***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