Personalised Stories
for Growing Up
Audio stories for the moments your child is actually living through - school nerves, new siblings, big feelings, curiosity, connection, and pure imagination.
No credit card required • First story free
Hear the Difference
Mia is 4, shy, and nervous about her first day at school. The story validates the nerves, gives her a simple coping strategy, and ends with quiet confidence. Narrated in a New Zealand accent — you can choose British, American, Australian or New Zealand.
School Starter — a personalised transition story built on a bibliotherapy-style arc
A Story for Whatever They're Going Through
Real parenting moments, matched to the right kind of story.
Made for the moments parents already care about
We are still early, so we are not pretending to have thousands of reviews. What we can show is the standard we are building to.
“The best stories are the ones where our children recognise themselves. Gently Told is built around that exact feeling: familiar, specific, and still magical.”
Built by parents
“Every story stays parent-reviewed. The app can help write and narrate, but the final say stays with the person who knows the child best.”
Parent-controlled
“Story seeds are shaped by child-development research, then kept simple enough for real bedtime routines and busy family evenings.”
Research-grounded
A note from the founder
I built Gently Told because I wanted bedtime stories that were actually about my daughter - her name, her world, whatever she's going through that week. Not a generic fairy tale. Something that helps her feel understood.
So I went deep on the research - bibliotherapy, attachment theory, social narratives - and built every story around a specific child development framework. Whether it's helping them through something tough, sparking their curiosity, or just making them feel safe and loved, there's real evidence behind it. It's just me and my wife building this, and a very opinionated three-year-old who lets us know when a story isn't good enough.
- Will, Auckland 🇳🇿
Read our researchNot just another AI bedtime story
Built for parents who want more than a name swap
Gently Told is not an open prompt box for kids. It is a guided story-making tool for parents, built around safe themes, child development research, and audio your family can actually use.
Designed for real moments
Start with what is happening in your child's world: a transition, a worry, a question, a routine, or an adventure they cannot stop talking about.
Shaped by research
43 curated story seeds across 5 development-focused tiers, including bibliotherapy, attachment, learning science, creative play, and neurodiversity support.
Parent-reviewed
The story is for your child, but it is made with you. You read the whole thing before they hear it, and can reject or regenerate anything that feels off.
Made to be listened to
Each approved story becomes narrated audio with background music, plus an MP3 download and optional Yoto MYO sync for screen-free listening.
From Idea to Story in Minutes
Choose a story
Browse curated themes like "new sibling", "first day of school", or "space adventure". Each one is designed for a specific age and purpose.
Make it theirs
Answer a couple of quick questions about what's happening in their life right now. The story is written around their world.
Their story comes to life
Written to a child development framework, narrated in your chosen accent, mixed with background music.
You approve every word
Read the full story before your child hears it. Edit anything, or start fresh.
Listen anywhere
In the app, as an MP3, or synced to a Yoto Player.
First story free. Then buy credits.
No subscription to remember, cancel, or feel guilty about. Buy a pack when you need it. Credits never expire.
3 stories
US$4.99
Perfect for trying it out
10 stories
US$14.99
Best for regular bedtime stories
25 stories
US$29.99
Great for families with multiple kids
Prices shown in USD and processed securely by Stripe.
What you get in every story
- Narration + background music
- One illustration per story
- Parent discussion guide
- Downloadable MP3
- Optional Yoto MYO sync
You Stay in Control
AI makes truly personalised stories possible. You review every word before your child hears it.
You Control Everything
Every story requires your approval before your child hears it. Read every word, edit anything, or reject it entirely. Topics are checked for safety before a single word is written, and language matches your child's age.
Built for How Kids Actually Grow
Stories come from curated themes designed around child development research - bibliotherapy for challenges, inquiry-based learning for curiosity, attachment theory for connection. Each includes a parent discussion guide.
Listen Anywhere, Screen-Free
Download MP3s for the car, play in-app on your phone, or sync to a Yoto MYO card for completely screen-free listening. However your family listens, it just works.