Ages 8–12Typing Dojo — included in the Family plan on TotType
Typing Dojo is a full touch-typing course in eight belts. It starts on the home row, A S D F and J K L ;, and adds a few keys with each belt: E, I, G and H for yellow, then R, U, T and Y, then W, O, Q and P, the bottom row, capitals with Shift and ! ? ', and the number row, up to the black belt. Each belt has four lessons, keys, words, sentences and a belt test, and a keyboard picture colors every key by the finger that types it. Pass the test and the belt is earned, with a certificate to print.
- Ages
- 8–12
- Teaches
- Touch typing: every letter, capitals, punctuation and the number row, each with the right finger · The home row and returning to it
- Plan
- Family plan ($4.99/month) or Family Plus — try a free 60-second demo first
- Plays on
- Any browser — keyboard or touch, nothing to install
How to play Typing Dojo
Press Enter for the next lesson, or tap any open lesson on the belt map. Type the text shown; the next key glows on the keyboard picture in its finger's color, and a line under the text names the finger. A wrong key flashes red, and the cursor waits for the right one. A lesson ends with stars for accuracy; the belt test also needs the belt's speed, which follows your child's age. Press Esc after a lesson to finish for today.
What your child learns
- Touch typing: every letter, capitals, punctuation and the number row, each with the right finger
- The home row and returning to it
- Accuracy first, with speed goals that rise belt by belt
- Steady practice in short lessons
Why it works at this age
Touch typing is learned a few keys at a time, with each finger on its own keys, and children learn it best in short, regular lessons. Belts make the progress visible, and the belt test asks for accuracy before speed, which is the order typing teachers use.
Tips for parents
- Ten minutes a day beats an hour on Saturday.
- Watch hands for a minute now and then: fingers back on the home row after each key.
- Print the belt certificates and keep them together.
Frequently asked questions
What age is Typing Dojo for?
Ages 8 to 12. Eight is about when hands are big enough to rest on the home row and schoolwork starts to need typing. The belt tests' speed goals follow your child's age.
Does it need a physical keyboard?
Yes, for touch typing. On a tablet the on-screen keys work, but touch typing means typing on a real keyboard without looking, which is what the lessons build.
How does a child earn a belt?
By passing the belt test: a passage that uses the belt's keys, typed at the belt's accuracy (92% or better at first, 95% for black belt) and its speed, which follows your child's age. The certificate prints from the belt map.
Typing Dojo or Star Keys?
Star Keys is a touch-typing course for ages 6 to 8, built around stars and short flights. Typing Dojo is the next step for ages 8 to 12, with the whole keyboard, capitals, punctuation, numbers and speed goals.
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