Blog
Notes for parents of little artists
What toddler scribbles mean, how to think about drawing apps as screen time, and how to keep a two-year-old busy on a plane. Written for parents, not for the app. RSS.
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Apps
How to choose a drawing app for a toddler: a checklist
A ten-point checklist for picking a drawing app a 2-to-4-year-old can actually draw with: no ads, no reward loops, a child-lock, offline, private and nearly empty.
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Bedtime
Why a dark canvas is calmer for kids at bedtime
A bright white screen in a dim room is the opposite of a wind-down. A black canvas with glowing colours keeps the light low and the pace slow. Here is why it works.
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Travel
Quiet toddler activities for planes and long drives
Fourteen activities that keep a 2-to-4-year-old busy in a car seat or on a tray table without noise, mess or a meltdown. Mostly no screens; one honest screen pick.
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Screen time
Is a drawing app good screen time for a 2-year-old?
Drawing apps are active screen use, closer to crayons than cartoons, but only if the app stays out of the way. How to judge one and fit it into pediatric guidance.
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Development
What toddler scribbles mean: the stages from 1 to 4
Toddler scribbles follow a predictable path from random marks to controlled lines, circles and the first people. What each stage looks like and how to encourage it.
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Dabble
Why Dabble has no stickers, stamps or rewards
Dabble is a toddler drawing app with twelve markers and almost nothing else. No stickers, stamps, confetti or streaks. The thinking behind leaving all of that out.