GBH Kids has launched Small Wonders, a free app developed for Reach Every Reader, and supported by the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative. Small Wonders offers families a co-play experience of original games, activities, and songs with embedded prompts to help parents support language development through conversation, a key pre-literacy skill. A special Grown-Ups section also offers language-rich activity ideas and animated dialogues illustrating ways to make the most of the app and to extend learning beyond the screen experience.
This project began in Fall 2018 and was completed during the pandemic. The app’s approach is based on current research in children’s early language and literacy development and is published by our partners at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, marking their first foray into publishing content for families.
The project involved Children’s Media and Education and Digital Services, including over 30 GBHers as we conducted formative research in public housing, completed extensive prototyping and user testing at HeadStart day care centers and the Boston Children’s Museum, and finalized twelve digital games, four songs, five guide videos, and supporting print materials.
The app is available for free at Apple and Google Play.
Digital Things! 