A father who said he wanted to find a more positive way of getting his son interested in technology and reading has developed a free personalised story app.
Jason from Bradley Stoke in Bristol, came up with idea of Lapp in August 2023, before spending 18 months creating stories, testing and working with experts before launching the app.
He said the idea is if children become the main character or “hero” of their own story, it can help their reading development and build confidence to navigate real-life emotions.
Jason said the app, which is available on iPads, will now be optimised for the iPhone soon, then Android devices.
“I don’t want to see children getting so stuck into tablets they can’t look up and see the real world,” he said.
“However, the real world can be scary so with some of the stories I’ve formulated and put in the app, I’ve tried to help them navigate that and some of the anxieties they’ll face.”
Jason said things like the first day of school can seem massive to some children, especially if they’re a first child.
The app is free, with no adverts, but there are extra features available via subscription.
To use the app, people can add seven images of their child showing different expressions like sleepy, worried, happy, laughing, and a silly face with some side views.
Users can also add skin tone and other personal touches so it reflects each child, and he said it will gradually support more children with educational needs.
Jason said that although he loves reading a “good old-fashioned book”, the reality is that screens are here and part of society’s future.
“That’s why hopefully this resonates with other parents and educators to see how we align ourselves with it [technology] and use it for good,” he added.
Jason has plans to add an option for app users to play and read with friends.
