Small Wonders (for Families)
Playful prompts encourage co-use and conversations.
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Small Wonders (for Families)
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this app.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Small Wonders (for Families) is an app that helps create opportunities for kids and caregivers to engage in conversation. A section for parents includes a variety of ideas for ways to engage with kids on and off the screen. Another section for family play offers in-app screen-based activities for caregivers and kids to do together, plus lots of conversation starters to help get parents and kids talking about what they're doing. Small Wonders (for Families) is part of a suite of apps designed at the Harvard Graduate School of Education to help support early literacy. Read the developer's privacy policy for details on how your (or your kids') information is collected, used, and shared and any choices you may have in the matter, and note that privacy policies and terms of service frequently change.
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What’s It About?
Choose to explore the Grown-Ups area or the Family Play area in SMALL WONDERS (FOR FAMILIES). Both areas are divided into four themes: Food, Outdoors, Faces, and Home. In the play area, each theme has the same four activity types. There's a song to sing along with, a collection of photos and thought questions to spark conversation, a simple game, and a creative sticker activity. The Grown-Ups section uses the same four themes to offer a variety of ideas and tips for engaging with your kid through activities and conversation on and off the screen.
Is It Any Good?
This tool for getting kids and parents talking and engaging with each other is full of excellent suggestions. Parents should know that Small Wonders (for Families) isn't the right choice for kids to use on their own. On the contrary, this app is all about co-use -- and there are lots of supports to help guide parents along the way. Want to know what's going on inside that little head? Looking to help provide them with a language-rich environment that will encourage and support them in school and beyond? Asking questions and giving kids the space to share is a great way to do all that. Though Small Wonders (for Families) doesn't have the most exciting games or bells and whistles, its presentation is clean and simple and it's full of great prompts and ideas.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about all the things they do together with Small Wonders (for Families). Read the conversation starters, try asking your kids some of the questions and see where the conversation takes you.
Engage your kids in conversation throughout the day. Ask them about what they did in school, what they remember about that trip to the playground last week, what's going on with their dolls or figurines as they engage in pretend play, or what books they like best and why. Start with open-ended questions, and then ask follow-up ones.
Talk to your kids about the experience of using an app with you versus playing a game on their own. What do they like most and least about each way to play and why?
App Details
- Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android
- Subjects: Language & Reading: discussion, speaking, vocabulary
- Skills: Creativity: imagination, Emotional Development: empathy, Communication: asking questions, listening
- Pricing structure: Free
- Release date: April 9, 2021
- Category: Education
- Publisher: Harvard University
- Version: 1.1
- Minimum software requirements: iOS 11.0 or later; Android 5.1 and up
- Last updated: May 3, 2021
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