Families
Your Child's First Session
What to expect the first time your child uses Scribble. How to set them up and step back.
The first session sets the tone. Your job is to get them signed in, give a quick orientation, and then let the app do the teaching.
Before you hand over the iPad
- Charge the iPad and Apple Pencil. A first session is short, but a dead Pencil mid-session is the kind of thing that breaks the spell.
- Check the screen protector is on flat and clean.
- Sign in. Open Scribble, enter your family email, paste the one-time code, and pick your child's profile.
- Find a quiet spot. Cursive practice is calm work. A kitchen table or a quiet corner is ideal.
The first few minutes
The app opens to a short orientation. Your child sees their name, picks up the Pencil, and is walked through what to do. Most six-year-olds can follow the on-screen instructions without help.
You'll see your child do one or two of these in their first session:
- A warmup — a short daily activity to get their hand moving.
- An intro lesson — the first cursive letter shape.
- A lesson — focused practice on a specific letter or stroke.
What good practice looks like
- Short sessions are fine. Ten to fifteen minutes is plenty at the start. Long sessions tire out the writing hand.
- The Pencil grip matters. Let them hold it however feels natural, even if it's not a "proper" tripod grip. The app focuses on letter shapes, not grip.
- Don't correct mid-stroke. The app gives feedback on every letter. Adult corrections during writing are distracting.
Resist the urge to coach
It is tempting to lean over and say "no, like this." Don't. The app is designed to give the feedback. Your job is to keep the experience calm and the iPad charged.
When the session ends
Each session ends naturally — your child completes their daily goal, or they finish a piece of content. The iPad shows what they earned: XP, streak status, and what's next.
You'll see the same info on the web dashboard, plus deeper reports over time.
Last reviewed May 11, 2026