Parents' Guide to ReadAskChat for Children 0-6

With rich visuals, a research-based approach, a handful of useful features, and lots of suggestions for parent-kid interaction, this digital library has a lot going for it. The development of ReadAskChat for Children 0-6 is based on research on the importance of reading to young kids and of having language-rich interactions with them. The app certainly succeeds in providing easy access to reading material, and in giving parents inspiration for creating meaningful interactive experiences. Though some stories here are well-known songs or rhymes, others are originals, and most are very basic with limited text and complexity. They're right on for babies and some toddlers but may strike some parents as very simple for preschoolers. ReadAskChat for Children 0-4 rightly markets itself not as a screen activity, but as a way to get parents reading and talking with their kids that just happens to use a screen in order to be as accessible as possible. And, some handy user features, like locking the page turn, or translating the conversation starters into Spanish, certainly do make this digital library an easily accessible reading tool. While letting babies use screens for anything other than video chatting isn't recommended, using them with kids 18 months and older in a social context (like co-reading) for limited amounts of time doesn't contradict current guidelines. Look to ReadAskChat for Children 0-6 as an opportunity to spark meaningful interaction with kids to help foster reading skills as kids move on to more complex texts.