‘10 minutes a day reading can make a difference to that child’s future potential.
From an extensive literature review we have established that as little as 10 minutes reading a day would make a real difference and everyone can do something. Whilst the number of minutes does not need to be exact, advice from experts was that a message of ‘as little as 10 minutes a day’ could have a big impact without feeling like an onerous task to parents and carers. It will take everyone: mums, dads, carers, grandparents, businesses, volunteers, teachers and role models like footballers and others.
The 10 minutes of reading can be anywhere and everywhere – from reading books, to tablets, road signs and high street signs. The essential thing is to have the regular, consistent time with an adult.
In addition, we know that mothers and fathers reading with their children matters, but fathers can have a particular impact. A father reading daily to a five year old means that child’s reading will be almost half a year more advanced than a child read to less than once a week by their father.’ YCN brief pack.
My concept is to create an app that tracks the progression of the child’s reading, rewarding the child for improving as well as the father for spending that extra time to read with their child.
Ten was designed to prompt busy dads to read to their child, a friendly robot that keeps all of your data, books and personalised settings and uses them to make the experience fun and interactive. It works by interlinking with the bookstore and importing books across, which can range from different age ranges to suit the ability of their child. While the dad and child are reading, ten is working in the background to ensure all data is recorded e.g. time spent reading, how fast they can read through the book etc. Ten then collates this data and tells the father the information he needs to know.
The rewards will be sourced from local companies who are willing to support this app and want to help dads bond with their kids. There are rewards for both dad and child, this is to give an incentive to them both to spend time together while improving reading skills and learning.
I fitted a “practice area” into the app to help the child with any words they are having trouble with. While they are reading they can tap a word and add it into their word bank, then when they have finished reading or before they start, they can practice the words. This will help boost their reading ability and increase their reading age.
