Playgarden Online & ABCmouse®

Which is right for your family?

What are the key differences between Playgarden Online and ABCmouse®?

Researching homeschool programs for preschool and Pre-K can be difficult. As a parent, you want choices to complement your child’s daily learning routine, but which choices are the right ones? Whether you’re a homeschool family looking to start your child’s educational journey, or your child already attends in-person preschool, Pre-K, or daycare, both Playgarden Online and ABCmouse® have their own unique benefits that are important to consider.

If you’ve been doing your research about the two sites and still aren’t sure how they compare, look no further; below you may find a comprehensive comparison of Playgarden Online and ABCmouse®.

CURRICULUM COMPARISON

Playgarden’s award-winning online preschool and pre-k curriculum uses video-based lessons, live Zoom classes, hands-on activities, worksheets, printable games, and more to enrich young minds and prepare them for kindergarten. ABCmouse®’s program uses an incentivized reward system with animated lessons and activities to teach students from preschool through 2nd grade. See how the two curriculums compare below:

Comparative Playgarden vs ABCMouse
Playgarden Online ABCMouse.com logo
Free Trial
Ad-free
Printables & Worksheets
Book readings
Large Music Library
Progress Tracking
Developed by Experts
Peer Interaction
Parent Support Forum
Feedback from Teachers
Do it yourself projects
Hands-on Materials
Live Zoom Classes
Real, Certified Teachers
Digital Games
Customizable Characters
Incentivized Rewards System
Mobile App

PROS & CONS

Playgarden Online

ABCmouse®

PROS CONS PROS CONS
Specialized focus on early childhood education for preschool/Pre-K Program is only suitable for up to age 5 Larger catalog of activities for Pre-K through 2nd grade Incentivized learning (earning virtual gifts for activities) has been proven to be ineffective in the long run, especially for young children
Lessons and activities are taught by real teachers Minimal digitally interactive (touch-compatible) activities Lots of digitally interactive (touch-compatible) activities Minimal activities featuring real people, animals, items, etc
Multiple enrollment plans/price-points, with each account including UNLIMITED student profiles, and the option to pay either monthly or annually Higher price-point, since the program operates more similarly to a real school Multiple payment options to choose from (monthly, annually, or “short-term”), with each account including up to three student profiles Only one enrollment plan available
Students receive workbooks from A-Z, specialized pencils, and a Playgarden Prep backpack delivered to their home with the Online Preschool plan Students do not have as many options for customizing their account virtually Students can personalize their account with custom animated avatars and by adding fish to their classroom “aquarium” “Gamification” can inhibit learning and distract young children
Lessons are structured with a weekly plan of videos, activities, worksheets, and live classes. At the end of the year children receive certificates of completion. Customizing your daily lesson routine too far from the recommended structure might require some additional/manual record keeping for homeschooling Older/more established program with lots of information and reviews available via online search No opportunity to speak in-depth with a teacher about the program, child’s progress, etc when reaching out to customer support
Program operated out of a real preschool, making it easy to contact the Playgarden team about curriculum, recommendations, scholarships, refunds, etc Newer program that’s only been in operation since 2021, meaning less information available via online search More opportunities offered to interact directly with the content (quizzes within lessons, etc) No peer interaction offered on the platform
Peer interaction opportunities provide little ones with social experiences and emotional connections These interactions are not intended to entirely replace in-person connections Can be used supplementally with programs that offer Zooms No live classes with other students/teachers offered.
Zoom Enrichment Classes allow teacher-child interaction and layer learning styles for whole-child development Zooms are scheduled weekly rather than daily, meaning that you might not be able to attend the same class at the same time Monday through Friday (View Schedule HERE) Teachers can use ABCmouse for group instruction Interface and design is a bit outdated compared to other learning platforms
Hands-on learning materials to strengthen understanding Additional cost of printing, DIY making or buying learning materials Easy to print child's account and progress No in-depth curriculum breakdown provided
Evidence of program completion, with curriculum covered by each child. Certified by Playgarden Prep, which is registered as a  NYC preschool and pre-K program Parents can choose lessons or let their child follow an automated sequence The amount of options and gamified features can be overwhelming to some parents, and learning to navigate the site on their own can be tricky for many young children

Playgarden Online

PROS CONS
Specialized focus on early childhood education for preschool/Pre-K Program is only suitable for up to age 5
Lessons and activities are taught by real teachers Minimal digitally interactive (touch-compatible) activities
Multiple enrollment plans/price-points, with each account including UNLIMITED student profiles, and the option to pay either monthly or annually Higher price-point, since the program operates more similarly to a real school
Students receive workbooks from A-Z, specialized pencils, and a Playgarden Prep backpack delivered to their home with the Online Preschool plan Students do not have as many options for customizing their account virtually
Lessons are structured with a weekly plan of videos, activities, worksheets, and live classes. At the end of the year children receive certificates of completion. Customizing your daily lesson routine too far from the recommended structure might require some additional/manual record keeping for homeschooling
Program operated out of a real preschool, making it easy to contact the Playgarden team about curriculum, recommendations, scholarships, refunds, etc Newer program that’s only been in operation since 2021, meaning less information available via online search
Peer interaction opportunities provide little ones with social experiences and emotional connections These interactions are not intended to entirely replace in-person connections
Zoom Enrichment Classes allow teacher-child interaction and layer learning styles for whole-child development Zooms are scheduled weekly rather than daily, meaning that you might not be able to attend the same class at the same time Monday through Friday (View Schedule HERE)
Hands-on learning materials to strengthen understanding Additional cost of printing, DIY making or buying learning materials
Evidence of program completion, with curriculum covered by each child. Certified by Playgarden Prep, which is registered as a  NYC preschool and pre-K program

ABCmouse®

PROS CONS
Larger catalog of activities for Pre-K through 2nd grade Incentivized learning (earning virtual gifts for activities) has been proven to be ineffective in the long run, especially for young children
Lots of digitally interactive (touch-compatible) activities Minimal activities featuring real people, animals, items, etc
Multiple payment options to choose from (monthly, annually, or “short-term”), with each account including up to three student profiles Only one enrollment plan available
Students can personalize their account with custom animated avatars and by adding fish to their classroom “aquarium” “Gamification” can inhibit learning and distract young children
Older/more established program with lots of information and reviews available via online search No opportunity to speak in-depth with a teacher about the program, child’s progress, etc when reaching out to customer support
More opportunities offered to interact directly with the content (quizzes within lessons, etc) No peer interaction offered on the platform
Can be used supplementally with programs that offer Zooms No live classes with other students/teachers offered.
Teachers can use ABCmouse for group instruction Interface and design is a bit outdated compared to other learning platforms
Easy to print child's account and progress No in-depth curriculum breakdown provided
Parents can choose lessons or let their child follow an automated sequence The amount of options and gamified features can be overwhelming to some parents, and learning to navigate the site on their own can be tricky for many young children

Still Not Sure?

Maybe you’ve done your research on ABCmouse® and Playgarden Online, and are still having trouble deciding which program is right for your child as they begin homeschool preschool or homeschool pre-k. Many parents find themselves in a similar situation; the good news is that you don’t have to choose! Some families have learned that the perfect solution is to use both Playgarden Online and ABCMouse® to set up their ideal online homeschool experience. 

Playgarden Online is FREE for your first 15 days!

Sign up for Playgarden today, and you won’t pay until after your first 15 days are up. Better yet, we offer a 100% money back guarantee—so sign up for your free trial now, and if you aren’t satisfied with your experience, you can cancel at any time before your first 15 days are up at no cost. If you want to cancel after your trial has ended, simply reach out via call, text, or email, for a full refund.

Find out why hundreds of parents love Playgarden Online as their child’s homeschool preschool and homeschool pre-k!

Playgarden Prep Online - Tessa, Brady’s Mother
“This program has been absolutely amazing and has gifted my son. At kindergarten registration they believe he might even be able to skip right to first grade with how advanced Playgarden Prep has helped him!! Thank you again!” Tessa Brady’s Mother
Playgarden Prep Online - Lexi
“As an educator myself I am consistently impressed with the amount of care placed into every aspect of Playgarden's online content. The curriculum is thoughtfully planned out with activities perfect to engage young children. Their program has helped set a foundation for education for John and has proven to be invaluable for learning at home. We could not have found a better online learning environment for our son!” Lexi Mom of John (4)
Playgarden Prep Online - Vivian
“My daughter loves learning with Playgarden Prep Online! She wants to watch every day and we feel safe knowing she is getting a daily dose of learning in every sitting!” Vivian Mom of Harper (2)
David
“Playgarden Prep is the best place for young children online! We did not know how much Henry would absorb through an online preschool and are blown away by how much he is learning! We would highly recommend this program to anyone who wants to prepare their child for school.” David Dad of Henry 3
Marybeth
“Playgarden Prep teachers are a god-send! Charlotte loves to watch her favorite teachers and we love that she is learning so much!” Marybeth Mom of Charlotte (3.5)
Playgarden Prep Online - Jackie
“Our daughters have learned so much with Playgarden Prep, not only educationally but socially too. The curriculum is impressive, flexible and well rounded. Our daughters also adore the Playgarden songs and listen to them every day. These songs and the Playgarden Prep teachers have become a part of our family.” Jackie Mom of Sienna (4) and Chloe (2)
Playgarden Prep Online - Stacy
“I never thought I could be in love with my child’s online preschool until he started at Playgarden Prep. This program has set the bar for me for online learning. The teachers are warm, incredibly engaging and introduce so many subjects! The educational materials are impressive and it is a gift to see my son enjoying learning so much!” Stacy Mom of Liam (4)
Playgarden Prep Online - Rachel
“You guys are amazing... my daughter knows letters, numbers, continents & planets before she even turned 3 and that barely scratches the surface! Thanks for helping parents give their kids real learning at home!” Rachel Mom of Gabriella (3)

Want to see for yourself why families choose Playgarden? 

Start your 15 Day Free Trial to begin your homeschool journey today!

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