Your child winds it.
A wooden carousel music box for iPhone. Turn the brass key, let go, and a lullaby plays on a real music-box comb, slowing as the spring runs down. A little lever stops it.
There are no buttons.
A finger on the brass key turns it. It clicks at every notch and gets firmer as the spring tightens, until it stops. Let go and the roof leads, the riders follow, and the comb starts. Over half a minute the tune slows and the last note rings out on its own.
The small lever on the right stops it. Holding the knob on the roof winds it back to the start. That is everything a child can do, and everything they need.
It is for the last ten minutes of the day.
The screen is warm and dim so it never becomes the brightest thing in the room. There are no sparkles, no stars, no rewards, and nothing looks back at your child.
Sleep mode turns the riders slowly without winding, fades the light down, and stops after 15, 30 or 45 minutes. What stays on screen is a small mark you can read from the doorway.
Five riders and three lullabies come in the box.
A horse, a bear, a rabbit, a duck and a cat, turned in wood and painted in cream, rust and ochre. Any four ride at once. Brahms’ Lullaby, Twinkle, Twinkle and Ili-Ili Tulog Anay are on the comb.
More riders and lullabies come as packs, one at a time: Farm first, then Forest, then lullabies from the Philippines. Each is bought once, behind the parent gate, and shared with Family Sharing. Seasonal riders are free. See the packs.
For parents
Hele is the Filipino word for lullaby. The app is made by one designer, slowly, and will stay small.