How it works
Sending Stories Home is Easy.
You can use email, text, or social media to share images and words with your loved one. We particularly enjoy sending pictures over the internet so that Matt can see them and highlight what’s happening in the book. Additionally, YouTube offers many read-along stories, which are incredibly useful for sharing literary experiences. With Starlink, even sailors can send stories from underway in the middle of the ocean, keeping connections strong no matter where they are.
UPLOAD STORIES TO THE RECORDER
Then you simply upload the audio to the recorder.
Once you receive the audio, simply transfer it by playing it on your phone, holding the speaker up to the recorder, and recording the audio onto the device. It’s that simple. You can reload stories as often as you like or purchase additional recorders from our bookstore for a seamless experience. Additionally, our UMBO Connect Application, currently in development, will allow for truly seamless audio transfer from your mobile device to the recorder. Look out for its launch this fall!
Audio Transfer DEMOReady for storytime
Place the recorder inside the doll.
Place the recorder inside the doll and press its belly. Now your child can hear their loved one’s voice anytime they want—whether on the road, before bed, or when they’re feeling down. Their voice is just a press away.
Watch the Doll in Action
UNIQUE BENEFITS
Crafting and Maintaining Connections
Newborns
When Mason was just one month old, Matt embarked on a deployment that lasted over seven months. With Jaclyn's extensive background in audiology and speech-language and hearing sciences, we used recordable books to help Mason remember Matt. When Matt returned from his deployment, Mason didn’t initially recognize him, but as soon as he heard Matt’s voice, his face lit up with joy. As Matt says, "He knew I was the dude in the books."
This response is known as neonatal auditory recognition. Newborns can distinguish and respond to familiar voices, especially their mother’s, due to the auditory experiences they had while in the womb. This early recognition is crucial for bonding and comfort. It’s similar to fetal auditory learning, where babies recognize their mother's voice from sounds they heard during pregnancy. Research shows that fetuses can hear and remember these sounds, which helps them respond to familiar voices after birth.
Toddlers
Our MY HERO doll offers essential support for military toddlers with parents away by combining the comfort of recordable audio with a reassuring, familiar presence. According to research on neonatal auditory recognition and attachment theory, familiar voices provide significant emotional reassurance and stability for young children. Studies show that "infants exhibit lower levels of stress and increased physiological calmness when they hear their mother’s voice" (Journal of Experimental Child Psychology). By allowing parents to record their voices in the MY HERO doll, toddlers can hear their loved ones' comforting tones in various situations, such as in the car or when they need to calm down. Additionally, the doll’s military attire helps children associate it with their absent parent, reinforcing the bond and providing a sense of security. As noted in Developmental Science, familiar sounds and voices "help manage stress and anxiety," making the MY HERO doll a vital tool for emotional support while a parent is away.
Young Children
For older children, the soothing effect of a parent’s voice remains impactful during moments of distress or bedtime routines. The MY HERO doll allows parents to record their voices, so children can hear comforting tones during storytime, in the car, or whenever they need to calm down. Additionally, the doll’s military attire helps children associate it with their absent parent, creating a tangible link that reinforces the emotional bond. As noted in Developmental Science, familiar sounds and voices "help manage stress and anxiety," making the MY HERO doll a valuable tool for maintaining comfort and security while a parent is away.
