***This is a review for the Junior Storyteller app. No monetary payment was exchanged. 5 promotional codes were provided for the giveaway. All opinions are, as always, my own***
Like most parents with young children, we find that when it comes to comfort during sickness and a cure for boredom there are 2 things that are indispensable: the iPad and television.
But with all good things in life including an inviting chilled glass of wine, everything has a happy balance; all things in moderation.
Last Monday, I was really looking forward to the Mother’s Day afternoon tea at daycare. All mums were asked to come by 3:15pm, have some fun with the kids in their classroom environment, get to know other mums and have some civilized tea and scones.
Supposedly.
I wouldn’t know. I never got there.
The twinions had other plans.
Seeing Mama at pick up time immediately means home time. And home means kicking back and watching some TV or playing on the iPad until dinner. (Tough life being 4…sheesh).
So, when the usual routine of grabbing their schoolbags and walking to the car didn’t happen, they started to of course, whine.
They were busting for their “computer and TV” time.
The whining turned into rolling around the floor and crying which turned into…well, you know the rest.
When it comes to television, deciding on what’s appropriate and educational can be a straightforward decision. You can never go wrong with ABC 4 Kids. Ever.
And even with movies, it’s a matter of quick channel flicking or simply switching it off.
Finding the right apps for the iPad, I’ve discovered, is an entirely different cart of Apples (geddit?)
There’s a plethora of educational apps for young children and so many of them similar to each other. Unfortunately it’s not until you purchase and download the app only to determine its true educational value.
I also think it can be a bit of a joke when providers claim their app for children is “interactive”.
I thought interactive meant “communication” and “discussion” rather than having a computer voice tell a child to press a button or swipe a picture without said child uttering a single word.
Junior Storytellers is something unique, though. And yes, in the true sense of the word, it is interactive.
First conceived in 2006 by writer and blogger, Maria Tedeschi from Mums Word, Junior Storytellers is designed for children from 4 to 9 years to create their own stories but to also record them.
A child can design their own setting and characters then also choose the character’s emotions.
By giving children options to create and animate their own stories, you can see how Junior Storytellers encourages imagination, creativity and language development.
The twinions are at a stage where they love telling stories.
An app like Junior Storytellers can assist them in expanding their interests and also encourage them to create their own stories, independent from what they’ve already seen or played with (namely, dinosaurs and trains…and did I mention dinosaurs???)
And how fun that we can record their little milestones?
The actual app is a free download but to get even more features, there are different price options for the various in-app purchases available. Or there is also the option to buy the entire Story Bundle package ($4.99).
I have Junior Storyteller Story Bundle apps to giveaway to 5 lucky readers!
All you have to do is:
Subscribe to With Some Grace by Email
And leave a comment on this post telling me:
“What’s been the most memorable story that your child has made up?”
Terms and Conditions:
- This giveaway is open internationally.
- Closing date for entries is 10pm AEST Monday, 27th of May.
- The winner will be contacted via email on the following Wednesday.
- If the winner does not reply to my email within 24 hours, another winner will be chosen.
- Entries will be judged on merit and decision of the winner will be final.
Joining Essentially Jess for IBOT
What a brilliant app! Lil Pumpkin loves story-telling too and I think this is def something she’ll like on the iPad. Thanks for sharing about it!
Ai Sakura recently posted..Bub & Me: Rainbows & Washi Frames
Was on the weekend my granddaughter with cerebral palsy told me her version of the three little pigs.
You poor thing missing out on the Mother’s Day afternoon tea with scones!
I like the creativity aspect to this app, it’s always a bonus getting kids to tap into their vast imaginations, turning fun into a learning experience. 🙂
Lee-Anne recently posted..SERIOUS and other important trivia…
My son told my mother when she picked him up from school one day that he’d been left behind at the church playground while on a school excursion….he was so convincing she went & complained to the school!
So I couldn’t wait and guess what the kids are playing RIGHT NOW!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks for sharing. Oh and I missed the mum’s day kindy event last week because I just plain didn’t write down the date – bad mum, I was gutted x
Emily @ Have A Laugh On Me recently posted..Newsflash: Pole-dancing mum walks into bar of steel.
I didn’t realise this was Maria’s baby. That’s very cool! I like the idea of anything that encourages kids to tell stories. I think I’ve won a voucher from Denyse though, so don’t draw my name out of the hat 🙂
EssentiallyJess recently posted..For Never Was There a Story of More Woe…. #IBOT
Thank God for iPads, right? And by the way, the rolling around on the floor, screaming and crying…that doesn’t seem to stop. Ever.
Nami recently posted..Houston, We Have A Behavior Problem
Oooh, I think that looks fab – and like Emily have downloaded it right away! Thanks for the point in the right direction!
Hello from #teamIBOT
Love love love this idea! Sugarpuff is just starting to get into creating stories so definitely downloading this one!
Aleney @ BoyEatsWorld recently posted..Flavours of Melbourne
This app sounds great and perfect for my little one who loves reading and making up stories. It would be good for the iphone too, right?! I don’t have an iPad. I know, I seriously need one. My daughter’s latest story was riding her bike along the footpath, finding a rainbow, riding on top of the rainbow until she reached the clouds and then flying in the sky on the clouds 🙂
Renee at Mummy, Wife, Me recently posted..Sayonara snuggly
What a wonderful idea! I’ll have to remember this one for when the boys are a little older. We had a similar daycare experience when I went along to our toddlers Easter Bonnet Parade and morning tea. It kind of takes the fun away when you leave them screaming for you at the door 🙁
Lauren @ Create bake make recently posted..Fabulous Foodie Fridays #2 – Peanut Butter Oreo Brownies
This is a great idea Grace! mine’s a bit old for it now, but looks fabulous for the littlies xx
Lisa@RandomActsOfZen recently posted..Boring Is Awesome!
My Esther turns 4 in August and she has recently been making up stories. Sometimes she makes up stories and once told a friend that her house was burning down! The poor friend demanded she be taken home to make sure her house wasn’t burned down! I think Fireman Sam inspired that story!!
Bec @ The Plumbette recently posted..Accidents Happen
My second son took his time arriving and my other son kept telling people that he was still looking for his shoes so he couldn’t come out yet
Test this great apps website for kids, Available downloads for iPhone, iPad, Kindle, Nook, and all Adroid phones and tablets.