Summer Reading with Kindle Paperwhite and Kindle FreeTime

Thursday, August 03, 2017

It never fails. Every time we plan a road trip to spend a couple of days with my parents, the kids go through Wi-Fi withdrawal. You see, my parents don't have Internet. In fact, they don't even own a computer. This makes for an ideal scenario to get the kids caught up on their reading. Truth be told, this isn't always at the top of their list for summertime fun. My son would rather be outside playing with his friends, while my daughter would prefer arts and crafts. The problem is I don't want them to grow up being the reluctant reader that I was as a kid. Decoding was easy. It was the comprehension that was lacking. And it took me forever to finish a book. For this reason, I am so grateful that my kids have a Kindle Paperwhite e-reader.

The Kindle Paperwhite has so many great features that make reading enjoyable. It reads like a book in that it is lightweight and boasts a high resolution display that has no glare in bright sunlight. The text is sharp and dark, and the adjustable built-in front light won't strain the eyes so you can enjoy reading day and night. And the battery life is pretty amazing, lasting up to six weeks. Because really, who wants to hear, "Mom, my device ran out of battery!" while stuck on the highway for two hours?

The hardware specs are indeed impressive but, for me, there are so many great features in the software as well. Take, for instance, Kindle's Vocabulary Builder. If my kids are ever stuck on a word, they can look it up in the built-in dictionary. These words are automatically added to Vocabulary Builder where they can quiz themselves with flashcards or see the words in context. The Word Wise feature is also brilliant. Designed for young readers, Word Wise automatically shows short and simple definitions above challenging words, which they can tap to see additional definitions, synonyms and more. My kids particularly like the ability to customize their reading experience by adjusting the size of the text and the font, and love that the Kindle will automatically bookmark the last page they read. And if they want, they can pick up reading where they left off using the free Kindle app on their iPad.

Kindle Paperwhite Kindle FreeTime Achievements

The obvious benefits of being able to access and download thousands of books on the Kindle Paperwhite go without saying. I've found some great books for the kids at really low prices, such as the Anne of Green Gables Collection for $1.29. I have also added a variety of free titles such as the classic A Tale of Two Cities. But as a parent, I truly appreciate that the Kindle doesn’t distract the kids with social media and text messages, for example, and that I have the ability to block browsing and purchasing in the Kindle Store. Of particular note is the Kindle FreeTime application, a brilliant and engaging way to motivate the kids to read. I started by creating profiles for each of my kids and then customized their reading goals and selected books according to their preference. This is great because, if they both want to read the same book, they can. And I only have to pay for it once! I also love the ability to track their progress and celebrate milestones such as ‘Read 1000 pages’. Gamification is all abuzz these days! Not surprisingly, my kids really enjoy earning achievement badges and competing with one another. My only wish was that it didn't require a Parental Controls password each time they want to switch to between their profiles. Luckily, my daughter has her own Kindle, and my son and I share our new Paperwhite.

If you're thinking of purchasing a Kindle, I'd highly recommend an Amazon cover. They fit the Kindle perfectly, providing protection without the bulk. It also helps to keep the screen clean and automatically puts the Kindle to sleep when closed or wakens it when opened.

Win a $100 Amazon.ca Gift Card!

To help you and your little ones celebrate reading milestones with Kindle FreeTime, one lucky reader will win a $100 Amazon.ca gift card! This could be used to purchase the Kindle E-reader, which currently retails for $79.99, a protective cover or even to update your e-library. Simply leave a comment on this post sharing what you love most about the Kindle Paperwhite or the Kindle FreeTime feature and complete the form below. Open to residents of Canada, excluding Quebec.

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Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. I received product samples and other perks to help facilitate this review. Any opinions expressed in this post are my own.