StarWords - every word counts

Child’s early language app created by researchers

StarWords app is an early language online diary. It helps parents of young children to keep track of their children’s language development by registering their first words, new gestures, lexical innovations, early phrases, etc. By using the app regularly you get insight into your child’s progress: on top of the ongoing access to the data you enter, the app gives you access to various summary reports (e.g. the number of words your child uses, the evolution of the form or meaning of the word).

As an active user, you will gain access to bonus materials: podcasts featuring researchers discussing various aspects of children’s language and cognitive development, articles and news on these topics, as well as coloring pages created from your child’s first words.

The app was designed at the University of Warsaw by a team of researchers specialising in early language development and bilingualism (http://multilada.pl/) as a part of a study on early language trajectories in bilingual and monolingual children (http://multilada.pl/starwords). The app is for parents of children aged up to 24 months. When you register in the app, you become part of the StarWords study, but no worries, you may withdraw at any time, without giving a reason.

Though our project focuses on Polish-Norwegian and Polish-English bilingual children, we encourage families speaking other second languages and multilingual families to download our StarWords app. We have adapted the app to multiple languages and we hope you will find it interesting!

List of features:

Add a word: Write in your child’s new gestures, words, made-up words and phrases

Reports: See reports on how many words your child uses

Word’s evolution: See how your child’s words change with time

Extra: Get access to podcasts with researchers, articles on child development and many more!

The StarWords study is confidential and the collected data will only be used for scientific purposes. We maintain full confidentiality of the collected data, and the data are stored on servers located in the European Union. Results will always be presented collectively (e.g. in scientific articles or presentations). We do not distribute the individual data to any third parties. Your contact details (e.g. email address) will allow us to communicate with you during the project, will be confidential and will not be used without your knowledge and consent.