Kids Linux is one of the best ways to introduce a child to the world of programming. Many people who aren’t familiar with the Linux operating system believe that it’s a complex system that’s only utilized by big corporations.
However, that notion is untrue as Linux is relatively easy to learn, making it an operating system that anyone can become familiar with, from home users to teachers, children, developers, and more.
In this post, we’ll be looking at some of the best Linux distros your child or student can use to become familiar with the platform and better at programming.
Contents
A List of the Top Linux Distros for Kids
1. Endless OS
| Benefits | It’s a Linux distro made specifically for education
Great for computers with no internet access |
| Set Backs | It restricts usage to only 500 computers per year.
Does not support 32-bit systems |
| Operating System | Debian OS |
| System Requirement | At least 2GB RAM (4GB Recommended) and 32GB storage
x86 processors |
Endless OS is one of the go-to Linux distributions for kids. It uses an interactive GNOME desktop environment and comes with simple features that are easy to understand by children. The user interface is user-friendly, and it comes with a wide array of pre-installed applications, allowing you to use the OS without internet access.
Getting a hold of the OS, however, is an extreme sport as it’s only allowed on just 500 computers each year. But if you end up getting the operating system on your child’s device, rest assured that they’ll enjoy some of the best learning experiences a distro has to offer.
2. Kano OS
| Pros | Ideal for children aged 6 to 14
Features parental control settings |
| Cons | It’s made specifically for Raspberry Pi |
| Operating System | Debian OS |
| System Requirement | Raspberry Pi
Memory card with at least 8GB |
This OS is another excellent distro for children aged 6 to 14 years. It’s made for Raspberry Pi, and it features many different coding activities that suit the needs of children. While the developers have their own kit, you can use a normal Raspberry with this Linux OS.
There is a wide range of coding apps and games your kids can utilize in the Kano Hub. And you even get parental control settings that allow you to customize or limit the experience for your child. The developers also have helpful resources to help both kids and adults learn their way around the Linux kernel and OS as a whole.
3. Ubermix
| Pros | Easy to set up
Excellent community support |
| Cons | Not the best option for old hardware |
| Operating System | Ubuntu |
| System Requirements | 8GB or larger USB key
At least 1GB RAM |
This Leeenux kids is another great distro you can get for your kids. It’s based on Ubuntu and comes with many different features that allow your kids to up their game on the learning curve. You won’t get any complex functions or unnecessary applications on this OS; instead, your kids will enjoy a wide array of tools that’ll help improve their education and life skills.
This OS also comes with parental controls that allow you to limit app usage as well as screen time, so your kids don’t spend too much time in front of their computers. The community for this distro is large and helpful, so you’re likely to get any issue fixed easily. The website also has different troubleshooting tips as well so make sure to check them out if you run into any problems.
4. Zorin OS 16.2 Education
| Pros | Easy to set up
Supports outdated systems |
| Cons | Doesn’t support Raspberry Pi
Currently doesn’t support Macs with Apple Silicon processors |
| Operating System | Ubuntu |
| System Requirements | At least 2GB RAM and 24GB storage
At least 1GHz dual core 64-bit processor |
Zorin OS Education is an Ubuntu-based Linux server that’s tailored for schools and even universities. Although it has a customized desktop, it uses the XFCE 4 and GNOME 3 environment by default. This OS comes with many different offline contents, and your kids can easily transition from a Mac or Windows environment to Linux thanks to the way this operating system is customized.
Zorin OS also provides the ability to download resources from other sources, such as Khan Academy, to help your child’s education become better and faster. There are also apps for specific topics, and you can share your resources with others using peer-to-peer techniques on the network. The XFCE-based version is known as the Lite version, and it supports outdated or low-end devices, so you can use Zorin even on an old computer.
5. AcademiX GNU/Linux
| Pros | Allows the installation of education-based apps via the EDU installer
Features many pre-installed themes |
| Cons | No pre-installed audio or video reader |
| Operating System | Debian |
| System Requirements | 64-bit processor |
If you’re looking for a Linux distro that works for all education levels, AcademiX GNU/Linux is the way to go. It’s versatile enough to cater to kids from grade school up to the university level. This Linux distribution also comes with an installation tool known as the EDU installer, which allows you to install different educational apps, including apps based on physics, biology, mathematics, chemistry, and more.
Many of the EDU apps come with virtual microscopes and interactive labs to make education more comprehensive and interactive. While many people may not appreciate its default MATE desktop, there’s no denying the fact that this distro is one of the best Linux for toddlers and adults. To make things better, teachers can also create and publish custom, helpful content on this platform.
6. Li-f-E
| Pros | Ideal for teachers and students
Comes with many educational apps right out of the box |
| Cons | Needs to be installed on a hard drive to support more than five users |
| Operating System | Ubuntu MATE |
| System Requirements | At least 1GB RAM
At least 25GB Storage (50GB Recommended) |
Li-f-E is an acronym for Linux for Education. This Linux terminal for kids delivers on its name as it provides an interface that’s easy to use and software packages that reinforces the mission of education. There is a wide range of applications that make this distro different from others, including LibreOffice, Brain Workshop, the LAMP open-source website development platform, Inkscape, and more.
This distro is also available as a hybrid ISO image, which means that you can use it to make a Live USB stick or burn it on a Live DVD. You can also use it as part of your network even while you’re utilizing a live environment. The only con here is that you’ll need to install this OS on a hard drive to be able to support more than five different users.
7. Edubuntu
| Pros | Excellent for parents, kids, and teachers
Allows easy transition to regular Ubuntu OS |
| Cons | Has a steep learning curve
Not ideal for younger children |
| Operating System | Ubuntu |
| System Requirements | At least 1GB RAM
At least 25GB Storage (50GB Recommended) |
Edubuntu is another Linux operating system that focuses on education. Developed by Canonical in conjunction with renowned educators and teachers, this Linuxkidx is excellent for teachers, parents, and children. Its interface is quite similar to what you have on Ubuntu, but the presence of pre-installed apps sets both operating systems apart.
Edubuntu comes with a variety of educative apps that are ideal for different tasks, such as Tux Math, Gcompris’ Educational Suite, Tux Typing, Lybniz Graph Plotter, and more.
You also get many different friendly games that allow kids learn easily. However, Edubuntu isn’t as easy to use as many of the other options on our list. It has a steep learning curve, which can be quite useful once you manage to get past it as you’ll find that the distro is fun to use, and you’ll be able to transition to the full-fledged Ubuntu with no problems.
Conclusion
The kids Linux mentioned above are sure to provide you and your children with a fun, engaging, and interactive experience.
Below are some points to keep in mind when choosing the best Linux distro for students:
- Make sure you consider the system requirements before downloading a distro.
- If you have old hardware, say pre-2017, be sure to read the distro’s documentation, as not all distros will work on older computers.
- Zorin OS currently doesn’t support MacBooks with Apple Silicon processors, but you can use a workaround to get it to work.
- The Endless operating system is only available for up to 500 computers per year, so you’d have to be on the lookout if that’s the distro you want.
Linux is now more than a professional operating system as it can now be used by a wide demographic. Allowing your kids the opportunity to learn with one of the distros mentioned above will be rewarding for you as a parent or teacher as well as the child using the distro.