ToddlerTones: offline, toddler-proof soundboard

An offline Android soundboard app with a gentle 'Find it' game built in Kotlin/Compose

Overview

ToddlerTones App

This project presents a mobile application designed for very young children, featuring a distraction-free interface built with Android Jetpack Compose and Material 3 design principles.

Core Features

The app has two interaction modes:

  1. Soundboard mode — children tap tiles to hear animal sounds and vehicle noises accompanied by simple spoken sentences
  2. Find It game — the app prompts "Where is the duck?" encouraging vocabulary learning through interactive gameplay

Design Philosophy

I prioritized safety and simplicity: Offline only. No analytics, no trackers, no surprise pop-ups. The interface uses a 3x3 grid layout preventing vertical scrolling and includes disabled back buttons to prevent accidental exits.

Technical Implementation

The audio system employs SoundPool for low-latency effects and MediaPlayer for longer spoken phrases stored as WAV files. The UI incorporates subtle motion design—tile press animations and a gently bobbing header—without overwhelming stimulation.

Toddler-Proofing

  • Immersive sticky mode with back button disabled
  • Consistent iconography and placement
  • Large, obvious tap targets
  • No scrolling lists

Future Plans

I envision expanding to additional categories (farm animals, jungle creatures, instruments) and adding parental controls including volume limiting and screen time management.

A downloadable APK is available for testing the application.