For parents of 3 to 10 year olds

Playing together is easier than you think.

Otter is a screen-free play idea for every day, picked for your child, fitted to your week and ready in minutes. Each one comes with the words to start and a tip for when it doesn't go to plan.

  • Guided by an Early Years lead. Meet our Chief Play Officer
  • Mostly things you already own
  • No planning, no pressure
Otter's Play screen for Maya: today's idea, Belly breathing, with Show me how and Another buttons.
An Otter play idea, Leaf rubbings, with the line to say out loud to get started.

Only two minutes?Every idea has a tiny version, so something always counts.

Tip from our Chief Play OfficerNo pressure to finish. Start the story and see where it goes.

Sound familiar?

Playing with your kids shouldn't feel like another job.

When you set up Otter it asks one honest question: what makes playing hard? Whatever you pick shapes what it suggests.

Otter's setup question, What makes playing hard?, with three answers picked.

  • “I run out of ideas.”

    A fresh idea every day, matched to your child's age and what they love. Not feeling it? Tap Another.

  • “I'm not the playful type.”

    Every idea gives you the exact words to start. “Who do you want to turn into today?” You just read it out. They do the rest.

  • “We're short on time.”

    Every idea has a two-minute version. Ten spare minutes or forty, there's something that fits.

  • “They'd rather watch something.”

    Ideas begin with a hook kids can't resist: a floor that's turned to lava, a secret den. And a tip for when attention wanders.

  • “Mess stresses me out.”

    Say so, and Otter quietly leans towards no-mess play. Every idea shows how much mess to expect before you start.

  • Written with someone who does this for a living.

    Our Chief Play Officer is a current Early Years lead with over ten years of experience. The tips are the ones that work in a real room of real children.

Not just an idea

A tiny guide, so you're never stuck mid-activity.

Most play ideas end at the title. Otter's start where you actually need help.

Try saying this
The one line that gets them curious. No acting skills required.
If it stalls
Two things to try when they lose interest, shaped by our Chief Play Officer.
Only two minutes?
The tiny version, for the days when two minutes is all you've got. It still counts.
Why it matters
In plain words, so you know what they're really learning.
Otter's How it goes: four short steps for Leaf rubbings, then If it stalls tips.
Otter's If it stalls tips, the two-minute version and why the activity matters.

How it works

A week of play, planned in a minute.

  1. Tell us about your child

    Age, what they love, the skills you'd like to nurture and how much time you really have. Under a minute, and you can add more children later.

    Otter’s Family screen with Maya and Theo.

  2. Get a gentle weekly plan

    One idea on weekdays, two at the weekend, fitted to the time you have. Or tap Another for something to do right now.

    Otter's Play screen: today's idea and a gentle plan for Maya's week, Planned for you.

  3. Play, then tap how it went

    Loved it, it was OK or not for us. Next week leans towards what they enjoyed. Finished ideas become Moments to look back on.

    Otter's Moments screen: 5 hours of play with Maya, little wins and saved moments.

For your child

To them, it's a pancake with a face. To you, it's fine motor skills and confidence.

Eleven kinds of play, so there's always something that suits their mood: and yours.

  • Arts & craftsMake something wonderful
  • OutdoorsFresh air and wild ideas
  • MoveBurn off the wiggles
  • KitchenMessy, tasty, together
  • CalmSlow down and breathe
  • Cosy timeStories and snuggles
  • BuildStack it, tape it, test it
  • DiscoverPoke it, mix it, find out
  • PretendBe anyone, go anywhere
  • MusicMake some noise together
  • GamesQuick, silly, no setup

Pick the skills. They just play.

  • Fine motor skills
  • Focus
  • Confidence
  • Imagination
  • Active play
  • Calm and mood
  • Language
  • Working together
Otter's Ideas screen with coloured kinds of play and a Surprise me option.
An Otter play idea, Floor is lava course.

Our Chief Play OfficerChief Play Officer · current Early Years lead

Our difference

Meet our Chief Play Officer.

A current Early Years lead with more than ten years of experience working with young children, and the person who makes sure every Otter idea works outside a spreadsheet.

Most children's apps are built by engineers and signed off by marketing. Otter has someone whose whole job is play. Not a name on a poster: a practitioner who knows what a four-year-old does with a glue stick when you turn your back.

  • Ideas that survive real life

    Realistic timings, realistic mess and realistic attention spans. If it wouldn't work on a wet Tuesday, it doesn't make it in.

  • Play with a purpose

    Each idea says what it builds, in plain words. Early Years thinking, without the jargon.

  • Words you can actually say

    The “try saying this” lines and “if it stalls” tips come from knowing what helps adults get children started.

Why a C-suite title? Because play deserves a seat at the table.

Built for grown-ups to trust

An app that wants to be put down.

You open it, pick an idea and put your phone away. Otter has no feed, no streaks to protect and no reason to keep you scrolling.

  • Your family's details stay on your phone

    Your child's name, age and interests are stored on your device. They're not sent to us.

  • No account to create

    Open it and go. There's no sign-up and no profile for your child.

  • No ads

    Nothing is trying to sell to you, or to them.

  • Anonymous by design

    When an idea is finished we count it, never who you are. That's how we learn what families enjoy. Read the plain-English privacy note.

Good questions

Before you download.

Isn't an app the opposite of screen-free?

It's the fair question. You use Otter for about a minute: to choose an idea and read the first line. Then you put the phone down and play. It's built to get you off your phone and your child off theirs, and it doesn't send notifications to bring you back.

What ages is it for?

You tell Otter your child's age, from 2 to 12, and it picks ideas that suit. Most ideas are best for 3 to 9 year olds.

I'm not very creative or playful. Will it work for me?

It's made for you. Every idea includes the first line to say out loud, simple steps and what to try if it stalls. You don't need to be good at it, just there.

How much time and stuff do I need?

Ideas run from about 10 to 40 minutes, and each has a two-minute version. They use things you probably already have: paper, crayons, cushions, a torch. The materials are listed up front, along with how much mess to expect.

Can I use it for more than one child?

Yes. Add each child and choose who's playing. Every child gets a plan that suits their age and interests.

Who is the Chief Play Officer?

Our Chief Play Officer is a current Early Years lead with more than ten years of experience working with young children. They make sure Otter's ideas, tips and wording work with real children and real parents, not just on paper.

What do you do with my information?

Your child's details stay on your phone. If you join our launch list we store your email address to tell you when the app is ready, and for nothing else. Our privacy note explains the rest.

Tonight, try one idea. Phone down in two minutes.

Playing together is easier than you think, and the first one is the hardest. We'll make it a small one.

Made for iPhone.