January 25th, 2012 | posted by: Lynette

A Little Book About Feelings

Overview: A beautiful picture book app with enchanting images and empowering messages from the experts on social and emotional learning for young children.  Colorful photos of handmade felt creatures engage young children as they learn about the origins, universality and variety of feelings. Based on the “A Little Lesson On Feelings” segment in the award-winning children’s show, ”Ruby’s Studio:  The Feelings Show.” (Narrated by Ruby, too!)

“What a helpful book coming out of a timely and entertaining new series for children.  We love Ruby’s Studio!”  — Jennifer Garner, actress & mother
“Take a look at Ruby’s Studio!  It’s fun and important.  Kids who are good at expressing feelings grow up more confident, smarter, healthier  …and happier!”  – Dr. Harvey Karp, MD, creator of the DVD/book “The Happiest Toddler On The Block”

ABOUT RUBY’S STUDIO
“Edutainment at its best” – Daily Candy

Ruby’s Studio is a series of helpful shows, books, products and apps designed to assist young kids in developing character, a stronger sense of self-worth, and solid problem-solving skills. Brought to you by The Mother Company: mamas on a mission to “Help Parents Raise Good People” by nurturing social and emotional literacy in the next generation.

As mothers of preschoolers, we know first-hand that the most important lessons we can teach our young children are based in social and emotional learning:  how to be a good friend, how to share, how to be nice to your sibling, how to move past bedtime struggles, how to appropriately express your feelings, etc.  The ABC’s and 123’s will come; the main challenge in raising a young child is how to best lay the foundation to become a good person.
Dubbed “The Whole Foods of children’s entertainment,” our award-winning Ruby’s Studio products are stylish and gently paced, with a homegrown organic appeal and old-school aesthetic.  For parents, we also offer TheMotherCo.com, a beautiful, easy to navigate website with world-renowned expert advice around the same social and emotional issues we all face as we strive to raise good people.
Discover more at www.TheMotherCo.com

ABOUT THIS APP:
Features:
-Narration by the beloved Ruby, from “Ruby’s Studio”
-Original music
-High fidelity, full-color illustrations of adorable felt creatures
-Learn-to-read highlighting feature
-Animated details and tappable audio “hot spots” emphasize the storyline
-Turn pages with an easy swipe

Language: English

ABOUT PICPOCKET BOOKS
PicPocket Books brings quality children’s picture book literature to digital media. Now, children can enjoy their favorites stories on-the-go, even when they do not have a physical book to read.

PicPocket Books offer a unique and new experience, combining the beauty of quality picture books with audio recordings and interactive visual text. This combination enables independent enjoyment for children regardless of reading level, subtle support for early readers, and nostalgic fun for adults.

Whether standing in a grocery line, taking a car trip, or waiting in a doctor’s office, PicPocket Books provide personal, interactive story experiences. The books can be downloaded with one click or tap, and provide educational and entertainment value to children and adults alike.

Your PicPocket Book is a perfect complement to regular story time with parents or grandparents, and a gentle alternative to flashy, fast-paced digital media time.

PicPocket Books is a member of Moms with Apps, a collaborative group of family-friendly developers seeking to promote quality apps for kids and families.

Recommended Ages: 0-3, 3-6, parents
Subject: BOOK, READING, PRESCHOOL, KINDERGARTEN, EDUCATIONAL

February 17th, 2010 | posted by: Lynette

Tools that build – not sever – connections

With a lineup of over 100,000 apps, Apple has an app for most needs among its iPhone-carrying customers – that is, the adults. As it turns out, app developers are creating more and more apps for children, which raises a number of interesting questions. Is even more screen time good for kids? What are apps offering to kids? How much learning and growth can be triggered by the use of iPhone apps? Is it all about video games in the end?

Playing video games

As an iPhone app developer, mom of three growing kids, and a member of MomsWithApps, I deal with this question every day, professionally and personally. In my mind, the child/iPhone combo often conjures images of images of kids playing video games for hours on end, and that’s often the case. At the same time, there are also some fantastic educational apps and benefits that come from mobile devices. So what might be some characteristics of apps for kids that make them worth downloading?

What limits do you set before you hand your iPhone over?

As a parent, I am looking for apps that start with the iPhone but encourage engagement with the world beyond the device, like sparking conversations with family and friends, exploring “real world” sites and phenomena through maps and geocaching. I applaud apps that truly require strategic and creative thinking, not just mindless repetition. The latest hot app is not necessarily good for kids just because they like it. In selecting apps, parents should look carefully for ones which are gateways back into the “real” world, not just a highway to the couch.

“Educational” means not just math facts, drills, and phonics, but also activities and content that encourage and develop social and communication skills: like PicPocket Books’ picture books, Tales2Go’s audio library or the conversation starters from the Family Matters App. By expanding horizons, these apps become tools for engagement rather than a drug for tuning out.

A pause in the play to check the storyline of Sleeping Beauty

As responsible parents, we must look closely not only at the content we allow our children to experience on the screen, but also how, when, how often, and where they are plugged in to mobile devices or other screens. One of the best ways to practice moderation and to set enforceable limits is to model the right example for your kids. Recognize that technology can be addictive – not only for kids but for adults too. If you don’t want your kids to zone out in front of the screen, then stop constantly checking your own devices. Set boundaries and limits that work for your family, and enforce the rules.

In our household, computers and mobile devices are kept on the main living level so parents can monitor online behavior in terms of content and time spent on-line. We have the kids tell us which games they are playing, what they like about them, and have them show us how they play as well – maybe even play with them, all to ensure that communication and engagement come with the virtual fun. We also make an effort to stay current with new communication platforms and technological developments.

Down the road, knowing how to navigate that world – and engaging in it creatively and actively -  will keep doors open longer for communicating with kids.

Thanks to MomsWithApps’ Lorraine Akemann and Jill Seman for collaborating and contributing to this post.

January 11th, 2010 | posted by: Lynette

Age Appropriate and Educational Screen Time for Kids

Some people complain that their kids already get lots of screen time. What is PicPocket Books’ stand on this issue?

Why do kids get a lot of screen time? Because they are really drawn to this kind of media. The technologies that are new to us are very intuitive to them and will be a significant part of their lives for years to come. I don’t see PicPocket Books as replacements for print books or the valuable time parents can spend reading to their children, but as educational and culturally valuable alternatives to video games or movies, especially for families on-the-go.

Many families are short on time and e-books can be read any time, any place. I believe that if reading picture books on the iPhone means that more families are reading together and more kids have more exposure to storybooks, then they are a great option for tech-savvy families of today.

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