How to acquaint the child with gadgets + proven application for kids

Mobile phones have become an integral part of our lives. Children often see Soup in our hands and show them a furious interest. Parents around the world are concerned about - where to find the golden mean, so that children use mobile applications for development and not become a zombie game.

What studies say

The American Academy of Pediatrics provides recommendations to parents of preschool childrenAmerican Academy of Pediatrics Announces New Recommendations for Children's Media Use of time spent behind the screen. Children under 18 months are not recommended to use the Soup at all. From 1.5 to 2 years of age are allowed to view some content. But only on the condition that the applications and games are carefully selected and any child interaction occurs with adults commentary to the screen.

Children from 2 to 5 years old can be carried out for screens up to an hour a day, but still under the supervision and with the explanations. Ideal - to play with gadgets, along with the child. Children from 6 years of age and older are recommended to set certain restrictions on time and designate a special time and place without the use of screens.

In Pali Institute carried out an experimentFive days at outdoor education camp without screens improves preteen skills with nonverbal emotion cues with children and mobile devices. The study found that children who spent five days in the camp outdoors without the use of gadgets, improve their skills and reading non-verbal expression of emotions than those who used electronic gadgets like usually.

Lighting Research Center conducted a studyLight level and duration of exposure determine the impact of self-luminous tablets on melatonin suppression light exposure screens on people. In experiment now it has been found that screens with backlight reduce the concentration of melatonin (sleeping hormone) by using more than two hours. View the phone before bedtime increases the risk to get insomnia and headache.

Well-designed, age-appropriate educational applications helpExploring play
and creativity in pre-schoolers'use of apps: Report for early years practitioners children socialization, develop empathy, tolerance and respect for others. Mobile applications can soothe a child who is excited or feels uncomfortable, such as during a medical procedure. Suitable for age fitness application with yoga or charging can increase the physical activity of the child.

The rules, which should comply

I try to follow a few rules that help children use the phone perfectly and profitably. These principles are on a par with the agreement in respect of food, sleep and safety.

Of course, sometimes I break these rules. But the children do not like - just start arguing, reluctant to give the phone back, and have to spend a few days in which to return to the interrupted harmonious life. So follow your own rules - the most difficult in our business, but the result is a positive effect on relationship with child.

1. Set clear timelines

For my preschoolers is 30-60 minutes a day. On working days, I try not to give mobile at all, but if time remains, we can as a family to see several series of short cartoons on the big screen. Basically, mobile applications and games are used when we are standing in a queue or traffic jam.

2. Select the appropriate application of age

For preschoolers are best short games that will not take a child for a long time, but it will teach numbers, letters, colors, a sense of harmony, useful household skills or carry away in the clear for this age adventure. When children are playing on the phone, I disconnect the internet, and most advertising is blocked applications, and kids are not diverted to inappropriate content.

3. Play with your children

When the children get acquainted with the application, I play with them. I explain weird things, spend parallels with the world, answering endless questions, and at the same time studying the game itself for compliance with age. So children are better aware of what is happening on the screen and relate with your life.

4. Combine game and reality

I try to make the plot and characters of games beyond the screen at least a couple times a week. It solves several problems:

• Not need to invent, what play. You remember the last game of the hero and sculpt out of clay. The result is not very similar, but the main thing - to have fun in the process!
• Small joint exercises with me long enough for children, then they continue to play based on what you see and develop the plot in its sole discretion.
• When the kids are capricious, games help convince the children, for example, brush your teeth or clean the room. It is worth remembering, as did Lolly the game "Three Cat", and the children begin to lay out the toys in places with great enthusiasm.

proven applications

I have prepared a selection of your favorite applications with my children. With them, they learn new, play sports, and I'm not worried about the content and the aesthetic side of the issue. The developers of this list much more enjoyable games, all of them have in their profiles in the App Store and Google Play.

1. talking Alphabet

The most exciting way to learn letters. Application for learning the alphabet, with registration from plasticine. The announcer calls letters, reading poetry, and animals grimace. With these animals the kids will learn all the letters already in the two years.

2. Sago Mini Doodlecast

Risovatelnoe application for children from well-known developer Sago Mini. It differs from others in that it records the voice of the child during use. Children often recite the story of that draw, and sometimes turn out very funny stories that can be stored in memory.

3. toca Band

A little bit crazy, but very harmonious musical ensemble. You can create your music tracks from the sounds that emit fantastic cartoon characters. Ringtones sit in my head for a long time.

4. Little Fox Music box

Popular children's songs in English. Characters move animals make sounds, you can sing along. a child's voice recordings are saved.

5. Little Fire Station

The app tells about the work of the fire station. You can control the fire, helping them to meet the challenge to save the animals, put out the fire and enjoy the victory. Well it is distracting and soothing.

6. pepi Bath

Here plays the routine associated with hygiene. We need to help the girl or boy to brush your teeth, take a shower, go to the toilet and wash. Sometimes I include this game, when children are difficult to drive in the bath.

7. Three cat: Sea Adventure

Kittens are sent to study the sea and tested some simple mini-quests. My kids love the cartoon about the three kittens, and I include the games of this series, when I want to inspire them for a long time. 15 minutes into the game children are playing, each time carefully studying the job, and then long to come up with their own continuation of the plot.

8. small airport

The application can manage airport services and pilots. We often fly by planeAnd the children are very interested in everything that is connected with the flight. Therefore, play it often and ask endless questions.

9. Chomp

Cheerful creative application of the well-known illustrator Christopher Nyman. It is safe to turn on when you want to just relax and laugh.

10. Sago Mini Bug Builder

The idea is to create a bug, help him to hatch out of the egg and play with him. Children love this game - it's nice to see their creations come to life, begin to make sounds and move.

11. Infant Zoo

App for kids. You press on the animal, and it utters a sound. Set classic animal, all the cute characters.

12. Krotik and figures

Educational game, created after the Czech cartoon about a mole authorship Zdenek Miller. Application will introduce and teach numbers count from 1 to 10. Nothing extra.

13. Good night, circus

This application we use to relax a bit before bedtime. Children put to bed circus animals, and they show their tricks. Yawning and elephants quiet lullaby immersed in a dream atmosphere. The design "Good night, circus" designed by artist Heidi Vittlinger nominated for "Oscar".

14. Earth from Tinybop

Incredibly beautiful app that shows the Earth system: where are the volcanoes, how to construct the weathering and erosion of the soil layers which exist. It can cause tsunamis, earthquakes and volcanoes awaken. It is mesmerizing.

15. Happy Kids Timer

This app will help when children refuse to perform morning procedures. Set list and some time to perform. Appendix well that can establish its own job and the time interval. There are also incentives - for the fulfillment of children will get an asterisk and a certificate that can be printed out on the joy of my grandmother.

16. Disney Magic Timer

This app is created for diligent brushing. You choose your character (you can scan your toothbrush to open a new one), brush your teeth for two minutes, and during cleaning gradually opened a new sticker. Ironically, it is plain application of our favorites for two years.

17. Sworkit Kids

I sometimes take charge of applications in your phone, and children, of course, want to repeat after me. This application is designed for children and offers a special selection of simple (and not very!) Exercises. For anyone who loves to crawl like a crab, jumping like a grasshopper and stand like a heron. All exercises show the children.

18. characters

Beautiful app with puzzles for kids. Children like to watch alive scraps of paper, and thanks to this game, my kids loved making collages out of scraps and other scrap materials.

19. Fiete Match

Playing in the "memo" with different levels of complexity. Very suitable kids and for those who already know how to read and mastered addition. It is necessary to compete with the sailor, who sits on the other side of the screen, and often loses.

20. MarcoPolo Weather

With this application, children learn to understand the weather events: what will happen with an umbrella during a strong wind, how to melt the needle, how to dress your character depending on the weather. You can raise a hurricane or arrange extreme heat.

My list probably incomplete. I will be glad to learn about other interesting applications - leave your recommendations in comments.

see also

• 5 parents' mistakes, because of which the child is spoiled vision →
• 30 books that are worth reading to children before they grow up →
• 8 applications that will help your child learn English →