Dad's app makes children 'hero' of their own story

Jason, a father from Bristol, wanted to find a better way to get his son interested in both technology and reading. He is a tattoo artist and used to be a Royal Marine. In August 2023, Jason came up with the idea for an app called Lapp. He spent 18 months creating stories, testing the app, and working with experts before finally launching it. The main idea behind Lapp is to let children become the hero of their own story. Jason believes that when kids see themselves as the main character, it can help them develop their reading skills and give them more confidence to handle their emotions in real life.

The app is currently free and available on iPads, but Jason plans to make it work on iPhones and Android devices soon. He says that Lapp is about helping children love reading and learning by making stories that are personal to them. Jason does not want kids to get so caught up in their tablets that they forget about the real world. However, he also understands that the real world can be scary for children. That is why he created stories in the app that help kids deal with things like the first day of school, which can feel overwhelming, especially for the oldest child in a family. By seeing themselves in these situations in a story, children can become more comfortable and less anxious when they face them in real life.

To use the app, parents can upload seven photos of their child showing different emotions, such as happy, sleepy, worried, laughing, and even a silly face. They can also choose the child’s skin tone and add other personal details to make the story feel even more special. Jason hopes that the app will soon be able to help more children, including those with special educational needs. His own children, Theo and Olive, enjoy using the app and are proud of their dad’s work. Jason admits that he still loves reading traditional books, but he knows that screens are a big part of life now. He hopes that other parents and teachers will see how technology can be used in a positive way. Jason also wants to add new features to the app, like letting kids read and play with their friends. Even though making the app was a long and difficult journey, Jason says he is glad he gave it his all and hopes it will help many children.