Highlights Every Day app: THE must-have app for every 5-9 year old

Friends, it’s no secret that I have long been a fan of the great folks at Highlights for Children and the wonderful work they do.

But now? They’ve taken their awesome to an app, and it makes me want to dance.

It seriously is one of THE must-have apps for every 5-9 years old. For every elementary schooler.

Every child would benefit from having this app because literally every, single day, there’s something new.

It’s cool. Very cool.

It’s the Highlights Every Day app, and it’s available in both iTunes and Google Play.

I’m thrilled to have been asked to share a bit o’ info about this, and I’m totally psyched to have a super-fun Highlights reading and puzzle giftpack and a $25 Visa giftcard to give away so one lucky reader can read and do puzzles and rock it out with the app a bit.

Here’s the skinny. . .

Highlights Every Day App — THE Must-Have App for Every 5-9 Year Old:

When I say I’m a longtime fan of Highlights, I’m not lying.

I’ve mentioned for years now that Highlights for Children or High Five Magazine are awesome gifts for kids.

I created Magazine Hunts to help emerging readers get to know the contents of a magazine.

We have attended the State of the Kid events here in DC several times.

My kids have played with Hidden Pictures® during lunchtime with their Hidden Pictures® Lunchbox Notes.

I even spent a bunch of time in real life, hanging with the Highlights crew back in 2012 when I spoke on a panel for the Highlights State of the Kid Press Conference.

So when I heard about the Highlights Every Day app, I think I screamed with joy.

The Highlights Every Day app rocks.

Essentially, the Highlights Every Day app is the Highlights for Children Magazine re-created into a digital app. It’s really well done.

Picture this: hundreds of fun facts, puzzles, jokes, quizzes, videos, stories and more are all wrapped up into an app.

And though there’s a bunch of content that kids can grab any day, each day there’s a little ‘gift’ that kids unwrap that contains even more facts, puzzles, quizzes, videos, stories, and more.

Even though it sounds like a lot–and it is–the platform and interface are very child-friendly. It never looks like it’s too much, too crowded, or too overwhelming.

Cora and Owen (and even Maddy!) have loved giving this app a go.

Cora is 9, Owen is 10, and Maddy is 12 years old. So though the iTunes store says the app is for kids ages 6-8, really this will work for kids slightly younger or older.

And know this: this app is a bit of an investment–but it’s worth it.

This is not a free app, friends; it’s a subscription app. You pay $7.99 monthly. However, there is a free version that works perfectly well. Or you can try the whole app for free for 30 days.

The thing is, though, if your kids try the free version, they’ll definitely want the full version because the content is that good, and they’ll want to be able to ‘unlock’ everything.

The subscription is $7.99/ month, so it’s definitely something you’ll notice on your iTunes or Google Play bill.  Think about it this way, though: when it comes down to it, it’s only like $.23/ day for an app that keeps your child’s mind moving and growing.

There is a whole a lot of junk out there online for our kids to consume, friends, but is an app that I truly think every parent should feel good about putting on his or her device. It’s an app that yields screen time well-spent for our kids.

Here’s the Highlights Every Day skinny.

My kids loved. . . 

• the new daily content. It was a great app to have open during breakfast or during weekend down-time. And it was always fresh and new.
• the interactive quizzes;
• the kid-answered questions;
• the jokes;
• the puzzles and hidden pictures;
• the interesting (short!) reads;
• that they had choice within the app–they could decide what they wanted to do and when.

I loved. . . 

• that there was a mix of fiction and non-fiction reading selections;
• that each word was highlighted as it was read aloud;
• that you could turn off or on sound;
• that the kids’ answers were summarized and put on screen at the end of the Q & A segments;
• that there was so much variety on this platform;
• that there were no ads or clickbait images to distract kids;
• that it’s 110% safe. (Phew. Not much is these days, you know?)

We wish. . .

• there was a way that kids could submit their own questions via the app;
• you could buy a 3-month or 6-month subscription or year-long subscriptions at a discounted price (but YAY! They’re working on this!);
• somehow it prompted me to renew so it didn’t automatically renew each month (maybe there’s a way but I just don’t know how?);
• every, single child could have access to this fabulous digital content. It’s that good, friends.

Stay connected with the Highlights familia:

Really! Reach out. Tell them what you love. Give them a virtual high-five.

• on Twitter
• on Facebook
• on Instagram
• on Pinterest

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GIVEAWAY:

WIN a Highlights gift pack of reading and puzzle fun along with a $25 Visa gift card so you can try Highlights Every Day app for your kids! 

Do you want to win a Highlights gift pack of reading and puzzle fun along with a $25 Visa gift card so you can try Highlights Every Day app for your kids?? !? ??!  Yes, yes you do.

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Please use the Rafflecopter widget below to throw your name in the hat:

By entering this giveaway, you are demonstrating your understanding of and compliance with the Official Sweepstakes Rules.

This giveaway ends Wednesday, June 15, 2016 at midnight ET and is open to folks here in the US only. Winner will be chosen by ‘Rafflecopter’ and will be notified on or around 06/15/16.  Winner must respond within three (3) days of notification or forfeit the prize, in which case an alternate winner will be selected.  All  Official Sweepstakes Rules apply.

fyi: This post was written as part of a sponsored partnership with Highlights, but as always, my opinions are my own, influenced only by my experience as a parent and educator and by my three awesome kids.

fyi: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Forever and always I recommend only products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”  For more information, please see teachmama media, llc. disclosure policy.