FableVision and Harvard Release New Early Literacy Apps

FableVision Studios and Harvard Graduate School of Education Collaborate on Early Learning Literacy Apps as Part of Reach Every Reader Initiative

Introducing Reach Every Reader, a foundation literacy initiative from the Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE) that aims to support high-level, equitable literacy achievement for all children through resources, assessment, and intervention. Five years in the making, the program comprises three apps and other resources which aim to bridge the literacy gap by improving word acquisition and learning opportunities for children at home. FableVision is proud to join the initiative with the development of two apps to transform daily errands and car rides into moments of engaging conversation.

In Photo Play, young children and caregivers are given the opportunity to decorate and interact with their own photos using fun stickers, emojis, and “talk” balloons. By allowing players to personalize photos of themselves and their families, children are more engaged in the activities and more open to discussions of the location of the picture, memories of the day the photos were taken, and hopes for future trips and activities. The second app, Animal Antics, encourages children to unleash their imaginations as they play make-believe and create stories and dialogue alongside their parents for animals cast in 20 different scenarios, allowing children and caregivers to take on the role of animal characters and create new worlds.

Backed by years of research and thorough playtesting, the apps are targeted at parents and caregivers in addition to kids. “Intergenerational co-play has always been an important part of our core design principles,” said Gary Goldberger, President and Co-Founder of FableVision. “The Reach Every Reader apps are a perfect example of how playful learning can offer families a game-based experience that’s filled with surprise and discovery.”

The Reach Every Reader apps come at a time when families are spending more time together than ever before. The three apps—including Photo Play, Animal Antics, and GBH-developed Small Wonders—are sprinkled with conversation starters and prompts, facilitating free-flowing conversation so that parents can easily engage with their children.

“Our goal with the development of these apps was to encourage conversation through everyday interactions,” said Joe Blatt, faculty director of the Master’s Program in Technology, Innovation, and Education at HGSE. “Parents are a child’s first teacher. Everyday activities are learning moments and the apps enhance and empower parents to engage in sustained, back-and-forth conversation with their children. That dynamic is especially meaningful during the pandemic when we are all together so much more.”

View HGSE’s full press release for more details, and find the apps on iOS, Google, and Android. Captivating conversation awaits!

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