In previous generations, kids had plenty of toys and games to keep them actively occupied. Some would argue that they also were more active and able to be outdoors, often regarded as preferable to staying indoors all the time. Even less spirited activities such as board games and playing with action figures or stuffed animals were not frowned upon as they tended to foster interaction with other kids or family. While many parents currently lament the fixation with smart phones and tablets that seem to occupy the majority of the attention span of their children, there are many benefits to be gained from proper use of current and emerging technology.
These days one can observe lots of children with handheld devices both in their homes as well as when out and about with their parents. While critics of so-called “screen time” decry this behavior as attention stealing, addictive, and detrimental to the promotion of outdoor activity, technology has actually advanced to the point that numerous options now exist to utilize it to enhance both family interaction and early education.
Smart devices can provide opportunities to educate and stimulate kids in addition to entertain as well. Gone are the days of plopping children in a front of a television for hours while the parent is busy with work or chores. In addition to a virtual global library of videos in resources such as Youtube, kids now have access to mobile applications that help toddlers learn to count, teach nursery rhyme lyrics to pre-schoolers, and hone math skills for elementary school age students. Smart applications can help improve reading and comprehension, provide school workbook practice exercises that are interactive, and even help teach a child to learn a musical instrument.
Another benefit of modern technology is that it aids in social interaction. Even games such as Pokemon Go can provide opportunities for families to interact and share experiences with one another. An additional benefit to such activity is that it can also be done on the move, with entire families taking long walks while playing this game. Even families that are apart can now communicate and connect more actively than ever before with the aid of modern devices. This connection can be as simple as personal video messages recorded and sent between one another, or collaborating on arithmetic homework using live video over an iphone. So the next time you see a child glued to a screen, consider that you may be witnessing an evolution of education, interaction, and family time.