Everything parents want to know about Storytime
Discovery & Download
Storytime is a creative playground app for kids ages 3-7 that turns screen time into active creation time. Instead of passively watching videos or playing games with points and levels, children use Storytime to create stories, draw pixel art, and explore at their own pace—just like playing with toys or art supplies, but digital.
Most kids' apps are designed like games (with points and levels) or video platforms (passive watching). Storytime is different:
Think of us as the digital equivalent of art supplies or playground equipment.
Not in the traditional sense. We're not trying to teach specific academic skills or replace school. However, Storytime does support natural learning through play—kids practice storytelling, creativity, problem-solving, and early literacy/math concepts while playing. The learning happens as a side effect of creative exploration, not as the main goal.
Ages 3-7 years old. The app is specifically designed around the developmental needs and thinking styles of early childhood—simple enough for preschoolers to explore independently, engaging enough to grow with them through early elementary years.
Yes! Storytime is available on both iPhone/iPad (iOS) and Android devices.
Your Child's Protection
Absolutely. Storytime is a closed creative environment with:
We take privacy seriously. We do not collect, store, or share any personal information about your child. The app works locally on your device, and any creations your child makes stay on your device unless you choose to save or share them.
No. Storytime is a completely contained environment. There are no links, ads, or ways to exit into other apps or websites. Your child stays safely within the creative playground.
Common Parent Concerns
This is one of our core design principles—we specifically built Storytime to NOT be addictive. Here's how:
Parents consistently report that transitions away from Storytime are easier than other apps.
No. Unlike many kids' apps with bright colors, loud sounds, and fast-paced action, Storytime uses soft, calming color palettes, gentle sound design, slow, deliberate interactions, and peaceful creative activities. Many parents report their children are actually calmer after using Storytime, similar to how they feel after drawing or playing with toys.
We believe quality matters more than quantity, but we're not here to replace physical play, outdoor time, or family interaction. Storytime is designed for:
Use it the way you'd use crayons and paper—a tool for creative expression, not all-day entertainment.
One of the most common parent comments is that Storytime is easier to transition away from. The calm design and natural stopping points (finishing a creation) mean fewer meltdowns. That said, all screen time boundaries take practice—we recommend giving a 5-minute warning before ending, letting them finish their current creation, saving their work so they know it's not lost, and establishing consistent routines around usage.
Yes! Storytime includes a built-in BreakTime feature with one-touch activation—making it easy to set time limits right within the app. You can also use your device's parental controls (Screen Time on iOS, Digital Wellbeing on Android) for additional control. Plus, we design the app with natural 'completion moments' that make it easier for kids to stop naturally.
What Your Child Can Do
Children can:
Everything is open-ended—they decide what to create and how to play.
Storytime includes early literacy and math elements, but they're woven into creative play rather than taught formally. Children might arrange letters while creating stories, count objects in their drawings, practice pattern recognition through art, and build vocabulary through storytelling. The learning is incidental to the creative play, not the primary focus.
Storytime is designed to be universally accessible:
The open-ended nature means children from any linguistic or cultural background can create and play. Some interface elements are in English, but the core play experience transcends language barriers.
No! Storytime is designed for pre-readers. The interface uses visual icons and images, simple, intuitive interactions, and minimal text requirements. The design works for 3-year-olds who can't read yet. Reading support is built in as they grow, but not required to start playing.
Yes! Multiple children can use Storytime on the same device and account. Each child can create their own projects, and the app saves all creations locally on your device.
Your subscription allows Storytime to be installed and used on up to 5 devices. This means you can have it on mom's phone, dad's tablet, the kids' iPad, and more—all under one subscription. Perfect for families with multiple devices!
Trial Period & Cost
Storytime offers a 7-day free trial so you and your child can explore without commitment. After the trial:
That's less than a coffee a week for screen time you can actually feel good about.
Yes, completely free! No credit card charged during the trial period. You can explore everything, and if it's not right for your family, simply cancel before the 7 days end—no charge, no questions asked.
After 7 days, you'll be asked if you'd like to continue with a paid subscription. If you do nothing, your access will simply end—we don't automatically charge you. You stay in control.
Absolutely. You can cancel your subscription anytime through your App Store (iOS), Google Play (Android) account settings or from your account in this website. No penalties, no hassle. If you cancel mid-month, you'll keep access until the end of your billing period.
That's exactly why we offer the 7-day free trial! Every child is different, and Storytime might not be the right fit for everyone. Try it risk-free, and if it doesn't work for your family, cancel before the trial ends at no cost.
Why Pay for an App?
Consider what you're actually getting:
Compare to: One playground visit, a pack of crayons, a kids' meal out, or even one emergency screen time moment of stress.
Free apps come with hidden costs:
With Storytime, you're investing in quality over quantity—better screen time, not just free screen time.
It's not different—it's complementary! Think of Storytime as digital art supplies. You wouldn't get rid of physical toys and crayons, but when your child is going to use a screen (car rides, waiting rooms, quiet time at home), Storytime makes that screen time creative and calm instead of passive and overstimulating.
Even families who limit screens have moments where devices are necessary or helpful: long car rides or flights, doctor's waiting rooms, while cooking dinner, during work calls, sibling nap time, and sick days at home. Storytime ensures those inevitable screen moments are spent creating rather than consuming.
Active Users
By design, there are no tutorials or instructions in Storytime. This can feel uncomfortable at first (for parents especially!), but it's intentional—we want children to explore and discover on their own, just like they would with blocks or art supplies. Tips: Sit with them the first time and explore together without directing, let them tap around and discover, resist the urge to give instructions, and give it a few sessions—most kids naturally discover what to do.
You can take screenshots to share with family with our screenshot features on certain activities.
While you can take screenshots and share them however you like, Storytime itself has no social sharing features. We believe children's creative work should be private unless parents specifically choose to share it.
The simplicity is intentional! Storytime is designed like a sandbox or blank canvas. More freedom equals more creativity—kids aren't limited by predetermined activities. It grows with them—what a 3-year-old does will look different than a 6-year-old. The depth comes through openness—simple tools enable complex creative expression. Watch your child over multiple sessions—you'll see their creations become more sophisticated as they explore.
Completely normal and actually beneficial! Repetition is how young children master skills and build confidence, process experiences and emotions, develop their own creative style, and feel safe to experiment. Think of it like kids who want to read the same book 100 times. Honor the repetition—it's doing important developmental work.
Still Evaluating
Most educational apps focus on teaching specific academic skills through structured lessons and gamification. Storytime is fundamentally different:
Traditional Educational Apps:
Storytime:
If you want academic tutoring, choose educational apps. If you want creative, calm screen time, choose Storytime.
You could, but consider the trade-offs:
Storytime is specifically built for ages 3-7, completely ad-free, with no addictive mechanics and a calm design philosophy.
Storytime fills a different need than gaming. Games have win/lose conditions, levels and progression, rewards and achievements, and are often competitive or goal-oriented. Storytime offers open-ended creation without objectives, a calm low-stimulation environment, creative expression instead of achievement, and screen time that feels like art time, not game time. Use games for fun challenges, use Storytime for creative calm.
Addressing Your Worries
This is one of our founding concerns. Screen addiction typically comes from variable reward schedules (we have ZERO rewards), infinite scroll/autoplay (we have clear stopping points), social pressure with likes and followers (we have no social features), and exciting dopamine hits (we deliberately designed for calm, not excitement). Storytime is designed with your child's wellbeing as the priority, not engagement metrics.
Many parents of neurodivergent children find Storytime helpful because of the calm design with no flashing, loud noises, or overstimulation, predictable interactions with no surprises or sudden changes, child-controlled pace where they can go slow or fast as needed, and no pressure or failure which reduces anxiety. That said, every child is different. Use the free trial to see if it works for your family.
We respect your screen-free approach! But consider: occasional necessity—even screen-limited families face situations where devices help (travel, emergencies, medical appointments); quality matters—if screens are inevitable sometimes, make them count; and digital literacy—today's world requires some technology fluency, and creative use builds healthy relationships with tech. Think of Storytime as an emergency tool in your parenting toolkit—not for daily use, but for when you need screen time to be constructive.
Yes. Storytime is designed to be culturally appropriate across diverse families with no inappropriate content (no violence, scary imagery, or mature themes), includes Islamic elements (hijaiyah/Arabic letters for Muslim families), kids create content so you control what they see, and our values align with creativity, calm, and respect for childhood development.
Our goal isn't to 'make' your child better at anything specific. Instead, Storytime provides tools for creative expression, builds confidence through open-ended play, and supports natural development through exploration. Think of it like how a playground doesn't 'make' kids better athletes—it gives them space to play, move, and grow naturally. Some kids will develop artistic skills, others will love storytelling, others will do something unexpected. We support whatever emerges.
We're here to help! Every child and family is unique, and we understand that choosing the right app is an important decision.
7-day free trial • Cancel anytime