The science behind Kobi's evidence-based approach to children's learning and play
Kobi is built on a simple idea: technology should help children spend more time in the real world, not less. Every feature in our app is informed by peer-reviewed research on child development, screen time, and learning.
Balanced technology — Screen time is brief and purposeful; the real experience happens offline with printed books.
Meaningful screen time — Every minute on-screen produces lasting, educational, physical materials.
Offline-first — Children interact with paper, crayons, and puzzles, not pixels and notifications.
Personalized engagement — Research shows children learn more when content features their own name.
Four evidence-based principles for managing screen time: minimizing, mitigating, mindfully using, and modelling healthy screen use. A foundational framework for pediatric digital health guidance.
Introduces the 5W framework (Who, What, Where, Why, When) for mindful digital use with young children. Provides parents and educators with a structured approach to evaluating screen-based activities.
Comprehensive review of screen time effects across cognitive, language, physical, and social-emotional development domains. Finds both positive and negative impacts depending on content quality and context.
Outdoor play stimulates cognitive, social, and emotional growth that extends well beyond physical well-being. Children who spend more time outdoors show improved attention, creativity, and social skills.
Benefits of outdoor play are greater when it occurs in contexts that include nature. Natural environments provide unique sensory and exploratory experiences unavailable indoors.
Systematic review showing nature play supports physical, cognitive, social-emotional, and motor development in early childhood. Nature-based activities provide holistic developmental benefits.
Research linking outdoor play with school readiness outcomes, demonstrating that children who engage in regular outdoor play show better preparedness for formal education.
Travel creates family bonding experiences and teaches children patience, adaptability, and cultural awareness. Family travel contributes positively to psychological well-being for both parents and children.
Family tourism is driven by promoting togetherness, keeping bonds alive, and creating shared memories. The study identifies core motivations that distinguish family travel from other tourism segments.
Uses social cognitive theory framework to show how children learn informally through family travel. Children acquire knowledge through observation, imitation, and guided participation during trips.
Examines how different types of family bonding activities and time spent together affect young children's social-emotional development outcomes.
Personalized books significantly increase parent-child engagement during shared reading sessions. Children show greater attention, involvement, and emotional response when their name appears in stories.
Personalization features significantly impact shared reading engagement between parents and children. Digital personalization creates stronger emotional connections to the material.
Personalized storybooks impact perceived similarity between child and character, enhancing moral lesson comprehension and prosocial behavior. Children identify more strongly with personalized protagonists.
Personalized content significantly impacts children's reading engagement by reducing the psychological distance between the reader and story characters. Closer identification leads to deeper comprehension.
Shared reading reduces parenting stress and increases relational health between parent and child. The benefits extend beyond language development to emotional bonding and stress reduction.
Reading together contributes to cognitive and linguistic development AND emotional security and attachment. Identifies both barriers and enablers for regular shared reading practice.
Apps represent a meaningful chance for informal learning if designed appropriately. The key distinction is between passive consumption and active, educational engagement.
Well-designed, age-appropriate apps foster play and creativity including language, music, and art. The quality of digital content matters more than raw screen time quantity.
Identifies four pillars of high-quality educational apps: Active Learning, Engagement, Meaningful Learning, and Social Interaction. High-quality apps score well across all four design facets.
E-books and learning apps can improve early reading skills and creative thinking when used appropriately. The study distinguishes between excessive passive screen time and purposeful educational use.
Coloring activities show significant improvement in creativity and fine motor skills in young children. Regular coloring practice builds hand-eye coordination and artistic confidence.
Children aged 4-5 who regularly color show improvements in fine motor coordination. Science-themed coloring books add educational value beyond motor skill development.
Puzzle play is linked to spatial thinking and later STEM success. Children who engage in puzzles early show stronger spatial reasoning abilities throughout development.
Research from the University of Valencia finds that reading in print format boosts comprehension by 6-8 times compared to reading digital text. Physical reading materials create deeper cognitive engagement.
Comprehensive meta-analysis spanning 20 years of research confirms print superiority for reading comprehension. The tactile and spatial properties of physical reading materials enhance memory and understanding.
Cross-disciplinary perspectives on AI integration in children's environments. Explores both opportunities and risks of AI-powered tools in educational and developmental contexts.
UNICEF's framework for responsible AI use with children, covering privacy, safety, fairness, and transparency. Establishes international standards for child-facing AI systems.
AI influences learning, social interactions, and creative activities in children's lives. Examines how AI tools can be designed to support rather than undermine healthy development.