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April 27, 2019

Children who learn to read independently grow up to be creators and problem solvers. However, in order to grasp words and concepts, it is vital that children are repeatedly exposed to text at their independent reading level.

Researchers have discovered that reading is an activity that enhances connectivity in the neural network and improves cognition and brain function. That’s why it’s never too early to read to your child. Children who learn to read independently grow up to be creators and problem solvers. However, in order to grasp words and concepts, it is vital that children are repeatedly exposed to text at their independent reading level. There are various teaching aids and methods to encourage the habit. And like everything else, it requires patience and practice.

Improving reading skills through these clever apps designed for Pre K-12:

Epic

This is an award-winning digital library for kids up to the age of 12, with over 35,000 book titles, audio books and learning videos ranging from animals to DIY topics and literature. Based on personal preferences, kids get suggested reading lists. They can also read offline and earn badges and rewards through quizzes. This way, parents can track their progress and kids can feel proud of their achievements. A free trial gives you a glimpse into the vast range of books for all reading levels like The Breadwinner, Big Nate, Thomas the Tank Engine, etc.  https://www.getepic.com/

Bookful

The first app to bring books to life through augmented reality, this is a fun and easy way to read on any device. Just select a book on the app and choose between read or play modes, point to any surface and watch the magic happen. You can have the book narrated to you, or zoom in to see the animation up-close and swipe pages to go forward in the story. The interactive play mode lets you complete simple activities like collecting cabbage in a basket and learn the play way. Some evergreen stories like The Tale of Peter Rabbit and The House on Melody Street are featured here. https://bookful.app/

Endless Reader: School edition

This app introduces ‘sight words’, the most commonly used words in school and children’s books. Recognizing sight words is advantageous for beginning readers because many of these words have unusual spelling, cannot be sounded out using phonics, and often cannot be represented using pictures. Delightful animations with friendly monsters explaining the context and word puzzles help to achieve reading fluency. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.originatorkids.EndlessReaderSchoolEdition&hl=en_IN

Reading IQ

This online library for kids under 12 has a range of fiction and non-fiction stories, graphic novels, wordless books, historical fiction, biographies, how-to books, rhymes and more. There are also familiar titles like Curious George as well as magazines like National Geographic Kids. You can be assured of a child-safe environment without any advertisements and track your kid’s progress. This is a subscription-based model, with a free trial month. https://www.readingiq.com/