March is National Reading Month so it seemed like a perfect time to try out a Kindle with Freetime Unlimited for the kids. I will tell you that I have been resistant to a Kindle, because the kids already have so many “screens” in their life. I have been insistent that they do their reading with actual physical books. Well, after the two weeks of having a Kindle I had to throw all my preconceived notions out the window.

Let me tell you a briefly about my two kids and their reading.

• Child one is a very proficient reader and reads a lot above grade level. We have a hard time finding entertaining books and age appropriate books that aren’t finished in 20 minutes.  Computer time, video games, and TV are all preferable to reading, even when they are in the middle of a good and engaging book.
• Child two struggles with reading. It’s challenging and therefore not very much fun to do. Reading time can be like pulling teeth. The reading homework is always the last done in the homework packet. You get the picture.

I love to read and fully consider myself a bookworm so it always kills me that reading isn’t a top priority for the kids. Well, back to having the Kindle and Freetime Unlimited for two weeks. The kids are asking to read. It deserved to be bold. I am so excited! They are choosing to read above other activities. Child Two finished her first chapter book. It gave her  such a sense of accomplishment and pride. Every time they ask to use the Kindle, my heart grows two sizes. I just might end up with bookworms yet!

I imagine that you have at least heard of a Kindle, so I will focus on telling you a bit about Freetime Unlimited.

Freetime Unlimited offers:

• Not just books:  Access to 5,000 kid-friendly books, educational apps, games, movies, and TV shows from top brands like Disney, Nickelodeon, PBS, Electronic Arts, and many more.
• Each child can have their own account and only their books show up in their account.
• No ads and no in-app purchases.
• Robust parental controls to limit content as well as the amount of time spent. Reading time is always unlimited.
• Reading goals as well as achievements. 
• There is a log so you can see what books they are reading and their progress on the books.
• Kids can’t exit the app without a password.
• The ability to add purchased books into Freetime Unlimited
• Compatible with Kindle, Kindle Fire tablets, and Fire TV

 

We have just a basic Kindle so we have not yet been able to try out the apps, games, and TV options. Hopefully we’ll be getting a Fire TV stick soon. I would really love to try out good parental controls with the shows and movies. Right now both kids seem to be focused on books that feature TV shows they enjoy,  such as Spongebob Squarepants and Avatar the Last Airbender.

I asked my daughter what her favorite part about the Kindle was and she said, “I love that we can download all of these books for free and we can carry a library wherever we go.” Currently they have to ask before they download any apps on our tablets, so she loves the freedom of knowing everything is free and appropriate. She also loves that her holds her place and I’ve shown her how to look up words by pressing and holding. If she is having trouble with a word, she can use the pronunciation guide to help her out.

Do you love to read? What’s your preferred way to read, electronic, hardback, paperback, papyrus? Let me know in the comments!

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.