Amazing Apps: BabyFirst U-verse

With 97% of American babies under the age of 3 consuming television on a regular basis, the debate on the effects of watching TV should be less about whether or not they should be watching but rather what they should be watching. BabyFirst, the leading baby-focused media company dedicated to delivering quality education content for babies and their care givers via television, online and mobile, announced today, along with AT&T, the official release of the BabyFirst U-Verse App.  This revolutionary app, which is now available in the App Store, provides babies with their first-ever second screen experience, promoting both creativity and self-expression.

The app helps introduce growing children to colors, animals and shapes and enhances hand-eye coordination. Parents can download the app on their iPhone or iPad, which, when opened, connects immediately to the BabyFirst channel on U-verse TV. Parents and their babies can share their activity shapes and coloring pages from their mobile device to their TV screen with a simple touch of a button. 

I had a chance to interview the co-founder of BabyFirst, Sharon Recter, to learn more.

1.       What was the inspiration behind the app?

To offer kids and parents another way to interact and learn together.

2.       What ages is the app designed for?

Ages 1-4

3.       How do you respond to concerns about the effects of screen time on young kids?

According to Kaiser Family Foundation, 97% of babies under the age of 3 consume television on a regular basis. At BabyFirst we offer them the cleanest, safest TV viewing experience. The app allows babies and toddler to have an active experience and interact with the content on the television screen. It can help teach action and reaction and hand/eye movements and also help create a stronger bond between parent and child. And, since baby is creating art, the entire family can watch and cheer along. The BabyFirst U-verse app presents the traditional screen in a very untraditional way.

4.       What sets this app apart from other early childhood apps?

This app takes the engagement of the child and involves the entire family. Parents and siblings can take part in the experience, while the baby can interact with the app and customize his/her own television experience. Babies do not have much control at such an early age in their lives but here they can have a direct cause and effect on what they see before them.

BabyFirst’s U- verse App: AT&T U-verse High Speed Internet service is required to connect a qualifying device to an AT&T U-verse receiver. Certain U-verse Enabled apps are offered by non-AT&T third parties, and those third-parties terms and conditions apply to the download and use of such apps.