How Wunderli works

A parent uses Wunderli with their child, turning the child's ideas into a clear set of choices. After 6 creative steps, Wunderli writes, checks and narrates a personal audio story. The parent operates the app; the child contributes the character, place and mood they want to hear.

Before you start

You need an iPhone, iPad or Android device, an adult account and an internet connection for a new story. Sit together for the choices if that suits your routine. At bedtime, this can be a short conversation: who should the story follow, where should it happen, and what should it feel like?

The choices come from a prepared catalogue rather than a blank prompt. That keeps the process focused and means a child does not have to type instructions to the system. Account actions, sharing and reporting stay with the adult behind a parental gate. The Child safety page explains those controls.

The 6 creative steps

1. Choose a character. You choose the main character with your child. The options come from Wunderli's catalogue; only the character name is typed freely.
2. Choose a setting. You agree on where the story takes place, using the pictured settings in the app.
3. Choose a theme. Your child's idea becomes a clear theme selected from the prepared catalogue, rather than an open prompt.
4. Set the mood. You choose the feeling of the story together, so the result suits that moment of the day.
5. Set length and language. You choose 10+, 15+ or 20+ minutes, one of three language levels, and German, English or French.
6. Create and listen. Wunderli writes, checks and narrates the story. Once it starts, the screen can go dark; a downloaded story also plays offline.

The length options are drawn from 10+, 15+ or 20+ minutes. The three language levels change the wording and sentence structure, while German, English and French let multilingual families choose the language for that particular story. Our article on bedtime stories for children can help when you are deciding what fits the evening.

What happens after the final choice

Wunderli creates the text, checks the finished story and turns it into narrated audio. You do not need to keep the creation screen open once playback begins. The display can go dark while everyone listens.

The completed story is saved in the family's personal library. Downloaded stories play without a connection, which is useful for travel or a bedroom with weak Wi-Fi. Creating another story still needs internet. For trips, see these screen-free activities for children.

What happens when the story ends

Nothing else begins automatically. There is no autoplay queue that carries on into another story. If the chosen story is the last part of bedtime, the room stays quiet when it finishes.

You choose one story and its length before listening. When it ends, playback stops, with no further audio queued.

What the child does, and what the parent does

The child brings the idea: perhaps an animal, a castle or a quiet mood. The parent makes the selections, checks that they fit the moment and starts the story. Wunderli does the writing and narration. This division stays the same whether you use the app at bedtime, during a rainy afternoon or on the road.

If you are fitting stories into an existing evening, our guide to a bedtime routine for children offers practical ways to decide when to choose and when to listen.