Apps and updates from the tech world

This week: apps to help you and your little ones wind down at night, plus an exciting new social media collab

READ ME STORIES

This app includes a library of ebooks and songs. Kids can choose to read the stories for themselves, or have them read to them.

When narrating, the app includes fun sound effects and a few interactive features to keep little ones engaged. It highlights new story text as the tale is being read, thereby helping kids to learn to read.

And there’s certainly no need to worry about running out of books – a new story is added every day.

Books are categorised into genres such as adventure tales and stories about animals – there’s even an ongoing fantasy saga about a pony. Free on iOS and Android

CALM

If you’re an adult and find it hard to sleep, this app could be a lifesaver. Calm offers peaceful meditation sounds and beautifully written and narrated “sleep stories” to lull you to sleep.

The concept is similar to that of an audiobook but with a soothing voice that has a hypnotic effect.

There are several free stories on offer but you can also choose to buy an array of new ones, each averaging about 20 minutes in length.

There are a few kid-friendly stories too – which you might be tempted to try when you’ve heard all the others.

Free on iOS and Android with in-app

NIGHTY NIGHT!

This app is great for parents looking for a daily bedtime ritual for restless kids. It offers an interactive story, cute animals, soothing lullaby music and top-notch narration.

On the app itself, lights go out and the barn animals are tired but it’s the children’s task to put them to bed. It’s a lovely way to set a bedtime mood for the young ones. Kids can also revisit the animals to see them sleeping or wake them up again.

Setting the app on auto-play mode allows kids to play with the animals briefly without overdoing it. When they tire of the tale, the app offers a sequel of sorts – Nighty Night Circus, with a new story and characters. Free on iOS and Android