I have to be honest. I love to read but
it seems like a lot of kids today don’t. A little piece of me dies
every single time a child says, “I don’t like reading” or “I
hate it when they make us read.” As someone who was raised by at
least one reader, and who chose books over other activities, children
not wanting to read is a hard concept to swallow. Thankfully, I’m
finding there are a lot of great apps out there that appeal to a
child’s desire for technology while encouraging a love of the
written word.
Reading Rainbow
The Reading
Rainbow app is hosted by none other than LeVar Burton,
and I’m a huge fan considering I spent so much time watching the
show as a kid. The app allows the story to be read to your child or
lets the child read himself, making this a great choice for children
of different reading levels. Reading Rainbow is geared towards
children ages 6-8 and is currently available for the iPad.
SUPER WHY!
SUPERWHY was based on the PBS show and
is designed with the earliest of readers in mind. Your child can play
with one of the main characters, identifying letters, sounds, rhyming
words, and more. It focuses on phonics, phenomes, and skills critical
to reading and development. This app is perfect for preschool aged
children from 3-6 and is available both in the Apple
store and on Amazon.
BookBoard
BookBoard
ranges from $4.99 to $8.99 per month depending on the plan you
choose, but includes a parent portal and up to 4 child accounts. The
membership gives children access to unlimited books and includes more
than 500 books your child can “unlock” through continued reading
progress. The app is great for kids up to age 12, including
everything from picture books to chapter books. Combine your unique
reading goals with some games and a bit of healthy competition and
your child will be motivated to grab the tablet each night (Psssst –
there’s a free trial available).
Please don’t let the love of reading
die at the hands of video games and television shows. Help your child
cultivate an early love of reading with a balanced schedule of
screen-time, games, and reading and the future (and his imagination)
will truly blossom!
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