Parents

Screens are a reality of modern childhood. The research is clear: it's not about eliminating screen time—it's about making it count. Storypie is built on evidence-based principles to turn screen minutes into learning moments.

View Research Studies Explore the Research

The Screen Time Reality

Research shows screens are embedded in family life—and parents need better options

62%

of parents feel guilty about their child's screen time

Lurie Children's Hospital, 2025

49%

of parents use screens daily as a 'digital babysitter'

Lurie Children's Hospital, 2025

54%

of parents worry their child is addicted to screens

Lurie Children's Hospital, 2025

3h 28m

average daily screen time for kids ages 5-8

Common Sense Media, 2025

The Parent Guilt Paradox

Parents feel conflicted, but screens serve real needs

48% of parents use screens so they can get things done
34% say it's because they couldn't find childcare
25% say it's because they couldn't afford childcare
1 in 5 families use devices for bedtime, meals, or emotional regulation

Lurie Children's Hospital & Common Sense Media, 2025

Storypie Insight Screens aren't going away—they're childcare infrastructure. Storypie makes that time higher-quality and lower-stress.

69%

of parents actively monitor what content their child consumes

80%

of parents say social media harms outweigh benefits for kids

55%

of parents believe screen use negatively impacts their child

75-80%

express concerns about excessive use, content quality, and addiction

Managing Screen Time Is Hard

Parents want help, not lectures

42% of parents say they could do better at managing screen time
About 4 in 10 parents say it's difficult to manage their child's screen time
Half of parents say their child spends too much time on screens
67% say tech companies should do more to set rules for kids online

Pew Research Center, 2025

Storypie Insight Parents want structural solutions, not more willpower. Storypie is the 'set it and exhale' option.

14 min/day

short-form video for kids 0-8 (up from 1 min/day in 2020)

65%

increase in gaming among kids 0-8 since 2020

52%

of kids 5-8 read daily (down from 64% in 2020)

85%

of parents say their child watches YouTube (half daily)

The Scale of Screen Use

Screens are everywhere—quality becomes the differentiator

51% of kids ages 0-8 have their own mobile device
9 in 10 parents say their child watches TV; 68% use tablets; 61% use smartphones
Only 35.6% of children ages 2-5 meet screen time recommendations
By age 10, 93% of children have internet access (across OECD countries)

Common Sense Media, JAMA Pediatrics, OECD

Storypie Insight You're not fighting 'whether screens'—you're upgrading 'what screens are for.'

High Use Concentrates in Vulnerable Populations

Families who need better options the most have the fewest choices

58.9% of children in poverty have 'high' screen time (≥14 hrs/week)
73.8% of children with ASD have high screen time
50% of kids ages 2-5 have high screen time nationally

JAMA Network Open, 2024

Storypie Insight Storypie can be a high-impact 'better default' for families who rely more on screens.

How Storypie Addresses These Challenges

Evidence-based design for learning-first screen time

Safe by Design

Ad-free, thoroughly vetted content that parents can trust. No algorithm-driven rabbit holes, no unexpected content.

Learning Built In

Every story includes comprehension questions using retrieval practice—a technique proven to enhance retention.

Audio-First Engagement

Professional narration helps kids imagine and engage. Research shows 42.3% of children enjoy listening more than reading.

Multilingual Support

27 languages support ELL students, heritage language learners, and diverse families.

Age-Appropriate Content

Content banded for developmental stages (3-5, 6-8, 8-10, 10-12) with appropriate vocabulary and complexity.

Parent Peace of Mind

A 'set it and exhale' option—educational content parents can feel good about.

Our Learning Methodology

Built on proven educational principles

First-Person Narration

Stories told BY the subject create deeper connections. Meet historical figures, explore habitats through animals' eyes, and experience events firsthand.

Retrieval Practice

Gentle comprehension questions after each story reinforce learning. Research shows this technique reliably enhances retention in school-age learners.

Frontiers in Psychology, National Library of Medicine

Dialogic Engagement

Our printable discussion guides help parents and teachers extend conversations, building vocabulary and comprehension.

Reading Rockets

Empathy Through Story

Systematic reviews connect children's storybook reading with empathy and prosocial behavior. First-person storytelling makes this even more powerful.

Frontiers in Psychology, 2019

Research Sources

All statistics cited on this page come from peer-reviewed research and reputable institutions

Lurie Children's Hospital

Screen Time 2025 Survey

Common Sense Media

The Common Sense Census: Media Use by Kids Age Zero to Eight, 2025

Pew Research Center

How Parents Manage Screen Time for Kids

JAMA Pediatrics

Screen Time Guidelines Adherence Study

JAMA Network Open

Screen Time Distribution in US Children

BMC Public Health (Springer Nature)

Global Screen Time Patterns in Children

OECD

How's Life for Children in the Digital Age

Research FAQ

Is Storypie backed by research?

Storypie's design is informed by decades of peer-reviewed research on literacy, audio learning, retrieval practice, and child development. We cite real sources throughout this page, and we're committed to transparency about what the research does (and doesn't) say.

Do you conduct your own research?

We're actively seeking academic partners to study Storypie's impact on literacy outcomes, vocabulary development, and family engagement. If you're a researcher interested in collaboration, please contact us.

Where can I learn more about the studies cited?

All sources are linked throughout this page. We encourage you to read the original research—we believe in transparency and want parents and educators to make informed decisions.

Want to Learn More?

Contact our education team for detailed research summaries, implementation guides, and information about research partnerships.

Contact Education Team

For Schools & Districts