In Bosnia and Herzegovina, there’s a new project funded by the European Union, called LePetit.app. And it’s capturing the hearts of children. It all started with a parent who wanted better educational content in their mother tongue.
LePetit.app brings together educators and families with exceptional audio stories. With 20 hours of stories and fairy tales for kids, narrated by actors from the region, LePetit.app is more than an app. It’s a labour of love, designed and built by over 50 professionals, including writers, artists, and educators, to respond to the needs of parents and children.
“LePetit.app came from a real need. As a parent of two young children, I quickly realised there’s very little quality educational content available for children in the languages of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Our little ones end up watchingprogrammes from the rest of the world via YouTube, which isn’t great for their speech and learning their mother tongue”, said Adnan Koro, leader of the “Guardians of Tradition” Association.
The stories on LePetit.app tackle issues that will help children deal with strong emotions, facing challenges and experiencing things like loss or gaining a new family member. Created by Susan Perrow, a globally renowned Australian author, having these stories available in this region is a dream come true.
“I was thrilled to learn that my stories will be heard in this region, especially by children in Bosnia and Herzegovina!” Susan Perrow, globally renowned Australian author
Funded by the European Union, and supported by UNDP, this project is making a significant impact on children’s education. In Sarajevo, a new version of the LePetit.app was introduced in late February, now offering a speech therapy programme with over a hundred exercises for children with speech issues. It helps parents, caregivers, and teachers identify and treat speech disorders in children.
“Through my work with children, I have noticed a rise in the number of children facing speech difficulties in recent years, along with various other challenges, due to excessive use of IT devices, especially in preschool age. I believe that the Speech Therapy programme, which has enriched the digital kingdom of LePetit.app stories, is an excellent tool for children to complete homework assigned by speech therapists at home,” said Lidija Sejdinović, narrator and educator.
LePetit.app is loved by both children and their parents because it helps them have better conversations while keeping their family traditions alive. In a world where entertainment often takes over, LePetit.app stands out as a positive source of ideas and a wonderful example of how technology can bring us closer to our families and the wisdom we share. Plus, it addresses a common concern among parents about kids spending too much time on screens. Instead of just watching, children get to use their imagination and picture the stories as they listen. This active participation not only entertains them but also helps them develop their emotions and language skills. Everyone involved can be proud of LePetit.app—it’s both educational and fun, helping children grow while enjoying themselves.
Supported by the European Union implemented by the UNDP in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the “Speech Development through Modern Technologies” project has also received backing from the Novo Sarajevo Municipality. Seeing how children can benefit from this project, Sarajevo Canton’s Ministry of Education has approved the use of this programme in local kindergartens, under the management of the Sarajevo Children’s Public Institution in Novo Sarajevo.
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