Reading Made Fun Thanks to FCB and King

The climate and culture between Mexico and Sweden couldn’t be more different, but the two countries are actually more similar than you may think.

Child illiteracy is a problem faced by both nations but thanks to two new reading apps – which coincidentally launched in the same week – integrating good reading habits into a child’s daily routine is getting increasingly easier. Introducing Read On and Read to Unlock below:

Read On (case study video above):

According to UNESCO, Mexico has the second lowest reading rate in the world. Children spend up to four hours per day in front of a smart device yet less than one minute actually reading. Responding to these facts, FCB Mexico together with education publisher Cengage Learning and National Geographic created the Read On app.

The initiative also encourages children to develop good reading habits by replacing the screen lock of smart devices with a chapter of a popular children’s book followed by a short Q&A test.

Parents can also track their child’s progress and suggest books for their offspring to read. To download the app for free, click here.

Read To Unlock

Swedish agency King unveiled Read to Unlock for non-profit organization Berättarministeriet, aka Ministry of Tales.

Inspired by the fact that one in eight Swedish children is currently failing their national exams, the app was created to combat the decline of reading among Swedish children. Like Read On, Read to Unlock works by replacing the screen lock feature on smart devices with a chapter of a book. Children must then answer a series of questions about the chapter before they can access the device.

“Parents and teachers don’t have the right digital tools,” says the organization’s operation manager Dilsa Dermirbag-Sten. “We hope that this app can be helpful today and inspire future innovations in this field.” Download the Swedish-only app for free here or click here to find out more about it.

These apps prove that technology is becoming increasingly useful inside and outside of the classroom. Although technology may distract most kids from formal learning, apps like Read to Unlock and Read On help to ensure that children are still developing the necessary skills to excel and have the best start in life.