Do you have a child that is afraid of the dark? All those unfamiliar sounds and shadows can really spook a person! Now, "there's an app for that." A new book app called The Sounds of Night helps kids understand what all the noise is about and why there's no need to be afraid. There's a version for Apple and Android, too!
My daughter Bethany enjoyed the app, and especially like touching the pictures to discover the sounds and animations that would appear. When she touched the tree on one page, the word "tree" appeared and the narrator said the word for her. As a mom, I really like that the app includes an educational element to help with early literacy. On some of the later pages of the book, the word appears without the sound, but I like the sound and the print together. There are four verses about fear at the end of the book. I'd like to see an update that includes those being read aloud, too. Nothing is perfect from the beginning; overall, though, I think this is a great app right out of the gate.
ABOUT THE APP
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DESCRIPTION: The Sounds of Night is a book app that helps put a child's mind at ease when the lights go out at bedtime. This book addresses one of the primary feelings young children face; fear. The Sounds of Night reinforces the principle that God is the Creator of every creature. Since God makes all the animals that scurry and screech at night, children can lie down and sleep in peace.
FEATURES: The Sounds of Night has over 75 touch points/interactions. It has rich illustrations and 4 Bible verses on fear that kids can learn with their parents and share with their friends.
DEVELOPMENT: Jessica Kirkland is a member of Moms with Apps. She recently launched Christian Apps 4 Kids, which seeks to draw kids closer to Christ one app at a time. Her inaugural app is a result of the fear that was such a part of her life:
In every season of life, the Enemy would whisper the lie that I would “never make it” to the next. I believed it. Time and time again, I thought his words held power. As a young child, I never thought I would live to see my school years. Once I entered school, I never thought I would live to see the next day, next grade, or milestone in life. I listened to a very real enemy, even though I didn’t want to. Even though I came from a strong, Christian family, I felt powerless to stop the lies. Fear gripped me, stole from me, and taunted every careful step I took.
Jessica believes the only way to be free from fear, as an adult or child, is to replace fearful thoughts with God's Word. Her desire for each book project is that they not only build character, but help set kids free.
The book app was developed in partnership with ROAR.
LINKS:
ABOUT THE AUTHOR | |
Jessica Kirkland lives in Southeast Texas with her husband, Robb, and five-year-old triplets. She is an author and speaker whose greatest passion in life is to see young families grow deeper in their walk with God. Jessica's newest adventure includes launching Christian Apps 4 Kids, which seeks to draw kids closer to Christ one app at a time. A recent release is a book app that addresses fear and scary nighttime sounds called The Sounds of Night, designed for kids ages 2-8. When Jessica isn't writing, you can find her cheering her boys on at the soccer field, or watching her little girl at the dance studio.
To find out more about her current writing projects, connect with her at:www.christianapps4kids.com or on her personal blog:
www.jessicakirkland.com
GRAND PRIZE GIVEAWAY
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$75 Best Buy Gift Card
One commenter will be chosen at random to be entered into a grand-prize drawing for a $75 Best Buy gift card! Simply leave a comment on this post telling us what you've done so far to help your child get over fear of the dark. Leave your comment before 11:59 pm on December 15. The winner will be announced on December 19. Good luck!
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| Proud to be chosen as a prizey editor's pick! |
Disclaimer: I was given a free redemption code for the app to review; no other compensation was given.
43 comments:
We have always told our children that the dark is no different than the light. There is nothing to be afraid of and that anything bad or hurtful is banned from our home. The kids seem to be comforted by this and we have had no serious problems with them being scared of the dark. We have also played music for them at night that seemed to comfort them. Classical stuff like Bach and Beethoven calmed them the most.
My little boy was afraid of the.dark and the monsters he thought were n it. We of course use a nightlight now, and that helps a lot. We also put a flashlight beside his bed for him. The monster part was tricky. We tried having him pray, and that works pretty good, but honestly the best thing was to tell him his dog Marley eats monsters and therefore they don't come to our house.
my daughter uses a night light so she isn't afraid of the dark!!
We put up white christmas lights around my son's room to give him some light all around the room rather just in one corner as with a night light.
lenz.nicole(at)gmail(dot)com
Our dog sleeps in my son's room. We moved her bed next to my son's bed, and it makes him feel very safe. teresa at momswhosave.com
We have used flashlights so they can see for themselves that there's nothing to be afraid of.
We either use a night light or leave his closet light on
VampireVixen85(at)hotmail(dot)com
we put a night light in my sons room to prove to him there's no bad animals or anything else was gonna get him.
I've explained to him that there's nothing to be afraid of, slept in his room, given him a glo-worm, night lights and even left the hall light on all night. He's still afraid.
alsatia23 at hotmail dot com
We read through a couple of books earlier on about what's in that dark room, but always left a light on in the main passageway to have something by which to see. I don't think we ever had a real "fear of the dark" problem, though. If we did, it was short-lived.
paschott [at] gmail dot] com
I have told my children that the Lord always is with them and have no fear. They have been raised in church and this seems to always help them just to have a little faith. :)
A combo of night light and praying with them when their imaginations scare them.
bebemiqui82(at)yahoo(dot)com
One strategy is telling my son that there is no thing that Jesus cannot conquer, that there is no need to fear anything when you have God's love. Also, since he's still so young I still use a glow nightlight but eventually that will end ;)
sarah at realtorsd.com
Besides talking with our son to convince him that there is nothing to fear, we keep several night lights in his room and down the hallways. Several nights he will even sleep with the television or radio on.
talonsmom731 at gmail.com
I am the one afraid of the dark, my step daughter actually embarrassed me out of my fear (somewhat).
One day she asked me "why are you scared it's the same room in the morning"... I had no answer for her!
We have a night light in her room! So far she hasn't expressed any fear. I don't let her watch anything scary on TV
bukaeyes@aol.com
We strive to have a peaceful bedtime routine w/ our two little girls that includes brushing teeth, getting into pajamas, and reading aloud from a chapter book. Right now, we're reading through the Little House on the Prairie series and it's a lovely way to end each day!
stephanie@metropolitanmama.net
we always leave the bathroom light on right outside her door....my 5 yr old has never said anything about being afraid, but we leave it on anyways!
missyingling@yahoo.com
We leave a light on in her room.
I have a hall light that leads into all the bedrooms and I would leave it on for the kids (still do if they have company). That seemed to comfort them and then we moved to night lights (which the youngest still uses). The older kids got over their fear but I still have a 6 year old that isn't quite ready to let go of the fear of the dark yet and I just tell him it's ok we are all scared of something and try to talk to him about it as much as i can to make him comfortable. It just takes time sometimes.
brewerchickey78@yahoo.com
we try to stay with them for a little bit and keep the hallway light on for a time.
flyergal82 AT (yahoo) /dot/ $com%
We ended up just leaving the tv on and using a sleep timer on it.
we've used a nightlight but most importantly we say prayers at night and remind our daughter God is with us always
annae07 at aol dot com
We use nightlights in their rooms and out in the hall and bathroom, so it really isn't dark dark and they seem ok with that. I also read to them every night, and we pick up beat happy stories. Thanks for a great giveaway!
trishden948(at)yahoo(dot)com
we use nightlights or leave a bathroom light on at night!
vanitizebaby at yahoo dot com
We developed a nighttime ritual with our daughter of favorite songs.
bmc1978[at]yahoo[dot]com
The light is switched to dim and there is a night light in the hall.
This is more for if they need to get up in the night.
higginspl[at]hotmail[dot]com
My oldest son was really afraid of the night-we had a nightlight in his room...nightlight in the bathroom and hallway..
thanks
aunteegem@yahoo.com
We use a very small lamp in the bedroom on a timer that goes off about an hour after they fall asleep. They are very good with sleeping through the night so this seems to work. Thanks!
we have a great turtle nightlight
abile27 at yahoo dot com
My son has a night light...we havent had the issue of fear of the dark....yet. he is only 2 1/2
dythia_99(at)yahoo(dot)com
The thing that worked for us was letting her pick out her own nightlight and making it special.
crazyweirdo33@yahoo.com
My kiddos have a nightlight in their room and they share a room, so as long as they have each other I don't think they've been afraid :-)
khmorgan_00 [at] yahoo [dot] com
Posting for Tina, whose comment I accidentally deleted - ACK!
We had a special night light made with her dads picture and let her sleep with a flash light, we also read to her until she falls asleep thanks for the chance to win eaglesforjack (at) gmail (dot) com
I always read to my sons until they fell asleep, we also had a night light in their rooms.
jedoggett@embarqmail.com
My son had a flashlight, but he never really used it. I go in and check on him a few time and so he has never really been afraid of the dark.
We talk a lot about how nothing changes when the lights go off and we play with glow sticks in dark rooms.
heather_n_s@mail.com
There are night lights all over the house. They do the trick
mybeachylife at gmail dot com
jacie wright
jwtanwy @ rocketmail.com
we use a nightlight and installed motion lights that come on when he comes up to use the bathroom!
We have a nightlight in my son's room and that helps. Sometimes I have to leave the light on for him as well. My daughter hasn't expressed any fear of the dark and she is almost 4.
KellywcuATyahooDOTcom
When my daughter was young, her Daddy and I would help her look under the bed and in her closet -- after "monster patrol", we said our prayers with her. She never had issues!
outofthemist AT gmail DOT com
We use a night light...and lots of stuffed animals help!
We've used nightlights that are cute.
spayde.michelle@gmail.com
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