Voice Letters for Little Ones

Help kids stay connected with loved ones through the magic of voice messages on Playdate.

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Play Post mascot

How It Works

🎤

1. Record

Kids record a voice message on their Playdate, talking naturally about their day, thoughts, or stories.

✨

2. Transcribe

AI transcribes the voice message into text while a fun crank mini-game keeps them entertained.

📧

3. Deliver

The letter is sent to grandparents, relatives, or family friends via email.

💌

4. Reply

Recipients simply reply to the email, and their response appears in the child's Playdate inbox.

Meet Your Postal Pal

Bird flying with mail

Delivering your messages

Bird posting letter

Letter sent!

Bird checking mail

Checking the inbox

Features

🐦 Friendly Mascot

A charming postal bird guides kids through the experience with delightful illustrations.

🔒 Privacy First

Self-host your own server or use the hosted service. Your choice, your control.

🎮 Crank Game

Kids turn the crank while their letter is being sent, making the wait feel like play.

📱 Simple Setup

Configure trusted contacts via USB. No account needed for the child.

💬 Two-Way

Recipients can reply via email, and responses appear in the Playdate inbox.

🌐 Open Source

Fully open source. Review the code, contribute, or customize for your needs.

Setup Guide

🚀 Easy Setup (Wireless)

Set up your Playdate in seconds - no cables required!

  1. Download Play Post from the Playdate catalog
  2. Launch the app - it will display a QR code
  3. Scan the QR code with your phone
  4. Add your trusted contacts (grandparents, relatives, etc.)
  5. Tap "Complete Setup" and you're done!

The Playdate will automatically receive the configuration over WiFi. Your device is secured with a unique secret key - only your Playdate can access its inbox.

🔒 Self-Hosted Setup

Deploy your own server for complete privacy control.

# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/joshcrowley/playpost
cd playpost/worker

# Install & configure
npm install
wrangler secret put GEMINI_API_KEY
wrangler secret put RESEND_API_KEY

# Deploy
wrangler deploy

The QR setup flow works the same way - just point your Playdate to your own worker URL.

See the full self-hosting guide for details.

Privacy & Security

👨‍👩‍👧 Parent-Controlled

Parents configure trusted contacts via USB. Kids can only send to pre-approved recipients.

🔒 Choose Your Level

Use the hosted service for convenience, or self-host for complete control over your data.

📝 Open Source

All code is open source. Review exactly what happens with your data.

🗑️ No Data Retention

Voice recordings are transcribed and immediately discarded. Only the text is stored for delivery.