LitSpatz app inspires children: exciting reading trips through Chemnitz and Bamberg!

LitSpatz app inspires children: exciting reading trips through Chemnitz and Bamberg!

On August 21, 2025, it was announced that the LitSpatz app, which was introduced in Bamberg in 2023, would receive further digital expansions. This initiative aims to promote reading and listening among children. The app is the product of the creative work of Dr. habil. Nora Heyne, while Peter Kuntner took over the programming. By integrating virtual reality animations accessible via QR codes, an interactive learning experience is created specifically for children ages eight and up. University of Bamberg reports that the story “Audwin and the Hunt for the Treasure” has currently been revised and encourages children to master imaginary challenges at six stations in the old town of Bamberg.

A new version of the LitSpatz app was also released in Chemnitz, which has been telling the story “The Lost Duvet Cave Glow Wand” since August. This story follows Hunibert as he searches for his lost magic tool. The children are taken on a journey of discovery at ten stops in Chemnitz. Both app versions are accessible not only locally but also online, allowing for wider use. The apps include comprehensive accompanying materials such as audio texts, illustrations, maps and interactive questions that promote children's reading behavior.

Interactive media for children

Interactive media are a central part of modern children's education. These technologies combine informative stories with entertaining elements, making learning an exciting experience. Publishers are adapting children's books for tablets and smartphones by incorporating augmented reality effects. One example is the book “Jurassic World,” whose AR app brings dinosaurs to life. “Miss Hiccup and the Little Fart Cloud” and “Journey to the Moon” also offer exciting interactions that help children experience stories in new ways. Lunamag describes how such innovative approaches make reading much more appealing for the little ones.

This development supports the idea of ​​inquiry-based learning, in which children are active designers of their learning processes. With apps like “HP Reveal” you can combine your own content such as videos or voice recordings with analog media and thus create an augmented reality. Children's Research Foundation highlights that these approaches encourage children to switch meaningfully between digital and analogue media and to decide when which type of media is best suited.

The LitSpatz app and similar offerings show how technology can be used in early childhood education to increase interest in reading and learning. Providing access codes that parents can request ensures that these innovative learning tools are used securely and in a privacy-compliant manner. The underlying goal is to promote reading behavior as well as skills in listening and understanding literary texts in children.