Over the last six months, we have been using Mentava with our 5-year-old son. He enjoys spending about 15 minutes each morning doing the lessons before preschool. Mentava has become part of our daily routine—and we've seen significant improvements in his reading abilities since he started.
What We Like:
1) Phonetics-Focused Lessons
• Sounding Out Words: Mentava emphasizes phonetic learning, encouraging kids to sound out words as they learn them.
• Pronunciation Over Letter Names: It might seem counterintuitive at first, but learning how letters are pronounced is more beneficial than simply knowing their names. The two don't always align when reading, and Mentava effectively highlights this distinction.
2) Short, Manageable Lessons:
• Ideal for Short Attention Spans: Lessons are broken into smaller chunks suitable for preschoolers' shorter attention spans. This design makes it ideal for daily practice without overwhelming the child.
• Consistent Progress: The manageable lesson sizes encourage regular learning, helping to establish a consistent reading habit.
3) Progress Tracking and Gamification:
• Engaging Characters: The app features playful farm animals that guide children through each lesson, making the learning experience fun and relatable.
• Visual Progress Mapping: Mentava shows progress through steps with tracking numbers and maps. Our son loves telling us his progress - "Level 72!!"
• Fun Rewards: After reaching certain milestones, the app lights up and sounds like a Vegas slot machine before a "dance party" comes on where the animals sing and dance. Our son and his younger sister love joining in for the 20-second dance breaks.
4) The Downside:
• No app can teach your child entirely on its own. With Mentava, some oversight is necessary to help when your child mispronounces something or doesn't fully understand a lesson. Being there to motivate and encourage your child makes the app much more effective. While the app does a lot of the heavy lifting, parents still need to be involved, though not 100% of the time.
Conclusion:
Mentava has been a great tool for helping our 5-year-old son learn to read. Its focus on phonetics, short lessons, and engaging games makes learning both effective and fun. We've seen real improvements in his reading skills, and keeping him motivated has been the real key. We recommend Mentava to parents looking for a better way to support their child's reading journey.
