TaleMate: Exploring the use of Voice Agents for Parent-Child Joint Reading Experiences

TL;DR

TaleMate is a platform that uses conversational voice agents to enhance joint reading experiences between parents and children, promoting engagement and learning in digital reading contexts.

Contribution

It introduces a novel voice agent system that supports interactive, character-based storytelling to improve parent-child shared reading activities.

Findings

Increases children's engagement during digital reading sessions.

Facilitates interactive character embodiment for children and parents.

Bridges traditional and digital reading practices effectively.

Abstract

Joint reading is a key activity for early learners, with caregiver-child interactions such as questioning and feedback playing an essential role in children's cognitive and linguistic development. However, for some parents, actively engaging children in storytelling can be challenging. To address this, we introduce TaleMate a platform designed to enhance shared reading by leveraging conversational agents that have been shown to support children's engagement and learning. TaleMate enables a dynamic, participatory reading experience where parents and children can choose which characters they wish to embody. Moreover, the system navigates the challenges posed by digital reading tools, such as decreased parent-child interaction, and builds upon the benefits of traditional and digital reading techniques. TaleMate offers an innovative approach to fostering early reading habits, bridging the gap between traditional joint reading practices and the digital reading landscape.