TinkerStories

TinkerStories TinkerStories are interactive narratives that help adults use storytelling play to teach children reading

TinkerStories are stories for helping parents take charge of teaching children how to read. Parents are the most invested in teaching their children, and Children instinctively want to learn from their parents. Our storytelling apps are designed to help parents bond with their children through the magic of storytelling. We enable parents to become better reading teachers, better storytellers, and

support their efforts to develop rapport with their children. Our innovation, called tinkerability, allows parents to teach reading dynamically. The app was developed as part of an MIT research project. The best practices for teaching reading were studied and distilled into the app. Results from testing showed that parents and children were more efficient at performing literacy teaching behaviors. With tinkerstories, children became active learners and parents became better storytellers. The biggest finding, however, was that parents and children developed a better relationship with each other because of their interactions through shared storytelling. After graduation and publishing the thesis, the research seemed forgotten. It went through a business accelerator but life happened. These dream to help parents, grandparents, siblings, and caregivers make the most of teachable moments continued. Seven years and 2 children later, we decided that it is time to share the innovation with the world. We aim to make extraordinarily engaging stories to foster early literacy and parent-child bonding.

Take Your Child to the Library Day is Saturday Feb 7, 2026. Find a library near you that is celebrating. This site has a...
02/01/2026

Take Your Child to the Library Day is Saturday Feb 7, 2026. Find a library near you that is celebrating. This site has a map showing library activities near you!
https://takeyourchildtothelibrary.org/

09/08/2025
09/08/2025
09/08/2025

"I taught myself to read, I’m not sure exactly when, as if it were something as natural as walking. I have often wondered whether the ability to read is built into our brains as a potential skill, or whether perhaps we inherit it from our ancestors who learned to read during their lives, in which instance I suspect it would only go a few generations back. In my case this ability was definitely to do with the fact that I was brought up among books – my dad ran the school library, and I dug around in them from early childhood. They weren’t books for children at all. One of my favourite early books was a collection of partisan songs. I knew how to sing them, so reading with understanding came to me naturally and easily. Among the hundreds of volumes eagerly borrowed by the pupils there were also art books and encyclopaedias. I can boldly say that encyclopaedias were my favourite literary genre throughout my childhood – my first “constellation” reading matter."

When did you learn to read?

Olga Tokarczuk tells us about how learning to read opened up a new world for her: https://bit.ly/3cQzHcB

09/08/2025

Today is International Literacy Day.

Literacy shouldn’t be a luxury; it’s a right. Reading and writing skills are transformational, not only for individuals but for societies. Progress has been made in expanding literacy worldwide, but there is still a great deal of work to be done.

On this day last year, Audrey Azoulay, UNESCO Director General, aptly said: "At a time when we need to reinvent a world of hope, literacy is more important than ever. On this International Day, I thus invite all those involved in education to redouble their investments and mobilize all their resources to unleash the potential of each individual in the service of a shared world."

09/08/2025
Happy International Literacy Day! Literacy is the foundation of a lifetime of independence, understanding, and intellige...
09/08/2025

Happy International Literacy Day! Literacy is the foundation of a lifetime of independence, understanding, and intelligence. Maybe it will lead to world peace.

Today is International Literacy Day. 📚

Literacy today means more than reading and writing on paper. It means understanding a world shaped by digital information, platforms and algorithms. But in a rapidly changing world, how can we ensure that everyone has the skills to access, interpret, and use information critically?

This International Literacy Day, UNESCO rethinks what literacy means in a digital age — where lifelong learning, inclusion, and equitable access to tools and training are essential to empower critical thinkers.

UNESCO supports countries by strengthening lifelong learning ecosystems, promoting digital and foundational skills, and advancing equity through initiatives like the Global Alliance for Literacy, the UNESCO Literacy Prizes, and support for national digital literacy policies: https://www.unesco.org/en/days/literacy

07/27/2024
Are you a busy parent juggling time management and intentional parenting? I’m developing the ‘Parent Pomodoro Timer’, in...
07/22/2024

Are you a busy parent juggling time management and intentional parenting? I’m developing the ‘Parent Pomodoro Timer’, inspired by Julie Morgenstern’s book ‘Time to Parent.’ https://amzn.to/3WxQYxS * It helps parents allocate time for what matters most. If you’re an Android user, I invite you to try out my app in exchange for a free download! Just use the QR code, or click the link below https://forms.gle/Ft8GKFzwXi7LV8hd8
*(affiliate link)

Dear fellow parents, I made a pomodoro timer to help parents be mindful about four most essential categories of parentin...
07/15/2024

Dear fellow parents, I made a pomodoro timer to help parents be mindful about four most essential categories of parenting activity. It's based on a book I read by Julie Morgenstern called "Time To Parent." It's an android app with a countdown timer and motivational quotes about the four categories. All I ask is that you try it out for a few hours and give me feedback on a survey? Please dm me if you have an Android device to test and I'll send you a link to the Google Play download. Thanks!

09/01/2023

Share your joy with your kids.

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77 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA
02139

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Our Story

TinkerStories are stories for helping parents take charge of teaching children how to read. Parents are the most invested in teaching their children, and Children instinctively want to learn from their parents. Our storytelling apps are designed to help parents bond with their children through the magic of storytelling. We enable parents to become better reading teachers, better storytellers, and support their efforts to develop rapport with their children. Our innovation, called tinkerability, allows parents to teach reading dynamically.

The app was developed as part of an MIT research project. The best practices for teaching reading were studied and distilled into the app. Results from testing showed that parents and children were more efficient at performing literacy teaching behaviors. With tinkerstories, children became active learners and parents became better storytellers. The biggest finding, however, was that parents and children developed a better relationship with each other because of their interactions through shared storytelling.

After graduation and publishing the thesis, the research seemed forgotten. It went through a business accelerator but life happened. These dream to help parents, grandparents, siblings, and caregivers make the most of teachable moments continued. Seven years and 2 children later, we decided that it is time to share the innovation with the world.