A simple summer typing plan for kids
Summer is a great time to learn to type. There's less on the schedule, a typing lesson doesn't feel like "school," and ten minutes a day adds up fast. By fall, your child can be typing narrations, reports, and letters to cousins without hunting for keys.
Here's a plan that takes about ten minutes a day, five days a week, for eight weeks.
Ground rules
- Ten minutes, then done. Set a timer. Stop on a good note even if they want more. Especially if they want more.
- Accuracy over speed. No racing yet. Right fingers, eyes on the screen.
- Practice first, games after. A typing game is the reward for finishing practice.
- Skip days when life happens. Vacations, camp, and sick days are fine. Just pick back up.
The 8-week plan
| Week | Focus | Goal by Friday |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Posture and the home row | Fingers find home without looking |
| 2 | Home row words, plus G and H | Type "a sad lad" and "glass" without peeking |
| 3 | Top row, left hand then right | Type short top-row words slowly and correctly |
| 4 | Full top row review | Type a short sentence using home and top rows |
| 5 | Bottom row | Every letter is learned |
| 6 | Shift, capital letters, period, comma | Type a sentence with a capital and a period |
| 7 | Number row | Type the year and their age without looking |
| 8 | Real typing: a few sentences a day | Type a short paragraph about their summer |
If a week feels shaky, repeat it. An extra week of review is better than rushing ahead.
Printable practice log
Print this and stick it on the fridge. A check mark a day is a small, satisfying thing.
MY SUMMER TYPING LOG Name: ____________
Week Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri What I learned
1 [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] ________________
2 [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] ________________
3 [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] ________________
4 [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] ________________
5 [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] ________________
6 [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] ________________
7 [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] ________________
8 [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] ________________
I can find the home row without looking: [ ]
I can type every letter: [ ]
I can type a sentence with a capital: [ ]
I typed my own paragraph: [ ]
Ideas for real typing in week 8
- A postcard-style note to a grandparent.
- A list: favorite books from the summer, or things to pack for a trip.
- A short story about the family pet.
- A summer journal entry, one or two sentences a day.
Real reasons to type make the skill stick.
Keeping it fun
- Celebrate milestones out loud. "You typed that whole line without looking!" goes a long way.
- Let siblings practice together, side by side, each at their own level.
- Make a finish line. At the end of week 8, print their paragraph and hang it up.
If you're starting from scratch
Our full guide, how to teach a child to type, explains posture, the order to teach the keys, and the habits worth protecting. It pairs well with this plan.
Where Home Row Mojo fits
Home Row Mojo follows this same order: guided lessons that start at the home row, then drills with words, phrases, and sentences. Twelve arcade games give kids something to look forward to after practice. Chicken Run and Checkers are free to play.
You can try it free as a guest. If your family likes it, the full version is $29 once for the whole family. No subscription to remember to cancel when summer ends.