Epic reading app: What every parent needs to know

In an era when tablets and smartphones have become more than mere communication tools, the Epic reading app is a beacon for parents who want their children to grow up loving books.

With the physical pages turning into touch screens, an innovative platform such as Epic is changing how young generations approach reading.

In this article, we will find out what parents should know about this fantastic app, what books it has in its database, and what attracts kids to use it.

What is Epic?

Epic is a subscription service that provides users with unlimited access to texts, audiobooks, videos, and educational games.

It offers clients access to over 40000 children’s high-quality books from several renowned publishers across different areas of focus and reading levels.

The Epic app brings fun to reading by having a kids-friendly interface and incorporating aspects of playing into the app so that people develop the habit of reading. Moreover, Epic has tools for parents and teachers to monitor reading levels and recommend books. 

Even better, you can access Epic on tablets, smartphones, and computers as it is designed to enable reading anytime, anywhere in the world. Schools and homes mostly use it to supplement conventional paper-based reading products and enhance learning

About the fees of the Epic reading app

Many parents wonder, “Is Epic reading app free?” The answer is both yes and no, as Epic offers both free and paid options:

Free version

With this option, you would have access to:

• A version for educators is available.
• Restricted for students during school time.
• Allows access to the fundamentals and limited books.

Paid subscription plans

For home use, the free version is very limited, and in order to make the most of the app, a paid subscription is required. Epic sometimes gives its users a free trial for a specified period in order to enable them to use essential features of the software level before subscribing to it.

Various book genres on Epic

Epic offers a wide range of books and has a collection that would appeal to every child of every age. From classic tales to contemporary adventures, you’ll find a wide range of genres, including:

1. Fiction: Have fun in adventurous tales and learn about fantasy, mystery, and more.
2. Non-fiction: Read books on science, history, animals, and much more to learn about the world around us.
3. Early readers: Recommended for early learners, these books have very small text and are packed with cute pictures.
4. Chapter books: These books are effective for children who are slightly older because they can understand longer stories with more intricate storylines.
5. Graphic novels: They have some interesting stories that combine text and images.

Features of Epic app

Epic’s user interface is clear and easy to use. For those wondering how to use Epic to access these diverse offerings, once you’ve downloaded the app and created an account, you can:

• Browse the library: Find out about various genres, the content suitable for children, and other collections highlighted by the company.
• Search for specific books: You can use the search bar to look for titles, authors, or any other keyword.
• Create reading lists: Sort books by your preferences and create different lists.
• Read books: Click on the cover of the book to read it. You can control the font size and color of the paper, as well as the background and other features, if you want.
• Listen to audiobooks: Most of the books on Epic also come with audiobooks for the same content.
• Take quizzes: There are more fun features of the site, one of which is the ability to take an interactive quiz and check your knowledge of the stories.

Epic enables families to find new books to read together, monitor the child’s reading level, and develop literacy skills for a lifetime of learning.

What age group is the Epic reading app for?

The Epic reading app is marketed for children 12 years old and below, focusing on books that children from preschool, lower and upper elementary would be interested in. 

Here’s a breakdown:

• 2-5 years: Read aloud’s and picture books
• 6-8 years: Easy bedtime reader books and first-chapter books
• 9-12 years: More sophisticated-sounding chapter books and non-fiction

While Epic targets this age group, children’s reading skills and preferences might also change as they transition to adolescence.

This period of development is also marked by the ability of the subject to regulate self and be individualistic on the kind of media to partake in.

What are the pros and cons of Epic?

As one of the largest and most well-known sites for children’s books, Epic has much to offer to kids and their caregivers. However, like any other applications that are based on the internet connection, it has its drawbacks as well. 

Benefits of using the Epic app for reading

1. Vast digital library: Epic has millions of books ranging from audio, read-aloud, and educational videos available and open for all levels of learning.

2. Interactive features: Many of the books accessible in Epic are further provided with supplementary materials, including tests, games, and clippings, to make the actual reading comprehension engaging.

3. Personalized recommendations: The app selects the books that the child should read next; hence, the child will always have something to read at any given time.

4. Offline reading: Another function that sets Epic apart from other reading applications is the offline reading plan so that children may read to the full extent, even if there is no Internet connection.

5. Parental controls: Parents can set reading goals, define how much time the child spends in the application, and even monitor what the child is doing in it.

Drawbacks of using the Epic reading app

1. Subscription cost: the application is free, but some of the sections are available only if the user has a paid version of the application. This may be quite costly to some families.

2. Screen time overuse: Like any other tool used with screens, there are side effects related to it. One should promote moderate use of the screen and safety with controlled but enjoyable time on it.

3. Limited social interaction: This is good for learning about books but lacks the interactive approach where one can read to another or sit with a friend to discuss what was read.

4. Potential for technical issues: Like in any other internet-based app, the reader is always exposed to technicalities that may interdict the flow of reading.

Is Epic a safe reading app?

Epic is a children-oriented platform, and the organization is dedicated to providing a safe and positive reading environment. Here are some of the safety features and practices in place:

1. Age-appropriate content: Epic is very selective on the books and videos that are available to the children.

2. Parental controls: Many features are designed to ensure that the child has a healthy amount of screen time, reads a certain number of books, and even controls the child’s activity on the application.

3. No advertising: Epic does not have any advertisements that may lead to children being exposed to bad content.

4. Privacy and security: For the purpose of preserving children’s personal information, the app complies with specific privacy standards.

5. Regular updates: Epic has been very active in updating the application to fix security flaws and enhance the interface design.

Of course, no digital platform will always be flawless and without risks, but Epic has done a lot to make the reading experience safe and fun for kids.

Being attentive to children and talking about being safe while interacting with this application will contribute to the child’s safety when using the application.

Is Epic books worth it?

When considering whether Epic books are worth the investment, it’s important to weigh their value against individual family needs and circumstances.

Epic can be worth it for families who:

• Have enthusiastic young consumers of books who read fast.
• Motivate the learners who seem to have less interest in reading.
• A large list of targeted books with few library trips.
• Appreciate information delivered in a fun element.
• Enjoy the mobility of reading across devices.

However, it may not be worth it if:

• Your children still prefer having physical books.
• You have convenient visibility of a nearby public building with sufficient stocks of books.
• Money is scarce, and any cheaper source of reading is adequate.
• You have issues related to the excessive use and reliance on gadgets or screens.

Ultimately, Epic’s value will be based on how suitable it is for your household, educational philosophy, and wallet.

To ensure that it can meet your needs regarding the information you need, you can take advantage of its free trials to know more about its effectiveness before subscribing.

Should parents track kids’ reading time in the digital age?

In a world where children are exposed to many screens, parents must pay particular attention to their children’s reading.

Monitoring the reading time could help establish how a child interacts with the books and how the parents can encourage him or her to develop proper reading habits.

Here are some reasons why parents might want to track their children’s reading time:

1. Establish healthy habits: It is equally important to track reading time. It is like brushing your teeth or having meals, but it becomes routine.

2. Set achievable goals: Thus, parents can assist their children feel motivated and accomplished by setting goals for reading.

3. Monitor progress: This feature lets parents monitor how their child is progressing with their reading over time.

4. Identify areas of interest: It is easy to recommend books or to support such a child when one is aware of the type of books a child enjoys.

5. Balance screen time: Parents can thus be able to monitor the time a child spends reading to avoid being trapped in screens for long.

Parents should control the time children spend reading. Their ongoing interest in books depends on this balance.

Bonus: How to ensure balanced reading habits?

As children advance in their age and their reading level, issues with self-control arise, particularly when it comes to technology.

Of course, there are apps such as Epic that provide a rich selection of materials for kids to read; however, children must not spend all their time in front of screens.

This is where tools such as FlashGet Kids – a parental control application – can be of tremendous help when it comes to establishing healthy reading routines.

FlashGet Kids provides several features to help parents ensure their children maintain healthy digital reading routines:

Usage Report and App Time Limits:

FlashGet Kids has a usage report feature to allow parents to monitor how their kids spend their time on different applications, especially the Epic app.

This is particularly helpful in identifying reading patterns and determining the total amount of time spent in front of screens. The app’s time limits feature is handy for maintaining balance:

• The specific time should be allocated for Epic and other reading applications.
• Make arrangements that allow you to relate the child to his/her family schedule (for instance, reading time after homework).
• Slowly introduce restrictions to help them learn how to manage their time well.
• Reduce the time a child spends in front of the screen while at the same time promoting daily reading.

Screen Mirroring:

The screen mirroring feature helps young children who need more assistance. It also allows parents to be more involved in their kids’ reading process

• It addresses the need for real-time parental guidance during reading sessions:
• Parents can access their child’s Epic screen on their own personal devices.
• Enables observation of child progress without overbearing surveillance of the child
• Allows parents to control the type of books their child reads or help with the pronunciation of the text.
• Enables children to read together even if they cannot be in the same physical location.
• It assists parents in being assured that their children are reading instead of simply surfing.

Through these features, parents may guide their children to have good self-control and a proper approach to reading.

The purpose is to develop a passion for reading, which is very important for children as they grow up to deal with even more complicated interfaces.

The bottom line

The Epic reading app can be an effective tool for shaping readers and facilitating interest in books and learning. Nevertheless, like any other digital platform, it should be appropriately used under supervision and with moderation.

Applications like FlashGet Kids can play a decisive role in maintaining this balance, as they include options such as usage overview, controls, and display duplication.

Families can amalgamate Epic’s rich content with other programs like FlashGet Kids to maintain healthy digital reading and develop traditional literacy skills.

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