Frequently Asked Questions

KidShelf is designed for children ages 4-13 who are learning to read. We offer stories at three reading levels (beginner, intermediate, and advanced) so children can progress at their own pace. The app is particularly helpful for early readers who are developing word recognition and fluency skills.

Yes! KidShelf is free to download and use. You get access to our bundled story library, speech recognition features, progress tracking, and all core functionality at no cost. We may offer premium content or features in the future, but the core reading experience is free.

KidShelf is available on both iOS (iPhone and iPad) and Android devices (phones and tablets). We recommend tablets for the best reading experience, but the app works great on phones too.

No account is required! KidShelf stores all data locally on your device. Simply download the app, create a child profile, and start reading. No email addresses, passwords, or personal information needed.

When your child reads aloud, KidShelf's AI listens through the device microphone and matches spoken words against the text on screen. Correctly read words turn green, and the app highlights which word to read next. All processing happens on your device—no audio is sent to any server.

No. KidShelf never records, stores, or transmits audio. The speech recognition processes audio in real-time on your device and immediately discards it. Your child's voice never leaves your phone or tablet. See our Privacy Policy for complete details.

Yes! Our on-device speech recognition works 100% offline. You can put your device in airplane mode and the app will function fully. This is by design—we wanted to ensure your child's voice data physically cannot leave your device.

KidShelf includes a voice calibration feature that adjusts sensitivity to your child's unique voice. Go to Settings > Calibration and have your child read the practice words. The app will automatically optimize recognition for their speech patterns. You can also adjust the word matching sensitivity manually in Settings.

KidShelf tracks 16 speech patterns commonly monitored by Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs). These include sounds like R, L, TH, S, SH, CH, and various blends. The app identifies which sounds your child is mastering and which might need extra practice, giving you insights into their speech development.

No. KidShelf is an educational tool, not a medical or therapeutic device. Our speech pattern tracking can help identify potential areas of challenge, but if you have concerns about your child's speech development, please consult a qualified Speech-Language Pathologist or healthcare provider.

If your child struggles with certain sounds (like R or TH), the app can give extra leniency when matching those sounds. This prevents frustration while still tracking improvement. For example, if a child says "wabbit" for "rabbit," the app will still count it as correct while noting the substitution in the speech report.

Yes! KidShelf supports multiple child profiles, each with their own avatar, reading history, progress data, and speech analysis. Just tap the profile icon to switch between children or add a new profile.

Children earn XP (experience points) for reading activities. XP is awarded for completing stories, earning accuracy stars, reading words correctly, and maintaining reading streaks. As children accumulate XP, they level up through titles like "Beginner Reader" up to "Reading Champion."

Yes! Tapping any word while reading will pronounce it aloud, show syllable breakdown, and display the dictionary definition. This helps children learn new words independently without needing to interrupt reading to ask for help.

KidShelf includes a bundled library of stories to get started. You can download additional stories from our Story Store or browse public domain books from Project Gutenberg. All downloaded stories work offline once saved to your device.

Yes. KidShelf has no social features, no communication with strangers, no user-generated content sharing, and no advertising. All data stays on your device. We designed the app with children's safety as a top priority.

Yes. KidShelf complies with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). We don't collect personal information from children, don't require account creation, and don't transmit data to servers. All information stays locally on your device.

Since all data is stored locally on your device, you have complete control. You can delete a child's profile within the app settings, clear the app's data through your device settings, or simply uninstall the app to remove all data permanently.