Kids Stories & Tech

LOVE THE DETAIL, LEARN ABOUT PATTERNS

Ages 3 - 8

I remember loving to lose myself in intricate patterns as a little girl, and this fantastic indie picture book about tessellations (repeating patterns) would have kept me happy for hours. 

Pattern recognition is such a great skill for little people, and with such charming illustrations (to be included in #weneeddiversebooks as well), I can’t wait to share this with my little ones.

Go help make it happen on Kickstarter, and tell your friends you helped publish a book: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2098264381/tessalation-a-childrens-picture-book-with-tessella/description

Electro Footie Dough!

I have discovered the next collab project for this tumblr. If you missed my first foray into the awesome Technology Will Save Us kits and my six year old, see here: http://kidsstoriesandtech.tumblr.com/post/113414105457/dont-fear-the-wires-they-make-magic-its-our. 

The step by step guide to making it happen is here: https://www.techwillsaveus.com/resources/diy-electro-dough-penalty-shootout/

Not all for children, but this is a little click-through presentation of a whole bunch of awesome stories in innovative digital formats that I put together for a talk at Winchester Writers Festival.

These are text-dependent apps, interactive ebooks or games that have caught my imagination. Including a wonderful inclusive app book for tinies, an amazing Shakespeare’s Sonnets app, and a wonderful digital take on Around the World in 80 Days.

The idea is to give writers platforms they can experiment with and experiences to inspire them to create innovative and successful digital stories.

Inspiring children into science - indie magazine

Another awesome Kids Kickstarter campaign that caught my eye. (It’s an addiction!)

Whizz Pop Bang is being produced by an experienced magazine publisher with bright illustrations and exciting experiments, articles & puzzles.

Specifically aimed at 6-11 year olds and landing just a month after the Kickstarted campaign ends on 3 July, I am going to enjoy working through this with my son!

TREE BOOK TREE

Gives a whole new meaning to sustainable publishing!

Argentinian children’s book publisher Pequeño Editor has produced this amazing concept - a picture book that can be planted.

It’s printed on recycled acid-free paper and biodegradable inks and the cover is embedded with native jacaranda seeds - and it looks beautiful!.

More detail, in English: http://www.springwise.com/childrens-book-grows-tree/

This should not be an outrageous confession, but I feel like it is: my young kids play on touch screen devices. My youngest has since he was about a year old.

We play games or watch shows with a clear focus on useful, inclusive, quirky things. We often do it together, but not always.

(To stop the parent police: my kids also read heaps of books, play outside and live happy lives.)

So, I thought, if you're wanting to introduce your little ones to a tablet (my experience is based on the iPad), I’d say welcome to the party!

1. DON’T WORRY ABOUT DAMAGE

I am probably tempting fate, but we’ve never had any trouble with taking care of our devices. I teach them how to take care of books, how to take care of their toys and how to take care of electronics. It’s not a big deal.

2. DON’T WORRY ABOUT LACK OF FOCUS

I deliberately don’t want to sit my kids passively in front of the TV. So, if my youngest wants to cut off every CBeebies show after the theme song, so be it. They become a kind of nursery rhyme session for us.

If it really bothers you or you really need them to stick to one thing because of internet connectivity, make use of the iPad’s built in Guided Access feature, that can disable the home button or specific parts of the screen.

3. PAY FOR QUALITY

There are so so many apps, and 98% of them are awful. I don’t want my kids watching horrible TV, reading poor quality books and I won’t let them waste time on empty, meaningless apps. Find brands you trust. So far, mine are: Sago Mini, Nosy Crow, LumiKids and DaDa Company.

Our Favourites:

Sago Mini: Music Box. My then eighteen month old played me Twinkle Twinkle Little Star - it actually made me tear up.

Nosy Crow: toss up between the Puzzle App (better than actual puzzles) and Jack and the Beanstalk (a brilliant story + gaming fairy tale). I prefer their apps for older children.

LumiKids: both apps from this company are brilliant fun, great for both of my kids. I can actually watch my youngest learn through play. Magic. 

IMPORTED PICTURE BOOK - OPTIMISM / FAMILY CHAOS / DON’T FEAR CHANGE

The original Japanese title is 999-HIKI NO KYOUDAI NO OHIKKOSHI. It is written by Ken Kimura and illustrated by Yasunari Murakami, and this English language edition is published and imported from Gecko Press, New Zealand.

It’s gorgeous, features flying frogs and heaps of positive energy about change and risk - and it’s unlikely to already be in your child’s collection.

I ordered mine from my favourite local bookshop, THE BOOK HOUSE in Thame.

DON’T FEAR THE WIRES! THEY MAKE MAGIC!

It’s our first video review! We’ve kid-tested a fantastic kit for kids (and moms who are helping) to learn about electronics.

DIY ELECTRO DOUGH KIT from TECHNOLOGY WILL SAVE US

See for yourself the smiles it brings (for both of us).

There are several different kits available from this company. I can recommend this kit for ages 5+.

Right now, the brilliant children's book and app publisher, Nosy Crow, are auctioning original Axel Scheffler artwork to raise money for War Child, a London-based charity supporting families torn apart by war.

The auction ends on 8 March, and you can grab so many brilliant Axel characters like the Gruffalo, Stick Man, Zog and the witch from Room on the Broom.

GREAT GIFT FOR KIDS - WALK-IN BOOK by STORY via KICKSTARTER

Doesn't a walk-in book sound like the most magical thing? I can't wait to get that adorable suitcase into my - I mean, my kids' - hands.

Founder Melanie Smith explains all in her Kickstarter campaign video: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/wearestory/story-1

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME

DATA-DRIVEN FASTEST WAY TO FIND WALLY/WALDO!

With more possible arrangements than the number of atoms in the universe, Randal S. Olson has used machine learning and a genetic algorithm to generate the quickest eye scan pattern to find WHERE'S WALLY/WALDO. 

I won't spoil the surprise. Click here to learn the truth you never knew you needed from the man himself.

GREAT GIFT FOR KIDS THOMAS FLINTHAM'S SUPER-FANTASTIC PUZZLES by thomasflintham

A brilliant, gender-neutral, super-cool activity book for ages 5+. 

"All the other girls at school like riding horses, but Sally is not interested in horses. As far as Sally is concerned she much prefers riding her pet crocodile."

If you can't stand overly-gendered or heavily branded activity books (like me), this has hilarious dot-to-dots featuring imaginary monster fights, sassy picture compares, mazes... Perfect for back-of-the-car or airplane rides.