Mayor Cluckett's warm wooden office with a treat bowl on the desk and a large chair waiting for a new mayor-for-the-day
A cheerful cartoon chicken mayor hands over a big chair, a treat bowl, and an official hat to a young racer standing ready inside a cozy town hall
← Back to Stories

A Big Problem

Mayor Cluckett has Derby business today, so he is handing the whole town over to your racer. The chair, the treat bowl, and helping those in need. Before he goes, he teaches your racer how to tell whether a problem is big or small. Then the knocking starts.

RubberdaleDecision MakingSafetyHelpfulnessConfidence

About This Story

What your child will experience

Your child's racer takes over as mayor for the day and handles three knock-on-the-door problems — each one a little different. Along the way, they practice two simple questions Mayor Cluckett leaves behind: "Is everyone safe?" and "What have you done already?" The repetition is deliberate. Your child hears and uses the same words every time, because the goal is for your child to ask themselves these questions when determining if their real-life problems are big or little.

The three visitors range from a friend who hasn't tried words yet, to one who's tried twice and needs something different, to a situation that isn't safe and needs a grown-up right away. Your child makes real choices at each door.

Why this approach helps

This story builds conflict-resolution thinking in a play-based, low-stakes way; closer to a game than a lesson. It gently introduces a check your child can use over time: A big problem is when something is unsafe. If it's a little problem, try solving it yourself first. It's only when you've tried a couple of times yourself that you can ask a grown-up for help. Over time, children who practice this kind of structured thinking tend to develop stronger problem-solving language and more confidence before reaching for adult help.

What to notice as a parent

  • Do they like being the helper? If the story structure of being a mayor seems to hit with your child, then try a similar technique when trying to get them to self-solve a situation. Ask them what their racer-as-mayor might do.
  • What solutions do they choose for the other racers? These might be things you can reach for when you're coaching your child to problem-solve for themselves.

Personalize This Story

Make this story truly special by adding these details:

  • ✓Who do you want to be Mayor for the day?
  • ✓What treat is on the Mayor's desk?

Story Questions

Questions your child may be asked while creating this story:

  1. What did the main character feel, sitting in the big chair?
  2. What does the main character tell the first visitor to try?
  3. What does the main character tell the second visitor to try next?
  4. How does the main character feel now?
Create This Story

Loved by Families

Join thousands of happy families who've empowered their children with personalized, interactive stories.

“At first I thought it was one of those bedtime ploys to stay up later, but when the request came again first thing in the morning I realized it was just genuine excitement about Wanderly. My two kiddos - ages 7 and 8 - had a blast selecting their adventure pals (they have the cutest "pets" that go on the adventure with them) and choosing the direction of the story every step of the way. I turned up the reading level today and it was neat to see my son work through a few new words and stick with it because he was so excited about his story.”

— Taryn S

“My son couldn't put the story down!”

— Sebastian

“We've been using it every night for bedtime stories for our 3 year old.”

— Matt

“Ok, so I installed this yesterday, and I've already read 5 stories with my 4 year old. That's over an hours worth of time. Today he tried to negotiate to have me read 4 in a row... He's fully engaged, and takes his time over the choices - I think that and the funny moments in the stories are what have him hooked. He lost it when our cat (yes, you can include your pet in a story!) turned into a elephant. As a parent, it's whimsical and a welcome change from the regular books in rotation. I was initially unsure about using my phone to engage him during bedtime, but he entrallment quickly overcame that. I would wholeheartedly recommend it to others.”

— Simon

“It's been fantastic for creating and sharing our stories with beautiful art. What a great keepsake!”

— Shayla

“My dyslexic 4th grader struggles with reading and comprehension. She is finally excited to read using Wanderly!”

— Bill

“As an lifelong educator, I give this app an enthusiastic 5 stars+. With opportunity to choose and name characters, type of story and plot ... what could be more creative? What could be a more productive use of screen time? I love that this app was created and is carefully monitored by a Mom of young kids. She also happens to have technical/AI chops ... she was a Google Product Manager in their Education Products sector. The graphics are quite lovely, the story lines are fun and age-appropriate.”

— Helen

“I'm very impressed with the ease with which I was able to write a fun (and colorful) story. I wrote one for my grandchild and can't wait to share it with her.”

— Bill

“My son is 6.5 yrs old and has been able to read for about a year but, prior to Wanderly, he would never choose to read on his own. The first time he discovered Wanderly he read for two hours straight. My husband and I were honestly shocked because he's always struggled to stay engaged in independent activities. He was really drawn in by the opportunities to create/shape the characters and narrative and he continues to use the app regularly. We love it!”

— The lyttlest

GET STARTED

Ready to hear what your child has to say?

Join thousands of families who've used Wanderly to engage their child's imagination, to practice important skills, and to build confidence. Download the app today.

Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play