Downloading a new app is easy. Building a habit around it is the hard part. This guide walks you through exactly what to do in the first ten minutes after installing Aksharamaala — and what to expect in the first week — so the learning actually sticks.
Before you open the app: one decision to make
Which language do you want your child to learn first?
Aksharamaala currently supports Hindi, Kannada, Tamil, and Telugu. If your child has some exposure to one of these through family conversations, start there — even partial exposure gives the brain a huge head start. If they have no exposure to any, choose the one most connected to your family's heritage and identity.
The app is built around one language at a time — think of it as depth over breadth. Start with the one that matters most.
The first ten minutes
Download and open the app
Open the App Store or Google Play, search for "Aksharamaala," and install. No account needed — the app gets you started right away.
Complete the short onboarding
The app first asks you to choose a language — Hindi, Kannada, Tamil, or Telugu — then your child's name. That's the full setup. No forms, no passwords. Done in under a minute.
Start the first lesson
The first lesson begins with vowels — the foundation of every Indian script. Let your child work through it at their own pace. Don't correct or rush. Just watch.
Set a daily goal and a reminder
Open Settings in the app and choose a daily balloon goal — 10 is a solid starting point for a new learner, and you can raise it as they build confidence. Then open your phone's clock or alarm app and set a reminder for the same time each day. Goal plus trigger is the complete habit setup.
What to expect in the first week
Day 1–2: Everything is new. Your child will probably be curious and engaged. The flashcards, quizzes, and rewards are designed to hook attention early. Let them explore freely.
Day 3–4: The novelty fades a bit. This is normal — almost every learner hits this window. The streak counter starts to matter here. If they need a nudge, sit with them for a session rather than leaving them to it alone. There's more on handling this stretch — and what actually works — in how to make practice a daily habit.
Day 5–7: The first real progress. By the end of the first week, most children can recognize and name several vowels or consonants they couldn't before. Point this out explicitly. "You knew that one! You didn't last week." Progress that is noticed sticks.
Setting the right time limit
The free plan includes 15 minutes of daily practice — a well-calibrated amount to build a habit without overwhelming a young learner. When your child is consistently using the full session and still engaged at the end, that's a good signal they're ready for more. The Pro plan extends the daily limit to 30 minutes, with more content to match.
Start with what's built in. There's no need to rush the upgrade — but it's there when they outgrow the free limit.
How to talk about it at home
The most effective thing you can do outside the app is speak the language at home — even a few words or phrases. But if that's hard right now, you can still reinforce learning by:
- Asking your child to show you what they learned today ("Teach me that letter")
- Using the words they've learned in context ("Can you say 'water' in Kannada?")
- Celebrating streaks and milestones alongside them, not just monitoring from a distance
The app works best as a complement to language at home, not a replacement for it. Even a small amount of natural language exposure alongside structured practice accelerates learning dramatically.
When to upgrade to Pro
Start with the free plan. If your child is hitting the daily time limit and wanting more, or if you have multiple children who each need their own profile and progress tracking, that's the signal to upgrade. There's no pressure to do it on day one.
Ready to start?
Download Aksharamaala free and follow the steps above. Your child can be learning in ten minutes.
Get the app →