This App Encourages Kids to Read Before They Play on Their Smart Device

Today's kids love playing on smart devices -- reading, not so much. According to a Unesco study, some children spend up to four hours on a tablet but less than one minute reading each day. So, to encourage children to read in Mexico, where literacy rates are low, educational organization Cengage developed an app that ensures they get in some valuable reading time as well as playing their games.

With the Read On app, every time a child turns on their device, instead of seeing the home screen, they see a page of a children's book. In order to get to the home screen, they have to read it -- and, understand it. To prove they've done so, when they have finished the page they must answer a simple question to fully unlock the device. The app also allows parents to monitor the child's progress -- how much they're reading, how fast, and how long they're spending on the device.

The app was developed in collaboration with National Geographic Learning and agency FCB, whose New Zealand and Mexico offices both worked on the project. It was developed for Mexico but will be available worldwide.