A story together
Is this app worth our time?
“Educational” can mean a lot of things on an app store page. You can start with a simpler question: what will my child actually do here?
About 2 minutes
Try a minute yourself
Can you work out what to do without reading a long explanation? Does an action change something the child can understand? Could you join in, talk about a picture, or take an idea away from the screen?
These are useful questions for judging an experience. They do not prove that a particular app teaches a skill. Current guidance asks families to consider the child, the content and the setting, along with the sleep, play and conversation media might displace. source
Look at what surrounds the play
Check for ads, purchases, messages, links that leave the activity and requests for personal information. If there is a subscription, look at the full price, renewal and cancellation terms. For a child who cannot read yet, you will be doing this part of the choosing. source
Ask whether it still does what you need without an account or an internet connection. Check the actual app’s description and settings; a label such as “offline” may apply only after content has downloaded.
Find the way out
Pause it. Turn the sound down. Try leaving. Look for a natural finishing point and whether the app respects it. You might agree on one picture, one puzzle or one short story, then move on to something else together.
A favorite character is a fine reason to enjoy a story. It does not make every linked game, purchase or video a good fit.
For the youngest children
There is no need to find an app for your baby. Begin with your face, your voice and things you can share in the real world. If you want a place to start, one picture and your voice will do. source
Little Story Magic makes digital stories and games. These are the same questions we want parents to be able to ask about ours.
Where this advice comes from
Links checked 17 October 2026. These are the sources behind this page.