Safekeeping Children from Internet Hazards Report

          With technology and the Internet becoming more and more integrated with everyday life, parents and teachers should not only consider its benefits in children but also the different damages it may cause.

          When researching for this report I found staggering statistics on children’s Internet use that adults have to be aware of. In a study conducted in 2004, researchers have found that 98% of children aged 9 to 19 are online, and 36% of them did not receive any instruction on how to use it safely; the study was done over a decade ago – imagine how much worse the numbers are today, with advancements happening almost daily, making the internet even more accessible to children.

          The most commonly listed Internet hazards children have are data theft, cyber-bullying and sexual predators, which can all become possible with sites such as Facebook. Facebook was made to reconnect with old friends, and stay connected with new ones; I’m sure that when Mark Zuckerberg founded Facebook, that was the purpose he had in mind. However, just as guns are designed for security instead of criminal activity, Facebook may cause more problems than solutions if not used properly.

          In education, the Internet is used to access updated information that may not be readily available in books. Whenever I Google anything, one of the first suggested webpages/results I see is Wikipedia, and this happens without fail. Wikipedia is a website wherein anyone in the world can just type information onto a webpage whether it is true or not, right or wrong. Children who are using search engines for homework or simply because they are curious about something may become misinformed.

          I undeniably feel the Internet is the best thing that has happened to the world since the invention of the wheel, but it is also undeniable that the Internet is also the scariest invention in mankind. It’s powerful and it’s limitless; anything can happen online. Adults, parents and teachers have the role of protecting children, who are vulnerable users, from these Internet hazards. They also need to teach them how to protect themselves; simply by talking to the children about the different dangers that exist can prevent them from becoming a victim. Becoming aware of the many Internet hazards is the first step to becoming protected from them.

Written by: Frankie Merilleno

Funbrain Review

 

            Funbrain is a website for children aged 2 to 6. As we can see in the picture above, for users to access the account, they need to give out information about themselves. This would ask about the gender and age, it also asks if the parents are guiding them or not.

            First of all, it is good to know that they are giving the users some idea about the games here need the assistance and guidance of the parents. The website is supported with sounds in case younger children who have yet to learn how to read may play the games as well. We all know that the children at the age of 2-3years old are starting to read letters and words only, they still need the voice recordings of the instructions for them to use the website properly. This website can be easily manipulated because it only requires clicking. If we would be assessing its appearance, it is evidently child friendly. The colors that they use are pastel colors which are not irritating to the eyes of the children.

             The games that the website would lead you to are ones that are suitable for the age that you entered upon logging in. Most of the games need the assistance of the parents. The website doesn’t only offer games but also stories they can read alone or with their the parents. There are also some activities that the parents can print out and give to their children. As we can see, this website is not purely for children only; they also include activities that the parents can do for and with their children.

            The games in the website gives feedback immediately, and the words used here are children-friendly. They would only say “try again” or they will give you around of applause depending if you answer incorrectly or correctly. The website is also repetitive with the instructions that the children need to do. Going back to the developmental characteristic of the children, they need to always have repetition because this is how children learn. They need to experience it again and again and repetition can help them retain newly-learned words.

The topics that we could learn from the reading games are rhymes, alphabets, simple spelling words and some stories. Math topics could be counting numbers, addition and subtraction and ordered pairs.

The things mentioned above are characteristics of a good children’s website. However, the question again that I would like to stress on you is: “What age usually do we really introduce technology to them?” Here we can see that as early as 2 years old they are already exposed to this kind of media.I personally think that the usage of technology depends on how the adult and teachers will use it to the fullest of its ability. As a teacher, parent, or guardian, we need to be more creative in thinking of activities where we can integrate these games to our subjects.

Generally speaking, this website is good for the teachers, parents, students. It just needs an innovative mind to be able to exhaust the different lessons to broaden as perspective.

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References:

Funbrain Jr. (2012-20015).  The http://www.funbrainjr.com/stories/BrainyBlueberryAndTheBackpackBalloon/

Baby First TV Review

I recommend you to use this cite for toddlers if you wish to integrate technology in your child’s learning: www.babyfirsttv.com

Baby First TV is a fun and interactive website for toddlers who are beginning to learn English as a second language.

This site is pretty good to use as an educational application; it is an interactive site that speaks to the children and give them detailed instructions and explanations about how the children may use the site. Toddlers generally have outstanding hearing; this site is all about listening and paying attention. It may also help the child develop English as a second language. All the children have to do is hover the mouse towards an illustration and it will automatically play different sounds that the kids will enjoy.

There are more than twenty videos on this website that will help children expand their vocabulary. The videos are made differently to appeal to children. In addition, educational games also have a lot of lessons that include identifying colors, music, fruits, animals, vehicles, and a lot more!

N.B.

If you use this cite with your phone, you have to download the application first.

If you use this cite with a computer, you just choose the page that you want.

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Pro’s and Con’s in Using Technology

             Now a days, technology is everywhere and it has become part of our everyday lives. This makes our work easier and we all know that the new generations today are called “Digital Natives”. This is the time where children are very much exposed to technology. As parents, we have the responsibility of guiding our children with the use of technology. As you go along with this article, keep in mind the question: When do we introduce our children to technology?

 According to Epstein’s article Using Technology Appropriately in the Preschool Classroom,he presented different effects of technology on children. One of the researches by Linebarger & Walker (2005),children below two who are exposed to media may experience language delays. While for Nunez-Smith, Wolf, Huang, Emanuel, and Gross (2008), preschool and school-aged children who are exposed to media have the possibility of having physical, behavioural, and mental health problems that includes obesity, poor sleep habits, aggressive behaviour and attention disorder.

Another disadvantage of using technology would be the following: It can discourage children to participate in outdoor activities like playing in the park; children may be very focused with the technology that he/she becomes lazy to do other physical activities.

Despite these things, what good can technology do for our children? Technology now can be educational and enhance children’s cognitive and social ability. The key to using technology effectively is knowing or at least be familiar with the developmental characteristics of children. For example, children start learning how to speak at the age of one so instead of letting him/her use the iPad for clicking, you yourselves can use it by storing words that you want your child to learn. Afterwards, use it by telling him/her the words verbally.In Epstein’s article, American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Council on Communications and Media (2011), he suggested that “Children should not be exposed to any screen media and emphasizes the value of unstructured play for young child’s developing brain”.

In conclusion, parents should know the developmental characteristics of our children and be creative enough in integrating technology with their learning.

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Reference: Epstein, A. (n.d.). Using Technology Appropriately in the Preschool Classroom. Highscope, Extensions. 28, (1). pp. 1-5 

Book Creator Review

            Reading is one basic and important skill to learn. For young children this can be one of the most challenging activities they can learn to do but once they become familiar with the alphabet, its sound, and are given good reading materials to read every day, they can be proficient readers in no time! To achieve this level of reading, your child must first develop a genuine love for reading. An app that promotes fondness of reading is the Book Creator.

           
Book Creator is an application available foriPad and Android users and is powered by Red Jumper. It is easy and simple to use because the instructions are clear so children and adult alike can surely create their own book in a few minutes.The app can be likened to an online journalor e-book but has more advanced features either for personal or classroom use.

What made this user friendly to kids is the variety of options to choose from designed in a way that kids will not be distracted from the main purpose of the app which is to create their own book. Children can add photos, videos, texts, drawings and sounds by simply clicking the plus (+) button and can correct mistakes by clicking the undo button. The Book Creator also offers a tutorial book so users can go through the steps on how to use the app effectively.

For really young children, parents can build on their kids’ confidence and love for reading by using this app to create a book with photos and videos of your child and words that your kids are familiar with. Parents can also make their own stories that they can read as bedtime stories for their children. Likewise, teachers can use this by asking the children what they like to add to the story to develop their creativity and imagination. Therefore, the app is not just for personal use but it can also be used interactively in the classroom setting. Truly, this app can be a springboard for learning and for promoting literacy in any environment.

                In sum, I found the application to be individually, culturally, and age appropriate for children of ages 5 to 8 because it captures the needs and interest of childrensince they can easily contribute what they want to express simply by adding photos, videos, recordings or typing their insights and drawing their artworks. With this, it also captures and foster’s children’s independence and creativity as they try to build their own book. I recommend this app for parents and teachers alike to help children develop a sense of fondness for reading and independent work since it can target and enhance skills such as vocabulary, word recognition, spelling, written composition and later on speaking and articulation as the children try to narrate their own stories to different audiences.

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Reference:

Red Jumper.(2015). Book Creator.Retrieved from http://www.redjumper.net/bookcreator/

Common Sense Media Inc. (2015). Book Creator.Retrieved from https://www.commonsensemedia.org/app-reviews/book-creator

WebkinzJr. Review

            Webkinz Jr. is the perfect place for kids ages 3 to 6 to play learning games online. Adopt a pet and meet a whole neighborhood of new friends with some of the best educational activities online! Designed specifically for preschoolers, Webkinz Junior provides age-tailored content including puzzles, math games and great creative play. There are lots to love and lots to learn on WebkinzJr!

In Webkinzjr., users have the chance to go on a virtual adventure around the neighborhood where there are different exciting places to visit. They can go around the school where they can earn stickers and the playhouse where they can play games and earn coins.They also have the W shop wherein children can use the coins that they have accumulated from the different places they visited. They also have the Parent’s area. Parents can change the child’s pet name, the password of their child’s account and customize the difficulty of the game. In this way, parents have control over what their child does in the game. They also have the Q and A and Tips section for the parents to give feedbacks and ask questions regarding the website.

            Webkinzjr. isgood  for children 3 to 6 year olds. Itprovides clear instructions and prompts and makes navigation more exciting with its simple graphics and sound effects.It is easy to navigate since there are clear instructions on how your child can use the website properly. If your child is a new user of the website, they can click the Tour icon so that they can learn about what to expect from the site.

            Each feature in Webkinzjr. was selected in consideration of the child’s skills and knowledge. It was designed in order to foster holistic development of its users.In Webkinzjr, the parents play a vital role in the child’s learning experiences since they are the ones who interact with the child at home and have control over what they see and learn about.

    With regards to engagement, the website can no doubt be playful and open-ended since the website encourages the use and improvement of its user’s creativity. Your child can customize their own pet, can role-play different scenarios when they visit the park and the playhouse.

As for usability, the website is infused into multiple learning areas such as the school, park, playhouse, W shop, etc. It offers opportunities for joint engagement between your child and with other kids their age as well as parents and teachers. Webkinzjr. supports your child’s learning and expands access to new content by complementing and supplementing their curricular experiences in school in the comforts of their home. 

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References:Retrieved from : http://www.webkinzjr.com/

PBS Kids Review

PBS Kids          

pbskids.org is a site for an array of educational games which your child can play. It ranges from games that ask the children to create new things to games that bring your child along on a virtual adventure. Each game specializes in different subjects and topics. Games like Freeze Dance Rhyming and Sandbox Search test your child’s abilities in words that rhyme and alphabet recognition while games such as Vegetable Patterns and Cat’s Math Safari test your child’s skills in identifying shapes and patterns.

The site provides for learning in all kinds of topics including values. There are a few e-books you and your child can read-along to which has great lessons to teach your child like the story Big Brother Daniel. It even categorizes the games into different subjects and groups.

Appearance-wise, the website did a good job in designing their interface. Information is easy to find since the games are grouped according to their common features and the site has a few links on top of the page that would help users find what they are looking for easily. The text is easy to read and the graphics do not appear cluttered or distracting as the site has a simple blue background. The only concern I had with the site is that it takes quite a bit of time to load so children may become frustrated waiting for it to load especially if the internet connection is bad. To avoid this, parents can pre-load the games so the child does not have to wait long. It can also serve as a way for parents to screen the games the child is exposed to.

                The website contains a huge variety of online games children can play with so they are given a lot of options to choose from and a lot of opportunities to learn. Each game has a specific concept it targets ranging from physical, intellectual to social and emotional skills so the user is really exposed to a good range of learning experiences. In addition to this, the games are very engaging and have a wide range of skills it can target from simple to the most complex. Each game has its own level of difficulty which is a good way to gauge the child’s skills in that area.

                What’s interesting with the website is that it encourages parents, caregivers, teachers and other adults to be engaged in the children’s learning experiences within the site. It has a sister site which they teachers can visit to learn how they can use the site’s resources and activities they can further provide for the children. Parents can also contact the game producers and site managers through the help page to ask questions and learn more about the site.

                  I would recommend all parents and caregivers, including teachers to go visit the website and make use of its resources to further enhance the children’s learning since pbskids.org provides curriculum-based entertainment that gives opportunities for the use of media and technology to build the children’s knowledge, critical thinking, imagination and curiosity.

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Reference:

PBS kids. (2013). Retrieved from http://pbskids.org/games/

HangMouse Review

Online Game: HangMouse

Level: Grade 3

Source: http://www.learninggamesforkids.com/math_games/3rd-grade-math/number-sense-3rd/number-sense-hangmouse-3rd.html

            HangMouse is an educational game wherein the players form the mathematical terms suited for the selected grade level. Each letter chosen contributes to the formation of the word and allows the mouse to escape with the slice of cheese. However, for every mistake made in choosing a letter, the cat wakes and catches the mouse on the last attempt to guess the letter. The goal is to form the word with a limited number of trials.

            The game is appropriate for 3^rd Graders to identify their knowledge on mathematical terms and with the added excitement from being caught by the cat, this would excite the player to recall their knowledge on math terms and do better.It targets the user’s thinking skills in regards to remembering the math concepts as well as their skillsin spelling and letter recognition.The site itself is a compilation of educational games wherein in this article, focuses on a selected game under the category of third grade math concepts.

            Although no information regarding the creator of the game is provided, it at least tells us that the company who created the game is Learning Games for Kids in the year 2015. Adding the names of the creator/s would help spread awareness of the people’s creativity behind the website. The website’s appearance is very attractive for kids as it has eye-catching icons and colourful moving images but the font colors are not pleasing to look at with it being dominantly colour blue and some red fonts for links.

            Overall, the game is appropriate for a child to reinforce their skills in recalling and retention of math concepts and it helps get the child excited. The content and appearance is well designed with the exception of its font colors. The game is recommended for children that are interested in guessing games and those interested in math or require further improvement in this subject.

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Recommended Activities with the Use of Technology

Young children nowadays are exposed to a variety of technology in their everyday lives. As parents, it is difficult to avoid giving children access to technology considering how technology is already considered as a necessity by most people. It is something that we can no longer avoid. However, with young children, it is always best to be familiar to what kind of technology they are exposed to and what parents can do to use these technologies to further develop the knowledge and skills children acquire from them.

When used intentionally and appropriately, technology and interactive media are effective tools to support learning and development (NAEYC, 2012). That is why as parents, it is important that you know what your child is doing in the digital world. When you are familiar with the kind of games and applications your child uses, you are better able to guide them and help them and reinforce their learning and development.

Before I suggest some activities to do with your children, it is imperative that we first discuss how technology should be utilized in your home.

1. Do a test run. Before exposing your child to the technology, make sure that you are first able to see it yourself to know how it works and what kind of feedback your child is getting from it. Doing this will help in helping your child understand unfamiliar concepts when interacting with technology.
2. Choose appropriate technology. It is important that the technology your child is exposed to is interactive. It should allow your child to be creative, solve-problems and think critically. Most importantly, it should provide opportunities for your child to socialize with peers or yourself.
3.  Balance it out. Although exposing your child to technology is a great way to reinforce their learning and development, it can also be harmful to them since there are certain aspects of development technology is unable to reinforce. Therefore, it is still encouraged that children be exposed to other activities not involving technology.

Now that you know how technology can be used at home by children, it would be beneficial to use these tips in discerning what your child is exposed to at home. While we cannot control what they see outside of the home, research suggests the importance of the home learning environment to the children’s learning and development which means that what your child is exposed to at home plays a significant role in their achievement in school and how they adjust to situations (Kernan, 2012). Below are some suggested activities to do with your kids at home that involves the use of technology.

1. Digital storytelling.There are already a million and one ways to make storytelling more personal and interactive. Sites such as SandBox and StoryBird provide children with different ways to make reading fun such as making your own storybook, making videos for storytelling and even templates for comic strips.
2. Online games. Although there are also a lot of negative effects when using technology, when it is used it can also be a very effective tool for reinforcing learning. Click here to read on why MineCraft can be a useful game for children. http://technology-in-preschool.blogspot.com/2015/03/minecraft-review.html
3.  Interactive applications. With the release of tablet computers and android phones, many companies have developed numerous applications children can play with using those devices. It is not enough that these apps are interactive. They must also develop their social skills, critical thinking and their knowledge about the world around them.

These 3 developments in technology are only guides on what kind of technology children should be exposed to. For a more comprehensive review of selected websites, games and applications, please visit our other blog posts here.

To end, I would like to leave parents with this final message with regards to what technology can do for children. Technologies can broaden the array of opportunities for children to learn about the world, to develop their communication skills, and to learn about how to learn (Plowman & McPake, 2013).

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References:

Kernan, M. (2012).Parental involvement in early learning. Retrieved from

http://www.bernardvanleer.org/files/Parental_involvement_in_early_learning.pdf

NAEYC. (2012). Key messages of the naeyc/fredrogers center position statement on technology and

interactive media in early childhood programs. Retrieved from

http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/12_KeyMessages_Technology.pdf

Plowman L & McPake J (2013). Seven Myths About Young Children and Technology.

Childhood Education 89 (1) 27‐33.

Technology Integration: Who are we to say that we don’t need it?

            In this technological world, it is easy to say that we especially your child cannot veer away from technology. We all eat, drink, watch, and live with technology. Technology is very dynamic; it changes at a snap of a finger which prove show people are creative in creating new advancements in technology.

Because of the rapid increase in technology use, it has crept its way inside your children’s classrooms. It has become such a permanent fixture in their everyday lives that we often don't think about how we use it, how your children use it or how these technologies are being used in your children’s learning. However, you, as a parent should take advantage of information about your child’s experiences inside the classroom. With that, we can provide support for those experiences they have in school at the comfort of their homes. As a parent, you are encouraged to become involved in your child’s learning. Therefore, knowing how technology is used inside your children’s classroom can be beneficial in understanding how you can help your child learn better.

Seamless integration of technology in the classroom is when students are not only using technology daily, but have access to a variety of tools that matches the tasks given to them and provide them the opportunity to build a deeper understanding of content. In order to know if technology is well integrated in your children’s classroom, here are some key points about technology integration published by HighScope which you can find in their website:

1. Incorporating technology in your child’s classroom experience is a choice, not a necessity. While familiarity with technology is important in today’s world, and access to technology is an equity issue, early learning primarily occurs through interactions with other materials, people, events, and ideas
2. Technology should be used in moderation to supplement and NOT to replace hands-on learning with real materials that provide a full range of physical, sensory, intellectual, and social experiences. These experiences still make up for most learning your child gets so there should be a greater amount of activities which require their direct participation rather than through screen media.
3. Technology should be interactive and open-ended. It should encourage children to discover their own understanding of concepts and not emphasize drill and practice.Software should encourage creativity, problem solving, and reflection. It should foster their ability to make decisions and learn from the mistakes they make.
4. Technology should serve as a catalyst for social interaction. It should allow children to use equipment and programs together,share observations and discoveries, and assist one another. Screen media should allow your child to to interact with other people including yourself.

Once we are able to establish these things, it will be easier to decide whether your child is able to use technology in the right way for optimal learning and for you as a parent to develop steps on how to reinforce those strategies inside your home.

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References:

Using technology appropriately in the preschool classroom. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.highscope.org/file/NewsandInformation/Extensions/ExtVol28No1_low.pdf

Practical Tips in Using Technology or Screen Media for Children

Among the principle guidelines in choosing appropriate technology and interactive media for early childhood education, the National Association for the Education of Young Children(NAEYC) and Fred Rogers Center for Early Learning and Children’s Media said in their joint position statement that appropriate use of technology and screen media depends on age, developmental level, needs, interest, linguistic background, and ability of the child (2012).Effective and proper use of technology and media can enhance children’s cognitive and social abilities.

The following tips offer practical ways on how to use technology and screen media for young children:

•      Limit the amount of time your children use screen media. You may want to start reducing at least 30 minutes of the time your children are exposed to these materials and substitute other activities like storytelling, baking and other activities that would encourage interaction between you and your child or your child and others.

•      Give equal opportunities for screen media learning and direct learning experiences by accompanying your child in the park or going on a field trip to the zoo after exposing them to virtual images of animals and other concepts in the app.

•     DON’T use technology or screen media as a baby sitter. As much as possible, sit beside your child while he or she is watching TV or playing a game and ask him or her questions regarding the show or the app to encourage communication and real interaction. Questions such “Who is that character you’re playing?” or “What will happen if you click that button?”  and “How do you play the game?” are good examples of questions that would foster socialization in your child.

•     Look for good educational sites that will foster your child’s learning. (You may want to visit:http://pbskids.org/, http://wonderopolis.org/or http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/or check out our website and apps reviews page here)

•     You may want to check or test the websites or applications first before letting your child use these tools in order to see whether these tools will be educational or not. This way, you can also block certain websites that are not appropriate for your child.

•     Give feedback when your child is playing a game or an app. Be sure to encourage him/her whenever your child makes a mistake. Children can also feel frustrated when they aren’t able to do something so it is important that we give them the encouragement they need so they will want to achieve success in the activity.

•     Place the computer in an area in which you can easily monitor your child’s usage. In this way your child can easily ask questions or clarify instructions. This also allows you to check what your child is doing to protect them from wandering off to inappropriate sites and playing inappropriate games.

Research shows and suggest that children’s learning from media can be greatly enhanced when parents and adults join in and make a shared experience (Lerner, 2014). Therefore, as parents, your participation in your child’sexploration and use of these technology and materials can further improve your child’s engaging learning experience.

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References:

Lerner, C. & Barr, R. (2014).Tips: Using screen media with young children. Retrieved from http://www.zerotothree.org/parenting-resources/screen-sense/screen-sense_tips_final3.pdf

National Association for the Education of Young Children., & Fred Rogers Center for Early Learning and Children’s Media.(2012). Technology and interactive media as tools in early childhood programs serving children from birth through age 8. Retrieved from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/PS_technology_WEB2.pdf

Technology and Toddlers

(image taken from Google images)

“They’re growing up so fast” is something people say countless times when they see young babies, and never has a phrase been more true; children in their early years indeed develop very rapidly. Here are some of the most notable changes your child will undergo in a particular period:

For 0 to 11 months: they can sit, first with the help of adults and eventually on their own. They learn about the things around them with the use of their hands and mouth (that’s why babies love grabbing things and then putting them in their mouths!). They begin to identify who their parents are, and therefore they will be shy around strangers.

Babies from 0 to 11 months learn about the world around them with the use of their five senses, but mostly through touching and tasting; that’s why we often see babies grasping our fingers when we first meet them, and then later on, we find ourselves playing a small tug-of-war to avoid having them put our fingers into their little mouths!

(image taken from Google images)

For 1-year-olds: their height is 1.5 times and the weight is 3 times as much as they were born. They start to say words and walk without help. They use their whole body to play. Physical play should be encouraged in order for your child to exercise and master fine and gross motor skills such as jumping, and hand-eye coordination.

For 2-year-olds: they develop reflexes rapidly, particularly in their feet. They can run, jump, climb and descend the stairs without their hands; they can kick and catch a ball and perform various tasks that require eye-hand or eye-feet coordination. Children start to ask a lot of what and why questions, and adults should respond in humour.

Parents should remember that children’s development may vary. Children’s relationship with their parents and guardians have a positive influence not just in their cognitive development, but as well as in the physical and affective aspects of their development (Vipul Baijal, 2014)

If parents need more information about child development, this website provides detailed information about it. http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/milestones/index.html

Children and Technology Use

(image taken from Google images)

Parents, in an attempt to prepare their children for school, come to use technology to aid in their children’s learning. Technology has undoubtedly made everything easier – from basic tasks to learning an array of subjects. The key to its efficient use, however, is not on the program or apps installed, but how the particular gadget is used.

Parents, having your children stay put while eating at a restaurant is not one of the benefits of technology use! Children should be allowed to socialize even at the dinner table, or with other kids. Letting them sit quietly with an iPad may help you, but will not help them.

Here are some pointers you may use when letting your children use technology:

• Talk about what they are seeing on the screen as you are reading a story
• Have fun and give attention to your child’s cues.
• Choose a good software that will not only teach your child but also encourage communication between users.
• limit the time of using not to get addicted.

Despite the many benefits technology has in aiding in your child’s development, it is important to know that technology can also be dangerous. Parents should have an idea on the different hazards technologies have on their children, as children are still incapable of discerning that for themselves.

Firstly, excessive use of technology can jeopardize other areas of development, such as the physical and social domains. Encourage your children to still engage in outdoor play with other children!

If it is completely unavoidable to use technology, here are research-based tips for parents to correctly incorporate technological gadgets in activities for a each age(About Parenting, n.d.):

For new born babies: their hearing is outstanding even they haven’t learned how to talk. E-books or educational radios are more effective for this age. Have them listen to stories or different songs; it will eventually help with their language development.

For 1-year-olds: keeping toys new and fresh is effective for this age (BabyCentre,n.d.).Shape sorters and puzzles can help 1-year-old toddlers develop cognitive and fine motor skills; constantly changinge or bringing in new puzzle toys will surely challenge your child’s thinking skills. From one and a half years old children can start Lego Duplo that are the length, height and width of original Lego bricks. To enjoy learning English, it is better to touch this language early. If you sing, listen to and dance by music player with your children, they learn English from your imitation.

(image taken from Google images)

Two years olds need to interact with others. Download games that enhance their chances of interacting with others, such as basic charades. It improves their vocabulary while keeping them active and sociable! Downloading books online may help also; texts accompanied by audiobooks will help them identify the relationship between letters, words and sounds. 

Parents should just remember that children at this age should still avoid violent games. Educational screen media such as software, application let children move their fingers, think, and enjoy! If you search on YouTube, you can see a lot!

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References:

http://www.ehow.com/info_8175866_educational-toys-1yearolds.html

http://www.rbbtoday.com/article/2012/02/23/86591.html

http://preschool.teoler.com/index.php/component/k2/item/5-infant-and-toddler-development-with-parental-interaction/5-infant-and-toddler-development-with-parental-interaction?start=144250

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/11/fashion/steve-jobs-apple-was-a-low-tech-parent.html?referrer=&_r=4

http://www.babycentre.co

http://babyparenting.about.com/od/activitiesandplay/u/toddler-activities.htm