Where the Idea Began
Since joining the Founder Institute, I’ve been speaking with parents to better understand the challenges they face managing screen time for kids aged 5–13. Almost every conversation ends with the same question: “How did this idea come about, and why are you so passionate about it?”
The idea for BlockLearn started at home with my youngest daughter. When she was in primary school, I would help her practice her times tables. The deal was simple: once she finished her practice, she could enjoy some iPad time. Like many parents, I trusted her when she said she had practiced on her own. But over time, I realised the learning wasn’t really happening – she was skipping straight to the reward.
That’s when the idea clicked: what if screen time could be directly tied to real learning? What if children had to complete meaningful practice before unlocking entertainment on their device?
The Bigger Challenge
Today, the challenge is much bigger than times tables. Children are spending more time on devices than ever before. While technology can be an incredible tool for learning and creativity, too much unstructured screen time can affect focus, sleep, and social development.
Parents often feel torn – allowing device use because it keeps children entertained, but worrying about the long-term impact. This is why so many families are searching for healthy screen time solutions and learning apps for children that balance fun with education.
How BlockLearn Helps
BlockLearn was designed to solve this problem by turning screen time into something positive. Instead of endless scrolling or gaming, children unlock their device time by completing short, gamified, curriculum-aligned lessons.
For parents, this removes the guilt of “giving in” to screen time. For children, it builds healthy screen time habits while still giving them access to the entertainment they enjoy. It’s a simple but powerful way to make educational technology work for families, not against them.
Join the Journey
BlockLearn is built from real parent experiences – including my own. If you’d like to follow along reach out to Derek, derek@blocklearnapp.com