, your values, and your child’s learning style.
Looking for something more interactive than watching pre-recorded videos or tapping through apps? These live and hybrid preschool programs bring real teachers, real-time connection, and a sense of classroom community, all from the comfort of your home.
bina isn’t just a few Zoom calls a week — it’s the only full-day, live online preschool on this list. Real teachers lead small classes of just six kids, with a consistent daily routine that blends joyful learning, creativity, and connection. Lessons are built around biome-themed units, which means subjects are taught in a way that makes more sense. It helps kids connect abstract ideas to the real-world, keeping them engaged because learning feels like an adventure.
Kids join from all over the world, turning every day into a global learning experience. Social-emotional learning is part of everything they do, too, so your child isn’t just getting ready for kindergarten. They’re becoming more confident, compassionate, and curious.
If you want the structure and social side of in-person preschool without leaving the house, this is the one to beat.
Inspired by Waldorf and Montessori philosophies, Playgarden Online mixes gentle rhythms with joyful learning. You get a combo of live and pre-recorded classes with singing, storytelling, yoga, and nature-based projects that help kids feel calm, centered, and connected.
It’s a great fit for families who lean into slow, sensory-rich learning.
A preschool that shows up when you do, Growing Brilliant offers live 45-minute classes led by credentialed teachers, plus offline enrichment kits filled with hands-on goodies. Whether you do one class a week or five, it’s a flexible, hybrid setup that blends screen time with screen-free time.
Whiz Kid Academy offers live Zoom-based classes with certified teachers, paired with printable lesson packs and activities you can do offline. Online instruction lasts for up to 90 minutes a day. With a mix of academics, movement, and creativity, it’s a nice option for families who want a little structure but aren’t looking for a full-time schedule.
If your goal is to prep your preschooler for kindergarten with a bit more structure, these programs take a more academic approach, while still keeping things fun and age-appropriate. Clear lesson plans and progress tracking are great for parents who want a bit more routine (and maybe a break from winging it every day).
A long-time homeschool favorite, Time4Learning offers structured, subject-based lessons in early math, reading, science, and more. It’s all self-paced, so your child can click through interactive games and activities at their own speed.
With over 1,200 interactive activities across language arts, math, and science, K12’s Embark feels like a digital preschool classroom. It’s designed for school readiness and lets you move through lessons in a flexible but guided way.
The bright, cheerful online preschool curriculum sneaks learning into songs, puzzles, games, and stories so your preschooler thinks they’re just having fun. But behind the scenes, it’s doing a whole lot more.
Miss Humblebee’s Academy covers all the early learning essentials, from letters and numbers to science, art, and music. You’ll get built-in assessments, weekly progress reports, and even offline printable activities to balance the screen time. This curriculum is easy for parents, engaging for kids, and just structured enough to keep everyone on track without feeling too school-ish.
If weaving Christian values into your child’s early learning is important to you, these faith-based preschool programs are a good place to start. They combine age-appropriate academics with Bible stories, memory verses, and character-building lessons, all while keeping things light and playful.
ABCJesusLovesMe offers five structured, research-based curricula for ages one through five, all built around play, early learning, and Bible-based fun. Each one blends academics, development, and faith in a way that feels natural and age-appropriate.
There are songs to sing, Bible stories to act out, crafts to get messy with, and plenty of hands-on activities. A lot of it’s free, but you can also upgrade for extras like workbooks, printables, and planning tools if you want a little more structure.
This beautifully designed curriculum blends early academics with gentle Christian themes. You can download the preschool course for free, which includes phonics, fine motor skills, and simple faith-based lessons. The Good and the Beautiful is a nice mix of nature, values, and early learning, and it doesn’t feel preachy.
Sonlight is known for its literature-rich approach, and the preschool program is no different. It includes faith-based storybooks, songs, and hands-on activities with optional parent guides. While it’s not fully online, the digital tools and book lists make it easy to build your own meaningful curriculum at home.
Preschool doesn’t have to cost a fortune, especially when your kid is still more interested in bubble wrap than books. If you're looking for ways to add a little structure without breaking the bank, these free curriculum options can help.
This is a low-pressure option that feels like a cozy classroom at home. Run by veteran teacher Ms. Denise (and her puppet co-host, Ollie the Crow), this free, on-demand preschool has been educationally entertaining little ones since 2020.
The Creative Kids Virtual Preschool program includes free video lessons, read-alouds, craft ideas, and storytime activities, all designed with preschool attention spans in mind.
The Easy Peasy All-in-One faith-based curriculum offers 180 days of free lessons across early literacy, math, art, and more. It’s structured, simple to navigate, and ideal for families who want a no-fuss daily plan with Christian values woven in. You can start and stop at any time.
Created by the Core Knowledge Foundation, this curriculum gives you full downloadable units packed with rich content, including themed lessons, stories, and activity ideas. Core Knowledge Preschool is especially strong on vocabulary, comprehension, and building a foundation for kindergarten.
The free Khan Academy Kids app is packed with games, stories, songs, and characters your preschooler will probably start referring to by name. It’s colorful, fun, and sneakily educational, which is perfect for screen time that counts. Plus, your child can explore most of this online preschool curriculum independently.
Learning apps are fun, colorful, and surprisingly effective, especially for building early literacy, numbers, and problem-solving skills in short bursts. Most of them use a gamified approach, so your child thinks they’re just playing, but they are secretly learning.
ABCmouse has thousands of lessons, games, puzzles, and songs that cover everything from reading to math to art. It’s big on rewards and progress tracking, so kids stay motivated. And, you get a peek at what they’re learning.
A spin-off of the popular Reading Eggs platform, the Reading Eggs Junior app is tailored for preschoolers just starting their literacy journey. It includes phonics games, interactive read-alouds, and songs that stick.
Designed for ages two to eight, HOMER Learn & Grow tailors the learning experience to your child’s interests and skill level. It’s especially strong on early literacy, but it also weaves in social-emotional learning, problem-solving, and creativity, all through a playful, easy-to-navigate app.
One of the more playful apps on this list, Endless Alphabet teaches letters and vocabulary using silly animations, monster characters, and mini-puzzles. It’s a hit with younger preschoolers who are just starting to explore language.
For a more structured, Montessori-inspired experience, the Edoki Academy app covers practical life skills, early math, phonics, and more, all designed with a calm, child-led interface. It’s a paid app, but it includes a free trial so you can test it first.
These aren’t online classes or apps — they’re downloadable curricula you can print and follow at home. They’re ideal for parents who want an offline guide, packed with hands-on, play-based activities to do together.
From story-led lessons to sensory play and nature walks, these programs offer structure without online activities or screen time.
Created by the queen of hands-on learning herself, Susie from Busy Toddler, this downloadable curriculum is packed with open-ended activities, book-based lessons, and real-life learning prompts. There’s no rigid schedule in Playing Preschool (Busy Toddler), just a gentle structure that works with your family’s flow (and attention span).
Nature-rich and artsy, this curriculum mixes poetry, outdoor play, music, and simple early learning activities. Blossom and Root’s full curriculum is downloadable and secular, with a focus on nurturing creativity and curiosity over checking academic boxes.
This is a gentle, family-style curriculum that blends stories, sensory play, and hands-on projects. The Peaceful Press is inspired by Charlotte Mason and Montessori methods, and it’s especially fitting for families who want to slow down and enjoy meaningful, low-pressure learning together.
The truth is that preschoolers don’t need a suite of apps or endless worksheets. What really works is structure without pressure. Real human connection. A chance to ask questions, show off their drawings, and feel seen, even through a screen.
That’s why live, small-group classes with real teachers make such a difference. When lessons are interactive, project-based, and designed by people who understand how young kids learn best, everything clicks into place — for them and you.
If that sounds like what you’re looking for, bina might be the best online preschool curriculum for your kiddo.
Most programs are designed for kids aged three to six, which is the typical preschool range. A 2024 study confirmed that children aged three to five benefit from online preschool in areas like school readiness and social-emotional growth.
Not always. Some programs are built for independent use, especially for older preschoolers, while others need more hands-on help. You’ll likely need to guide them through the setup, then gradually step back as they get more confident.
Preschool programs don’t have to be accredited, but when they are, it’s a sign of quality and accountability. Accreditation means the program meets high educational standards. If you're planning to continue with online learning or want a smoother transition into formal schooling later on, choosing an accredited program like bina gives you that extra layer of confidence.
That’s completely normal — they’re a preschooler! The best programs use short, varied activities, breaks, and a mix of online and offline play to keep young, active minds interested. Look for programs that are flexible and fun, so it feels less like school and more like a game they want to keep playing.
