All parents worry about how much time their children spend staring at screens.
And the negative effects associated with being on our laptops, phones and tablets for long periods of time are well documented, but with 91 per cent of all children between the ages of nine and 16 owning a smartphone, it’s becoming more and more difficult to find a balance.
But not all screen time has to be bad or a waste of your child’s time. In fact, with many schools even using new technology as part of the learning and homework process, it’s clear that when used in the right way, it can actually be a positive thing.
And it may sound too good to be true but there’s one app you’ll actually love seeing your little ones using on a regular basis.
Introducing Pickatale
We all love seeing children engrossed in a book. And with Pickatale, the prospect will be even more appealing.
With a digital library of over 1000 audio and e-books, this revolutionary app available at the Apple store and Google Play store, is offering an alternative to video games and social media, all while encouraging your child’s love of learning and reading.
Created for children up to the age of 10, they’ll find an ever-increasing selection of brilliant, engaging and fun kids’ books, meaning they’ll return to use it again and again.
Tanya, a mother of four from Richmond, decided to use screen time as a reward for her children in a bid to limit their time on their phones and tablets, so was intrigued to see what effect the app would have. “When our seven year old uses the iPad she plays games,” explains Tanya. “But with the Pickatale app it has become one of the few occasions I’ve seen something useful on the iPad.”
Making reading fun
When a child complains of being bored, they rarely want to read as a way to relieve that boredom. After all, there are so many other options for whiling away the hours… But if reading is made dynamic and truly fun, it’s more likely they’ll choose to do it more often.
And that’s why Pickatale is a game changer. Whether they’re struggling to read or just need a little encouragement, the interactive features in the app make learning more enjoyable for your child.
Every book in the library is beautifully illustrated and is available as an audio book as well as an e-book, so little ones can listen and read along, hearing the words spoken aloud as they see them highlighted on the screen, just like karaoke.
Once they feel more confident they can opt to read the books on their own. But what’s brilliant is, if they get stuck on any particular words, they can trigger an audio explanation with a simple tap on the word in question, ensuring they gain real understanding as well as expanding their vocabulary at the same time. Genius!
Plus, as much as we all want to sit with our child as they read, busy days, hectic after school schedules and other commitments can often get in the way. “Everyone at home is an independent reader, except our 7 year old daughter who’s still learning,” says Tanya. “But sometimes I’m too busy to read to her. I love the karaoke function because at school they touch each word as they read too, and Pickatale features this in a similar way. The high-quality visuals make it even more fun, especially with the non-fiction books.”
A story for every child
Whatever their interest or reading level, Pickatale has books they’ll love.
With a huge range of fiction and non-fiction, including books about world history and animals, mystery books and character series like Masha and the Bear, Thomas & Friends, Fireman Sam, Postman Pat, The Teletubbies and Angelina Ballerina, there are exciting stories for older kids as well as plenty of beginner books for tiny ones. There’s even a weekly newspaper, all brought to life with images and audio.
“I really like it,” says Tanya’s son Rudy, aged 11. “It’s seamless with lots of good books. I liked the smoothness of the page-turning, the narration and the voices. It’s really interactive. I enjoyed World’s Ugliest Animals! And the Vikings! Also, the Biff, Chip and Kipper books.”
And Tanya’s younger children are just as enthusiastic. Apolline, aged 7, says: “I like to listen to the stories and say the words”. And her older sister Brontë, 10, agrees: “The karaoke setting helps you know where you are.”
Helping your children to develop a love of reading will feel like a breeze with Pickatale’s kid-friendly books and innovative approach to learning. “It’s digital, modern and will make homework much more fun,” says Tanya. “And with the large library of books, there’s something for everyone.”
Is Pickatale right for your child?
If you’ve got children who are learning to read then Pickatale is making it easy (and affordable) for them to have positive reading experiences from a young age.
With access to over 1000 enhanced and interactive books they’ll love, in a safe, closed online environment, you’ll see their confidence and literacy skills grow, all while they’re having fun.
How it works
- Download the Pickatale app from the App store or Google Play store.
- Sign up for a free two week trial.*
- The app will then cost just £6.99 a month or £49.99 for a whole year.
- Your children will have immediate access to an ever expanding library of books as well as a weekly newspaper.
- Create up to 4 profiles within the app. Each child can choose areas of interest enabling Pickatale to make specific book recommendations.
- The app can be used both on and offline so their favourite story is always available.
*Cancelling is easy if you decide not to continue after the free two week trial.
