# Small Wonders (for Families) — Harvard Ed School Learning App > Early literacy app for caregivers and children to develop pre-reading skills through play. (iPhone/iPad app by Harvard University.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/small-wonders-for-families/id1557771417 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Harvard University](https://appshunter.io/developer/382088726) - Category: Education - Price: Free - Rating: 5.00/5 from 6 App Store ratings - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 11.0 · 26 MB - Languages: English - Released: 2021-04-08 - Data updated: 2026-06-04 - Monetization: free - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/small-wonders-for-families/id1557771417/reviews.md ## What is Small Wonders (for Families)? Critical pre-literacy skills are developed long before elementary school — through play and interactive conversations with caregivers at home. Free early-literacy apps from the Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE) are made for parents and caregivers to use with their children to encourage fun and rewarding interactions and promote dialogue — giving children the foundations they need to read, learn, and thrive. Welcome to Small Wonders! Just by talking with your little one — and helping them talk with you — you can get them ready to read and ready to learn about the world. This app is specially designed for you and your child to use together, talking and laughing about everyday objects and interactions as you play. Its games, songs, and activity ideas can be the start of many back-and-forth conversations, which are ideal for preparing children to read. The app also has tips to help you build your child’s language skills when you’re not using the app — during everyday activities like going shopping, running errands, or walking to the playground. Small Wonders will give you plenty to talk about all day! Small Wonders is a product of the Reach Every Reader initiative at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, in collaboration with public media producer GBH. Check out HGSE’s related apps, Photo Play and Animal Antics — equally fun, and equally ready to spark conversation and lay the foundations for reading! To learn more and download all three HGSE apps, and for information about privacy and updates, visit http://hgse.me/apps. ## Key features - Develops pre-literacy skills - Interactive caregiver-child play - Games, songs, and activity ideas - Encourages dialogue and conversation - Builds language skills - Tips for everyday activities ## Frequently asked questions about Small Wonders (for Families) ### What is Small Wonders? Small Wonders is an early literacy app developed by the Harvard Graduate School of Education. It is designed for caregivers and children to use together to build pre-reading skills through interactive play and conversation. ### How does Small Wonders help children learn? The app encourages back-and-forth conversations about everyday objects and interactions. Its games, songs, and activity ideas are crafted to spark dialogue, which is crucial for preparing children to read and learn. ### Can I use Small Wonders offline? The provided information does not specify offline functionality. However, the app's focus on interactive conversations suggests it may require an active internet connection for certain features. ### What age group is Small Wonders for? Small Wonders is suitable for children aged 4 and above, as indicated by its age rating. It is designed for use with caregivers to support early learning. ### Does Small Wonders have ads? No, Small Wonders does not contain advertisements. It is a free app with no in-app purchases or ads, focusing solely on educational content. ### How often is Small Wonders updated? The app was last updated on April 9, 2021, to version 1.1. Information on the frequency of future updates is not provided, but it is a product of an academic institution. ### What devices support Small Wonders? Small Wonders is available on iPhone, iPad, and iPod devices. It is designed to be accessible on Apple's mobile platforms. ### Are there other similar apps from Harvard? Yes, Harvard Graduate School of Education also offers related apps called Photo Play and Animal Antics. These apps are also designed to spark conversation and lay foundations for reading. ## Version history (last 2 releases) ### 1.1 — 2021-04-09 updated logo ### 1.0 — 2021-04-08 No release notes. ## Apps similar to Small Wonders (for Families) | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Work It Out Wombats Family App](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/work-it-out-wombats-family-app/id6479430873) | 5.0 (4) | Free | Education | | [OLogy: Science for Kids](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ology-science-for-kids/id1512196504) | 4.7 (23) | Free | Education | | [Busy Shapes & Colors](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/busy-shapes-and-colors/id1209114575) | 4.1 (2,485) | Free | Education | | [Duck Duck Moose Reading HD](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/duck-duck-moose-reading-hd/id573698255) | 4.1 (30) | Free | Education | | [Bedtime Math](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bedtime-math/id637910701) | 4.2 (61) | Free | Education | | [Thinkrolls 1: Puzzles for Kids](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thinkrolls-1-puzzles-for-kids/id917176209) | 4.5 (15,431) | $5.99 | Education | ## More apps by Harvard University - [CrimZone](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/crimzone/id905112998) - [Harvard For Health](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/harvard-for-health/id1324729736) - [Archaeology of Harvard Yard](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/archaeology-of-harvard-yard/id1462098282) - [Expeditions: Arnold Arboretum](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/expeditions-arnold-arboretum/id1474407642) - [Vaping and Health Study](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vaping-and-health-study/id1505514158) All apps by Harvard University: https://appshunter.io/developer/382088726 --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-04.*