Big Smiles. Major Milestones.
Award-winning learning programs for all the ways kids love to play
Meet the Milestones That Matter
Learning isn’t linear, so let’s embrace what truly counts.
Begin's play-based learning programs are designed to support and celebrate personal growth in a whole new way. Learn about our modern take on developmental milestones and why they matter to every child's well-being.
A Next-Gen Parenting Podcast
Listen to “Let’s Begin” for a fresh perspective on raising kids (and ourselves!)
Ep. 102: Modeling Curiosity & Embracing Uncertainty
Actress and author, Kristen Bell chats with Jenna about having the courage to say, “I don’t know,” and the power of curiosity.
Ep. 101: The Milestones that (Actually) Matter
Licensed therapist, Kier Gaines joins host, Jenna Arnold to celebrate the skills that matter most for kids to thrive.
Let’s Begin: Season Trailer
Searching for a new perspective on raising kids (and yourself) in today’s world? You’ve come to the right place. Let’s Begin.
Families Love Learning with Begin
“HOMER is a parent’s dream! Kids are having fun, so they don’t know it’s learning. They ask to do more!”
“Both of my kids use HOMER’s learning program and have excelled! We’ve tried literally 20+ apps and websites, and NONE hold a candle to HOMER.”
“Little Passports was a magical activity for us to do, an afternoon filled with fun and learning. We learned about lions, hippopotamus teeth (they grow long) and played a fun racing board game.”
Press and Awards
FAQS
What is Begin?
Begin is the early learning leader for kids ages 2–10, on a mission to give every child the best start to their fullest potential. Our award-winning products include learning apps from Learn with Sesame Street, HOMER, and codeSpark, and hands-on activity kits from Little Passports. We take a research-backed approach built around the 6Cs—Collaboration, Communication, Content, Critical Thinking, Creativity & Curiosity, and Confidence—the essential skills for school and life success.
What learning apps does Begin offer?
Begin offers three digital learning apps. Learn with Sesame Street helps kids ages 2 to 5 navigate big feelings and build social-emotional skills alongside Elmo and friends. HOMER helps kids ages 2 to 6 learn-to-read through a personalized, step-by-step program. codeSpark introduces coding and problem-solving to kids ages 3 to 10, based on curricula from MIT and Princeton. We also offer hands-on discovery kits through Little Passports for ages 3 and up.
What makes Begin's learning apps unique?
Every Begin program is designed around the Begin Approach, a proprietary, research-backed framework built on six essential skill areas: Collaboration, Content, Critical Thinking, Creativity & Curiosity, Communication, and Confidence. Together, these 6Cs cover everything from foundational literacy and numeracy to social-emotional skills, creative problem-solving, and resilience — everything kids need to thrive in school and in life.
Begin's digital programs personalize content to each child's age, interests, and level, so they stay engaged and have fun while learning. We also offer hands-on kits and free parent resources, so learning extends to other mediums.
What is the Begin Approach?
The Begin Approach is grounded in research from developmental psychologists Dr. Kathy Hirsh-Pasek and Dr. Roberta Michnick Golinkoff, who identified the six skills kids need most — the 6Cs: Collaboration, Communication, Content, Creativity & Curiosity, Critical Thinking, and Confidence. Through award-winning, play-based programs, Begin delivers these skills in a way that's engaging, research-backed, and designed for every child's unique learning journey.
What subjects do the Begin apps cover?
Begin's programs cover the full range of skills kids need — from literacy and math to coding, social-emotional learning, creativity, and critical thinking. Learn with Sesame Street nurtures emotional awareness and social skills, HOMER builds early reading and math skills, and codeSpark teaches coding fundamentals and logical thinking. Little Passports hands-on kits bring science, geography, and world cultures to life. Everything kids today need for a strong foundation, all in one place.
What ages are the Begin apps for?
Begin's products are designed to grow with your child, covering ages 2 through 10. Learn with Sesame Street and HOMER support the youngest learners from ages 2 to 5 and 2 to 6 respectively, building social-emotional skills and early literacy. codeSpark engages kids ages 3 to 10 with coding and problem-solving games, while Little Passports hands-on kits offer age-appropriate exploration from ages 3 to 10. No matter where your child is in their learning journey, Begin has them covered.
Do Begin's learning apps work? Where's the proof?
Each of our core products is backed by independent research and third-party efficacy studies. Learn with Sesame Street demonstrated statistically significant gains in children's emotion knowledge, regulation strategies, and social communication. Research in conjunction with NYU proved HOMER improves reading scores by 74% based on just 6 weeks of usage at 15 minutes a day. Research in conjunction with UCLA showed codeSpark increases computational thinking skills by 20% based on just 6 hours of engagement. Begin's programs have also been recognized with 65+ industry awards and are partnered with the most trusted voices in early learning. You can read the full studies on our research page at beginlearning.com/parent-resources/research.
Does Begin offer a membership that includes all its apps?
Yes! The Big Learning Bundle gives your family unlimited access to Learn with Sesame Street, HOMER, and codeSpark in one subscription. It comes with a 30-day free trial, up to 4 personalized child profiles, and Membership perks like savings on future purchases, partner offers from trusted family brands, and more. And the best part is that this is risk-free – you can cancel anytime during or after your trial.
Do Begin's learning apps require parent involvement?
Begin's apps are built for kids to explore on their own, with ad-free, safe navigation from the start. Parents can stay as involved as they like with progress tracking, articles, printables, and expert tips.