Early Reader Preschool
Simple daily reading lessons
Free · Designed for iPad. Not verified for macOS.
Early Reader Preschool is a parent-led reading app designed for preschool-aged children, typically ages 3 to 6.
The app is based on the DISTAR (Direct Instruction System for Teaching Arithmetic and Reading) methodology — a research-backed approach that emphasizes explicit phonics instruction, carefully sequenced lessons, and immediate feedback. These principles have been used for decades to help young children learn to read effectively and with confidence.
Early Reader Preschool combines this structured approach with spaced repetition to support long-term retention. Skills are introduced gradually, reviewed intentionally, and reinforced over time, helping children remember what they learn without relying on games or distractions.
Lessons are short, clear, and designed to be completed together with a parent. The app avoids gamification, streaks, and reward systems. Instead, it focuses on consistency, clarity, and steady progress through daily practice.
Key Features
- Step-by-step reading lessons for preschoolers (ages 3–6)
- Explicit phonics-based instruction using DISTAR principles
- Real-time speech recognition for pronunciation checks
- Spaced repetition to reinforce learning over time
- Clear audio and visual prompts
- Structured curriculum designed for parent-guided use
- Works completely offline — no internet connection required
- No tracking: Child data stay on your device — no accounts, no data collection, no sharing.
The app includes a complete, pre-generated DISTAR-based curriculum with 721 total cards:
Letters (Phonemes): 31 - Individual letter sounds (a, m, s, etc.)
Digraphs: 12 - Two-letter combinations (sh, th, ch, etc.)
Words: 590 - Decodable words built from learned phonemes
Sentences: 88 - Simple sentences for reading practice
Total Cards: 721
This app is intended to be used for just a few minutes each day alongside your child. Many families find that starting early and following a clear, structured approach helps make learning to read feel more natural and less frustrating.
Early Reader Preschool is also available as free, open source software. You can view the source code or run it yourself at: https://github.com/melvinmt/early-reader-app
- Improved stability and performance across lessons
- Bug fixes and under-the-hood improvements
The developer, Instalabs Limited Liability Company, indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy .
Data Not Collected
The developer does not collect any data from this app.
Accessibility
The developer has not yet indicated which accessibility features this app supports. Learn More
Information
- Seller
- Instalabs Limited Liability Company
- Size
- 340.4 MB
- Category
- Education
- Compatibility
Requires iOS 15.1 or later.
- iPhone
Requires iOS 15.1 or later. - iPad
Requires iPadOS 15.1 or later. - iPod touch
Requires iOS 15.1 or later. - Mac
Requires macOS 15.1 or later and a Mac with Apple M1 chip or later.
- iPhone
- Languages
- English
- Age Rating
4+
- 4+
- Made for Ages 0–5
- Copyright
- © 2026 Instalabs, LLC