Too much screen usage is dangerous for little kids. It can affect their eyesight and stunt their psychological development. While controlling children’s screen time is essential, many parents make the mistake of banning gadgets altogether. This approach is wrong, too, as the internet is a beautiful repository of educational content that can benefit your kids. So instead of forcing and stopping the children from using tech gadgets, there are several other ways parents can use to not only keep their children away from the potential damages your kids can be victims of but also provide them with limitless opportunities to improve their cognitive levels and other benefits.
If you are one of such parents looking for some possible ways to get the benefit of your child’s screen time, then you are at the right place, because here in this amazing blog post, we have covered you up. Depending on mindset and other situations, one can find many different ways to take advantage of their kid’s screen surfing time and convert this time into a learning activity that can even be a life-changing thing for them. Here we are sharing seven of such ways to let your kids get the benefit of screen time.
1. Interactive Learning Apps
Several apps gamify the learning experience, and your children can have some fun while catching up on their homework. For little kids, you can use ABCmouse, which offers a comprehensive curriculum covering subjects like reading, math, science, and art. The official website says their contents are specifically made for kids of age groups below 8 years. Further, remembering your student life, you must have gone through a website known as ‘Khan Academy’ when searching for a lesson been stuck in. They not only help grown-ups in their subjects but also provide amazingly helpful content for kids. You can also introduce Khan Academy Kids to your children, which provides various educational activities in math, reading, and social-emotional development. It includes interactive games, books, and videos to support foundational skills.
2. Word Ladder or Weaver Games
Several websites offer children games and puzzles that improve their IQ and help nurture their maths, science, and English skills. For example, you can introduce them to word ladder games which are built to improve children’s English vocabulary. They are an excellent way to enhance your children’s vocabulary while keeping them entertained. In a word ladder game, one has to think of (or be given) two words, taking one word as a starting point and the other as an ending point. The inner words are to be formed in a way that each next word is formed from the previous changing only one letter in the previous word. When the ending word is reached in this way, we say the game is completed. Start and end words must be of the same length in terms of letters. For example: A word ladder from “Cool” to “Word” is given as: Cool -> Wool -> Wood -> Word. This website let you enter two words and generates a perfect word ladder for those two words. So don’t hesitate to bookmark this on your kid’s device if you want to let your children learn about new words on a daily basis in a fun way.
3. Virtual Field Trips
If your kid is interested in history or geography, they will love websites that offer virtual field trips, like Google Arts and Culture! It provides virtual tours of museums, historical sites, and cultural landmarks worldwide. It provides an immersive experience with access to high-resolution images and exhibits.
Similarly, consider VR exploration apps if you have a virtual reality headset. They can offer immersive experiences, allowing users to explore museums, historical sites, and national parks. If you don’t have a VR headset, you can experience these trips in the 360-degree mode on a device.
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4. Coding Programs
In the digital age, your kid must have some baseline coding knowledge. If they are interested in STEM fields, coding programs are a great way to keep them engaged on the screens.
Kids in elementary school can try Scratch, a block-based visual programming language. It allows kids to create interactive stories, games, and animations by snapping together code blocks, making coding accessible and fun.
Similarly, Code.org provides a variety of coding courses suitable for different age groups. It uses a block-based programming approach and includes themes like Minecraft and Star Wars to make coding engaging.
5. Educational Shows
If your kids are obsessed with cartoons, you can channel their interest in learning through them. Netflix Kids has several educational shows and movies available for your kids.
One classic show your children must watch is Sesame Street. It has been a beloved educational TV show for decades. It combines puppetry, animation, and live action to teach letters, numbers, social skills, and more entertaining.
6. Documentaries
If your children love watching documentaries, they can teach them a lot about different niche subjects! Platforms like Netflix offer a variety of educational documentaries suitable for different age groups. Examples include “Our Planet” for nature and wildlife, “The Universe” for astronomy, and “The World’s Most Extraordinary Homes” for architecture.
7. Science Experiments
The internet can be an excellent resource for your children to fulfill their scientific curiosity. Websites like Mystery Science provide lesson plans and videos for hands-on science experiments.
Platforms like YouTube have channels dedicated to educational science experiments for kids. Watch channels like “SciShow Kids” or “National Geographic Kids” for age-appropriate and informative experiments. Bill Nye’s content is also explicitly marketed to children and can teach them science in an easy-to-understand and engaging way.
Conclusion
While too much screen time is wrong for your kids, reasonable usage of devices and gadgets is vital for their normal development. You can help your children benefit from screen time by introducing them to educational apps and games like Khan Academy Kids and Word Ladder games. Coding programs and educational media such as documentaries and science experiment videos are also helpful. Expose your children to all of the above materials one by one and examine their interests in the early stages.