Screen time that knows when to stop
Short stories, no adverts and nothing that plays on its own. When the story's over, it's over, and your child goes back to their day.
What we believe
Built to end well
At the end of every story we ask "Watch another?" and wait for someone to choose. There are no endless feeds, no autoplay and no "just one more" tricks.
Stories are short, so they fit before tea or bath time, and bedtime mode makes the last story of the day the calmest one.
How it works with us
What that looks like
The promises we make to grown-ups, and the tools that keep them.
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No adverts, ever
Nothing to sell to your child, and nothing that interrupts a story.
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Nothing plays on its own
When a story ends, we ask before anything else starts.
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A calm bedtime mode
Stories read slowly, a sleep timer that dims the screen, and a goodnight that stays goodnight.
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You're in charge
From your phone, switch bedtime on until the morning, set a sleep timer or stop for now.
It's not just how long, it's what kind
Screen time rules often focus on minutes. Minutes matter, but so does what fills them. Ten minutes of a calm story that ends and leads to a chat is very different from ten minutes of a feed designed never to stop.
We think the best screen time is short, has a clear ending, and leaves children with something to do or talk about afterwards.
What we left out on purpose
- Adverts. There are none, anywhere, ever.
- Autoplay. When a story ends, we ask "Watch another?" and wait for someone to choose.
- Endless feeds. There's nothing to scroll.
- "Just one more" tricks. We don't design anything to keep children watching for longer.
Ending screen time without tears
Even good screen time can be hard to switch off. The trickiest moment is usually the switch from screen to whatever comes next, so it helps to make that moment predictable: agree the plan before you start, give a warning before the end, and have something ready to move on to.
A calmer end to the day
Bedtime mode makes the last story of the day the calmest one. Stories are read slowly, the TV can wind down with a sleep timer that dims the screen and softens the sound, and once it's said goodnight, it stays goodnight.
Better together
Screen time you share
Watching together turns screen time into family time. You'll know what they've seen, and you'll have something to talk about afterwards.
With little ones especially, a story on your lap is worth far more than a story on their own.
Age by age
Healthy habits, age by age
What tends to work at each stage.
Ages 2 to 4
Watch together
Sit with them, name what you see, and keep stories short.
Ages 5 to 7
Agree the plan
Decide how many stories before you start, and stick to it.
Ages 8 to 10
Help set the rules
Let them help make the family screen rules. They'll keep them better.
Ages 11 to 12
Talk about how it feels
Ask how different apps make them feel, and which ones they're glad they used.
Try it at home: make switching off easier
Small habits that help, whatever your child is watching.
- Agree how many stories before you press play, so the end isn't a surprise.
- Give a two-minute warning before it's time to stop.
- Have the next thing ready: paper and pens, a bath or a book.
- Talk about the story afterwards. What would they change? What happens next?
The goal isn't zero screen time. It's screen time that ends well and leads somewhere.
Questions about screen time
Do your stories autoplay?
No. At the end of every story we ask "Watch another?" and wait for someone to choose.
Are there adverts?
No. There are no adverts anywhere, and we never sell or share your child's details.
Can I stop it from my phone?
Yes. A grown-up can switch bedtime on until the morning, set a sleep timer or stop for now, and the TV follows along.
How long are your stories?
Most are just a few minutes long, so they fit before tea, bath or bed.
Are the stories suitable for toddlers?
Our stories are for children from 2 to 12. With little ones, we'd always suggest watching together.
Do you collect my child's data?
We never sell or share your child's details, and nothing is shared publicly without a separate yes from you.
Our approach
More about how we make screen time count
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They create first
Every Clever Cookie story starts with something your child drew, said or dreamed up.
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They learn how stories work
When children shape their own story they practise the building blocks of reading and writing: characters, problems, beginnings, middles and endings.
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Learning hidden in the fun
Story games where every chapter is a mini-game built around a real skill: times tables, spelling, reading and logic.
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Off the screen too
Story trails in real woods and parks, adventure books that ask questions the next morning, and print packs that put the characters back on paper.
Screen time you can feel good about
Short stories, no adverts, and a calm goodnight.
