Don’t fight screen time — embrace it
Redesigning screen time to build better habits.
We’re On A Mission
Read2Play’s focus is to change the way children interact with technology, using their screen time as a tool to build better habits, stronger minds, and deeper connections with the people in their lives.
A Digital
Tug-of-War
We’re not just seeing a dip in reading scores—we’re watching a growing divide.
While technology races ahead, too many children are falling behind in the one skill that shapes everything else: literacy.
Parents are exhausted.
Teachers are overwhelmed.
Kids are left with tools that deliver content, but don’t change behavior.
Put simply, as screen time increases with age and time, literacy remains flat or declines.
Kids ages 5 to 8 spend around 3½ hours a day on screens
By age 14, that number nearly triples to 9 hours, driven by short-form videos, gaming, and social media.
Yet only 15 minutes a day is spent reading for pleasure.
And despite all that screen exposure, two-thirds of U.S. students still read below grade level, with more than a third below even basic benchmarks.
Sketch
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Design
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Test
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Develop
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Here’s The Issue
- Children spend 4–6+ hours/day on screens
- Fewer than 20 minutes/day reading
- 2 out of 3 students read below grade level
- Parents and teachers are overwhelmed, and apps aren’t helping
What We’re Doing About It
Read2Play™ leans into the digital pull without the fights or the guilt.
Read2Play™ turns the love of screen time into a tool for learning. Using short, rewarded tasks to create lasting educational habits, Read2Play™ builds confidence through education, no nagging required. Read2Play™ supports parents and teachers by making learning feel like play, building habits that last.
children interact with technology by giving them more screentime as an incentive to use less screentime.
“More than two-thirds of U.S. students now read below grade level.”
— National Assessment of Educational Progress, 2022
"Habits don’t form from rewards alone—they require small tasks repeated in real-time moments."
— BJ Fogg, Behavior Design Lab
Leaning Into Bad Habits to Create Better Ones
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How You Can Help Shape Read2Play™
Educators & Parents
Share your educational goals and needs at home or in the classroom
Investors & Business Minds
Offer insights on positioning, traction, and business fit to help sharpen our early-stage strategy and attract meaningful investment when ready.
Inclusive Educators
Tell us what tools and features would best support your diverse learners.
Developers & Designers
Advise on UX, MVP, and technical challenges — or help us shape the right development team for future growth.
Advocates & Journalists
Help us spread the word about reshaping screen time for good.
What We’re Doing About It
Why It Works:
Why I Created Read2Play™
Real Questions from Real Families
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What exactly is Read2Play™?
Why does this work?
Can I set my own reading goals?
What happens if my child doesn’t meet their goal?
Read2Play™ is designed to encourage, not punish. If a child doesn’t meet their goal, the app simply pauses access to entertainment content on that device — but here’s the key: it doesn’t lock them out forever. Whenever they come back, Read2Play is ready to guide them gently into a short, manageable learning moment before they return to what they were doing.
This works through small, repeated habit rewiring: maybe just 3 minutes of reading at first, then gradually building to 5, then 7 minutes over time. It’s a slow, positive buildup designed to help children shift from unproductive digital use (like endless mobile games or social media scrolling) to balanced, goal-driven screen habits — without punishment or drama.
Of course, no app can control every moment (we know kids may switch to another device or keep playing with friends on mobile platforms), but Read2Play offers a key behavioral lever that fits alongside household rules and broader parenting strategies.Tip: Don’t stress if progress feels small at first — research shows that tiny wins stack up over time, creating stronger and longer-lasting habits than big, dramatic changes.
Will this work on all devices?
Read2Play™ is designed to work across most major devices, including smartphones, tablets, and other mobile platforms commonly used by children. However, because no single app can control every device or system a child might access, we recommend using Read2Play alongside your family’s broader screen-time rules.
Our goal isn’t to “lock down” every screen, but to help shape positive habits on the devices children use most — gradually rewiring their digital routines and encouraging balance, one small win at a time.
Does Read2Play™ work for kids with learning differences?
Absolutely. Read2Play™ was designed with flexibility in mind to support a wide range of learning needs, including children with learning differences like ADHD, dyslexia, or other challenges.
The app allows parents and educators to personalize tasks and goals to match each child’s unique abilities and pace. Plus, the AI companion focuses on delivering positive, encouraging feedback — never negative reinforcement or pressure — so children feel safe, supported, and motivated, no matter where they’re starting from.
We’re also continuing to develop additional accessibility features and welcome feedback from families and educators to help make Read2Play even more inclusive. Tip: If your child has unique learning needs, adjust Read2Play’s tasks and goals to match their abilities. Small, personalized steps can help build confidence and keep the experience positive and rewarding.
What’s the difference between this and other reading apps?
Why Does This Approach Work
Studies show small, consistent reinforcements work better than big punishments, helping kids form real, lasting change over time.
Research shows that small, consistent behavior nudges, reinforced over time, are far more effective at creating lasting change than sudden restrictions or punishments.
For example:
- The American Academy of Pediatrics emphasizes positive reinforcement and clear, consistent structure to help build healthy media use habits.
- Behavioral science research shows that forming “tiny habit loops” over time can reshape routines and increase long-term success.
- Child development experts highlight that kids are more motivated when they experience success through small wins, not when overwhelmed by big, abstract goals.
Read2Play builds on these proven ideas, combining a positive feedback loop with fun, manageable tasks to help shift habits gently but effectively.
Tip: Don’t stress if progress feels small at first. Research shows that small wins stack up over time, creating stronger and longer-lasting habits than big, dramatic changes.