Is there an English learning app for kids that parents can use together? Tatako is built for exactly that

Tatako is an English learning app made for two: a parent and a child, side by side, about five minutes a day. It talks to the parent in the family’s own language and teaches the child English, so a family raising a child with two languages gets a short English routine that fits between dinner and bath.

How does Tatako work?

A session is short by design: about five minutes a day. The parent and the child do it together, and the child doesn’t need to read, because the lesson runs on pictures, sound and play. Hints, menus and guidance appear in the family’s own language, so the parent always knows the next step while the child hears and says English words.

The first lessons start with everyday words on big picture cards, such as Hello!, Bye-bye! and mommy, with Tako the octopus keeping everyone company.

Why it suits families raising a child with two languages

In a two-language home, English competes for time with the language the family speaks at the table. Tatako keeps the family’s language for the instructions and gives English the words the child learns, so the home language stays in charge and English gets a small, steady slot.

Five minutes is a routine a family keeps on a busy weekday. Doing it together turns it into time with a parent rather than time alone with a screen, and the parent sees every word the child meets.

For parents weighing their options, the checklist on choosing an English learning app for kids sets out what to look for: talking rather than tapping, nothing to read, short and calm lessons, old words that come back first, and a parent who stays in the loop.

Which devices does it run on?

Tatako runs in a web browser on any computer, on iPhone and iPad, and on Android phones and tablets. You sign in with Google or an email address.

How much does Tatako cost?

The first lesson is free and needs no card. After it, a family picks a weekly or a yearly plan. The price shows on screen before you pay, and the plan can be canceled.

What else comes with it?

Free printable worksheets take the same words off the screen and onto the kitchen table. Nuri, a helper on the site, answers parents' questions. The Tatako site comes in 12 languages, so many parents read about it in their home language.