Solve To Play

Solve To Play is an iPhone and iPad app that locks games and other apps until your kid solves a few math tasks.

HOW IT WORKS You choose which apps, categories and websites stay locked. When your kid opens one, they get a short round of math tasks. Once they've solved them, the apps open for a set time (30 minutes unless you change it) and then lock again.

The lock uses Apple's Screen Time, so iOS does the blocking, not the app. On their own device, your kid can't delete the app without your approval.

WHEN YOUR KID GETS STUCK There's no timer. A wrong answer stays on screen for another try, and a picture of dots helps your kid count their way to the answer.

After the third wrong try the app shows the answer and your kid types it in. Tasks your kid missed turn up again in later rounds.

WHAT YOU CAN SET • How many tasks per round (3 to 20) • How long the apps stay open (5 minutes to 3 hours) • How many unlocks per day (1 to 12, or no limit) • Extra rounds for stars: on or off, and how many per day • Which apps, categories and websites stay locked

The settings are behind a four-digit PIN. If your kid has earned some extra time, you can give them an unlock that doesn't count toward the daily limit.

STARS AND THE SHOP Every solved task earns a star. Your kid spends stars in the shop on hats, glasses, toys and backgrounds for their character. Stars never buy playtime, and they can't be bought with money.

When the apps are already open or the day's playtime is over, your kid can keep solving extra rounds just for stars.

THREE LOOKS Your kid picks how the app looks: Classic, Kawaii or Space, and one of four app icons. A daily streak counts the days in a row they've solved a round.

WHICH MATH TASKS During setup you pick your kid's school grade and the app turns on the task types that fit. You can switch each type on or off and set its numbers at any time. • Times tables: 7 × 8, from 1×1 up to 20×20 • Missing number: 7 × ? = 56, 7 + ? = 10, 13 − ? = 9 • Division: 56 ÷ 7 • Double and half: double 8, half of 14 • Number sequences: 3, 6, 9, ? and 40, 35, 30, ? • Place value: 3 H 4 T 7 O = ?, 347 = 3 H ? T 7 O • Number neighbors: Neighbors of 47: ? and 48, 47 is between ? and 50 • Rounding: Round 47 to tens: ? • Counting: How many stars? (up to 10 or 20) • Fraction of an amount: ½ of 8, ¼ of 20 • Unit conversion: 3 m = ? cm, 300 cm = ? m (also km, kg, l, h, min) • Read the clock: What time is it? Full hours down to every minute • Two steps: 3 + 4 × 2, × before + and − • Plus and minus: 8 + 5, 13 − 5, with numbers up to 10, 20, 50, 100 or 1000 • Number walls: each brick is the sum of the two below it • Compare numbers: 47 ◯ 52, 3 + 4 ◯ 9

YOUR DATA There's no account and no ads, and the app doesn't track anything. Settings and progress stay on the device. The app sends us anonymous crash reports and usage statistics so we can fix bugs and improve it. You can turn that off in the settings.

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