Home row typing practice for kids: a free 60-second typing test that uses only the home row keys, A S D F and J K L ;, so children learn where to rest their fingers before they learn the rest of the keyboard. Type the letters as they light up, and the game shows your words per minute and accuracy when the minute is up. It is a free typing game that needs no sign-up, works with any keyboard, and comes with a printable home row finger chart and practice word list.
Home row typing practice: test, chart and word list
Take the typing test above, then print the finger chart and the practice words below. The first picture is the home row finger chart, the second is a list of 48 words you can type using only the home row, and the last two pictures show the game while you type and the results screen.
What is the home row? The home row keys explained
The home row is the middle row of letters on a keyboard, where your fingers rest between keys. Your left fingers go on A, S, D and F, your right fingers on J, K, L and the semicolon, and both thumbs hover over the space bar. The F and J keys have a small bump so you can find them without looking. Typing from the home row is the basis of touch typing, which Wikipedia’s touch typing article describes: typing without looking at the keys.
| Finger | Home row key | Also types |
|---|---|---|
| Left pinky | A | Q, Z |
| Left ring | S | W, X |
| Left middle | D | E, C |
| Left index | F | R, T, G, V, B |
| Right index | J | Y, U, H, N, M |
| Right middle | K | I and comma |
| Right ring | L | O and period |
| Right pinky | Semicolon | P and slash |
How the typing test for kids works
- Press Start and click in the typing area. The clock does not begin until your first key.
- Type the highlighted letter. A correct key moves on, and a wrong key is counted as a mistake.
- Keep going for 60 seconds. The screen shows the time left, your words per minute and your accuracy.
- See your results. The game shows words per minute and accuracy, and saves your best score on this device.
A “word” in a typing test is five characters, so the formula is simple: words per minute = (characters typed correctly ÷ 5) ÷ minutes. If you type 125 correct characters in one minute, your speed is 25 words per minute. Wikipedia’s words per minute article explains the standard. The home row set uses short groups of two to four letters, so it is a gentle first typing practice.
Words you can type with the home row
Many real words use only the home row letters. Here are 32 of them to type for keyboarding practice once the letter groups feel easy: asks, adds, dads, dash, fads, fall, falls, flag, flags, flash, flask, flasks, gash, glad, glass, half, hall, halls, hash, jags, lads, lags, lash, lass, saga, sags, salad, salads, shall, shag, slash and alfalfa. The printable word list has all 48 words, with warm-up lines of letters.
Typing practice for kids: a 4-week plan
| Week | Goal | What to practice |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Find the home row without looking | The finger chart, then the home row test for 5 minutes a day |
| Week 2 | Reach 90% accuracy | The home row test, slowing down to type correctly |
| Week 3 | Add the top row | The top row typing practice |
| Week 4 | Type real words | The sight words typing game and sentence typing practice |
Accuracy comes before speed. A child who types slowly but correctly will get faster naturally, while a child who rushes builds bad habits. Ten minutes a day beats an hour once a week.
Typing test results explained
| Result | What it means | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Words per minute | Correct characters divided by 5, in one minute | 150 correct characters = 30 words per minute |
| Accuracy | Correct keys as a share of all keys pressed | 135 correct out of 150 keys = 90% accuracy |
| Mistakes | Keys that did not match the highlighted letter | 15 mistakes in the example above |
Look at accuracy first. A score of 95% or more with a modest speed means the finger habits are good, and speed will follow. A fast score with low accuracy usually means the child is guessing, and slowing down will help.
Good posture for keyboarding practice
- Sit tall with feet flat on the floor and the screen at eye level.
- Keep wrists level, floating just above the keys and not resting on the desk.
- Curve your fingers gently over the home row, like holding a small ball.
- Look at the screen, not at your hands. Cover your hands with a tea towel if you are tempted to peek.
- Take a break every 15 to 20 minutes to stretch your hands.
The standard keyboard layout is called QWERTY, after the first six letters on the top row. Wikipedia’s QWERTY article explains how it came about.
Home row typing practice: frequently asked questions
What is home row typing practice?
It is typing practice that uses only the letters on the home row, A S D F J K L and the semicolon, so beginners can learn where their fingers rest.
How long is the typing test for kids?
Sixty seconds. The clock starts on your first key, and the game then shows your words per minute and accuracy.
What is a good typing speed for kids?
It varies a great deal by age and practice. Focus on accuracy first, then aim to beat your own best score.
What age should kids start touch typing?
Many schools start around age 7 or 8, once children can read and spell short words, but any child who uses a keyboard can start.
Is the typing game free, and do kids need an account?
Yes, it is free, and no account is needed. Best scores are saved only in the browser on this device.
Do I need a keyboard?
Yes. The game works best with a real keyboard, on a computer or a tablet with a keyboard attached.