FAQ

Getting Started

What is Kiddo AI?

Kiddo AI is an AI-powered personalized storybook platform for children ages 2-12. It creates unique stories where your child is the hero, tailored to their age, interests, and learning goals. Our friendly mascot Koda the Koala guides your family through the experience.

How do I create an account?

You can sign up instantly using your Google or Apple account. Simply open the app, tap 'Get Started', and choose your preferred sign-in method. No separate password is needed — authentication is handled securely through your existing account.

What age range is Kiddo AI designed for?

Kiddo AI is designed for children ages 2-12. Our AI adapts story complexity, vocabulary, illustrations, and themes based on your child's age and reading level to ensure age-appropriate content every time.

What languages does Kiddo AI support?

Kiddo AI supports 11 languages for story generation: English, Turkish, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, and Chinese. You can choose the language each time you create a new story.

Who is Koda?

Koda is our friendly koala mascot who guides your family through the Kiddo AI experience. Koda appears throughout the app — sharing daily wisdom, fun animal facts, parenting tips, and even changes outfits depending on the context (like wearing a writer's beret during story creation!). Visit Koda's Corner from the menu to interact with Koda directly.

Story Creation

How do I create a story?

Tap the 'Create Story' button in the center of the bottom navigation bar. You'll be guided through 4 simple steps: (1) Choose which child or children will star in the story, (2) Pick a story purpose like adventure, life lessons, or bedtime, (3) Customize the setting, visual style, language, and supporting characters, (4) Review your choices and generate the story. The AI will write and illustrate it in real time!

What story purposes can I choose from?

We offer 7 purpose categories to shape your story's message: Superhero Adventures (empowerment), Fun Quests & Adventures (entertainment), Learning Important Values, Life Lessons & Growth, Facing Fears & Obstacles (building resilience), Comfort & Understanding (emotional support), and Celebrating Special Moments. You can also add custom instructions to guide the AI further.

Can multiple children star in the same story?

Absolutely! During the 'Choose Child' step, you can select multiple children from your family. All selected children become co-protagonists in the story, making it a shared adventure they can enjoy together.

What visual styles are available for stories?

You can choose from 6 visual illustration styles: Pixar-Inspired (3D animated look), Watercolor Dreams (soft painted style), Comic Book Hero (bold graphic style), Classic Storybook (traditional illustration), Anime Adventure (Japanese animation style), and Realistic Photos. Each style creates a completely different visual experience for the same story.

What story settings can I choose?

Pick from exciting settings including Real World, Fantasy Realm, Space Adventure, Under the Sea, Historical Time, Nature, and Jungle/Forest — or let the AI decide the perfect setting for your story's purpose. The setting shapes the entire backdrop and atmosphere of the story.

Can I add supporting characters to stories?

Yes! You can add supporting characters from several sources: family members (so grandma or dad can appear in the story!), AI-generated characters, popular preset characters like Captain Adventure, Luna the Wise Owl, or Sparky the Dragon, and even randomly generated characters. Free users can add 1 supporting character per story, while Plus subscribers can add up to 3.

What is the 'Generate Ideas with AI' feature?

Stuck on what kind of story to create? During the story purpose step, tap 'Generate Ideas with AI' to get creative prompts and inspiration tailored to your child's profile. The AI suggests fun, age-appropriate story ideas based on your child's interests and the selected purpose.

Can I rewrite or regenerate a story?

Yes! After the AI generates your story, you can review it and choose to regenerate if you'd like a different version. Your available rewrite count is shown on screen. This lets you fine-tune the story until it's perfect.

How long does it take to generate a story?

Story text is generated in real time — you can watch it stream in as it's being written. After the text is ready, illustrations are generated for each page, which takes a bit longer. You'll see a progress screen showing the current status (creating pages, generating illustrations, finalizing). The entire process typically completes within a couple of minutes.

Reading Experience

How do I read a story?

Open any story from your Library or the Explore page, then tap 'Read' on the Story Details screen. The immersive reading view shows full-page illustrations with story text overlaid. Swipe left or right to turn pages, and tap anywhere to toggle the navigation overlay on and off (Zen mode).

What is Zen mode?

Zen mode creates a distraction-free reading experience. Tap the screen while reading to hide all navigation buttons and UI elements, leaving just the story and illustrations. Tap again to bring the controls back. A subtle progress bar stays visible so you always know how far through the story you are.

Can I customize the reading display?

Yes! While reading, open the settings to customize: Display Theme (Light, Dark, or Sepia), Text Size (6 levels from extra small to extra large), Auto-advance pages, Auto-play audio narration, and Show/hide the progress bar. All your preferences are saved for next time.

What is Child Mode?

Child Mode provides a simplified, child-friendly reading experience. It offers options to show or hide story text (great for picture-only viewing for younger kids), auto-advance pages, allow or block page skipping, and set a custom tap duration before advancing. You can enable Child Mode from the reading settings while reading a story.

Can I resume reading where I left off?

Yes! Kiddo AI automatically tracks your reading progress. When you return to a story you haven't finished, you'll see a 'Continue Reading' option on the Story Details screen and in your Library's Continue Reading section. You'll be taken right back to the page where you stopped.

What happens when I finish a story?

After reading the last page, you'll see an animated completion screen showing your stats: total pages read, reading time, and your current reading streak. From there you can read the story again, go back to your Library, or find similar stories in Explore.

Audio & Voice

How does audio narration work?

Kiddo AI can read stories aloud with AI-powered narration. Go to Menu > Audio & Voice to choose a narrator voice, adjust reading speed (0.8x to 1.2x), and set the narrator volume. During reading, toggle auto-play audio in the reading settings to have each page narrated automatically.

Can I choose different narrator voices?

Yes! Multiple named voice characters are available. Each voice has a gender indicator and you can preview any voice with a 3-second sample before selecting it. Your chosen narrator voice is saved and used for all future stories until you change it.

What is the difference between Standard and Premium audio?

Standard audio uses Google's text-to-speech engine, which is available on all plans. Premium audio uses ElevenLabs technology, providing more natural intonation, expressive delivery, and lifelike character voices. Premium audio is available for Plus subscribers.

Can I add background music to stories?

Yes! In Audio & Voice settings, enable background music and choose from multiple ambient music tracks. You can preview each track, adjust the music volume independently from the narrator volume, and the music plays softly behind the narration for an immersive atmosphere.

Library & Collections

How is my Library organized?

Your Library has three tabs: 'All' shows every completed story, 'By Child' lets you filter stories for a specific child using filter chips at the top, and 'Drafts' shows stories that are still being created or haven't been completed yet. You'll also find a Continue Reading section for stories in progress.

What are Collections?

Collections let you organize stories into custom groups — like 'Bedtime Favorites', 'Adventure Series', or 'Learning Stories'. From any Story Details screen, tap the collection icon to add it to an existing collection or create a new one. Collections are a premium feature available to Plus subscribers.

Can I save stories as favorites?

Yes! On the Story Details screen, tap the heart icon to add any story to your favorites. Favorited stories are easy to find and perfect for stories your child wants to revisit again and again.

Can I share stories with others?

Yes! On the Story Details screen, tap the share button to share a story with family and friends through any sharing method available on your device (messaging apps, email, social media, etc.).

Family & Children

How do I add a child profile?

Go to Menu > Children Profiles and tap the '+' button. Enter your child's name, age, avatar, and interests. These details help our AI create perfectly personalized stories — the more interests you add, the more tailored the stories become. You can edit or update profiles anytime.

Can multiple caregivers use Kiddo AI?

Yes! Kiddo AI supports family sharing. Go to Menu > Family Members to invite other caregivers by email. Each caregiver gets their own login while sharing access to the same children profiles, stories, and collections. The account admin can manage member roles and permissions.

What are family member roles?

There are two roles: Admin and Member. Admins can invite or remove family members, manage roles, and access all account settings. Members have full access to children's profiles, stories, and creation features but cannot manage other family members or account-level settings.

How do I manage family invitations?

As an admin, go to Menu > Family Members to see pending invitations. You can resend invitations to people who haven't accepted yet or cancel invitations that are no longer needed. Invited members will receive an email with instructions to join your family.

What is the Family Profile?

The Family Profile (Menu > Family Profile) is your family's identity in Kiddo AI. It shows your family name, avatar, cultural preferences, member count, and children count. It also provides quick stats and links to manage family members, children, and collections.

Subscriptions & Billing

What subscription plans are available?

Kiddo AI offers two plans: Free (limited story creation per month, standard audio, 1 supporting character per story) and Plus (expanded story limits, premium ElevenLabs audio, up to 3 supporting characters, collections, sharing, and more).

How do I upgrade or change my plan?

Go to Menu > My Plan to view available plans and upgrade. You can also go to Menu > Compare Plans to see a detailed feature comparison. Changes take effect immediately through your device's app store (Apple App Store or Google Play).

How do I manage billing and payments?

Billing is handled through your device's app store. Go to Menu > Billing & Payment to access the billing management center, view your subscription details, update payment methods, or cancel your subscription. All transactions are processed securely through Apple or Google.

What features are free?

Free users can create a limited number of stories per month, read all their stories, use standard Google TTS audio narration, add 1 supporting character per story, access the Explore page, track reading analytics, earn achievements, and use all reading customization features including Child Mode.

What do I get with Plus?

Plus subscribers unlock expanded story creation, premium ElevenLabs audio voices, up to 3 supporting characters per story, story collections, story sharing, cover image generation, illustration set generation, and priority access to new features.

Can I cancel my subscription?

Yes, you can cancel anytime through Menu > Billing & Payment or directly through your device's app store subscription settings. After cancellation, you'll retain access to Plus features until the end of your current billing period. Your existing stories and data remain accessible on the Free plan.

Explore & Discover

What is the Explore page?

The Explore page is where you discover new stories beyond what you've created. Browse trending stories of the week, new releases, and the most popular stories from the community. You'll also find Editor's Picks, AI-recommended stories personalized for your child, story series, and community favorites.

How does story search work?

Tap the search bar on the Explore page to search through all available stories by title, character, theme, or keyword. Results update as you type, making it easy to find exactly what you're looking for.

What are personalized recommendations?

The 'Perfect for [Your Child]' section on the Explore page shows AI-curated story recommendations based on your child's age, interests, and reading history. These suggestions get more accurate over time as your child reads more stories.

What are Story Series?

Story Series are multi-part serialized stories that continue across several installments. You can find them featured in a dedicated section on the Explore page — they're great for building anticipation and encouraging daily reading habits as your child follows an ongoing adventure.

Achievements & Rewards

How do achievements work?

Kiddo AI has a full gamification system to motivate reading! Earn milestones across 5 categories: Story (creating stories), Engagement (reading activity), Social (family features), Streaks (consecutive reading days), and Loyalty (long-term usage). Each category has Bronze, Silver, and Gold tiers with increasing goals.

What are badges?

Badges are special collectible awards with fun animal-themed icons. They're separate from milestones and are earned by completing specific achievements. Check your badge collection in Menu > Achievements & Rewards to see which badges you've earned and which ones are still in progress.

How do I claim rewards?

When you unlock a milestone or badge, a reward becomes available to claim. Go to the Achievements & Rewards hub to see pending rewards, then tap 'Claim' to collect them. Rewards include credits like bonus story generations. You can also browse the full reward catalog organized by Bronze, Silver, and Gold tiers.

What are reading streaks?

Reading streaks track consecutive days your family reads or listens to stories. Your current streak and personal best are displayed in Reading Analytics, along with a weekly calendar showing which days you've read. Reaching streak milestones unlocks special achievements and rewards!

Safety & Privacy

How is my child's data protected?

We take privacy very seriously. All data is encrypted in transit and at rest, we never share personal information with third parties, and we fully comply with COPPA (Children's Online Privacy Protection Act) and GDPR regulations. Your child's data is used solely to personalize their story experience within the app.

Is the AI content safe for children?

Absolutely. Our AI is specifically designed for children's content and follows strict safety guidelines. Every story is generated with age-appropriate vocabulary, themes, and imagery based on your child's age and reading level. The AI is culturally sensitive and avoids any inappropriate, scary, or harmful content.

What is Child Mode?

Child Mode is a simplified reading experience you can enable from the reading settings. It lets you control whether story text is shown, enable auto-advancing pages, block page skipping, and set a tap duration before pages advance — perfect for younger children who need a more guided experience.

How does Kiddo AI ensure age-appropriate stories?

When you set up a child's profile with their age and reading level, our AI uses this information to adapt story complexity, vocabulary, and themes accordingly. Stories for younger children use simpler language and gentler themes, while stories for older children can include more complex narratives and challenges.

Who can access my family's account?

Only people you explicitly invite through Menu > Family Members can access your family's stories and profiles. Each family member has their own login credentials (via Google or Apple sign-in), and the account admin controls who can join or be removed from the family.

Technical & General

What devices does Kiddo AI support?

Kiddo AI is available on iOS (iPhone and iPad) and Android devices. The app is built with React Native and Expo, ensuring a smooth, native experience on both platforms.

Do I need an internet connection?

Yes, an internet connection is required for most features including creating stories, browsing Explore, reading stories, and syncing your data. We recommend a stable Wi-Fi or cellular connection for the best experience, especially during story generation.

How do notifications work?

Kiddo AI sends helpful notifications for story completion, milestone unlocks, shared stories, reading streak milestones, new illustrations, reading reminders, new features, subscription alerts, and family invitations. You can enable or disable notifications and reading reminders in Menu > Notifications settings.

How do I track my child's reading progress?

Go to Menu > Reading Analytics for comprehensive stats including total stories read, total reading time, average session duration, current and best reading streaks, a weekly activity calendar, and per-child breakdowns. You can also view weekly trends as bar charts showing stories read or minutes spent each day.

How do I contact support?

Email us at hello@kiddoai.net and we'll reply as soon as we can. You can also reach our support team from inside the app at Menu > Contact Us. You can also find us on Instagram (@kiddoaiapp). We're here to help with any questions or issues you may have.

How do I rate the app?

We'd love to hear from you! Go to Menu and tap 'Rate Kiddo AI' to leave a review on the App Store or Google Play. Your feedback helps us improve and reach more families.