Tablets have improved in design, durability and performance since they became available to the masses. Most tablets now offer better portability and reduced size with similar performance specifications as a regular laptop. With simpler operating systems and attractive designs, they are becoming popular among kids as a new source of learning and interacting with useful information.
Tablets Have Amazing Potential For Children’s Learning
Modern tablets offer a full and engaging experience for adults as well as children. They are usually compact, sleek, and designed to be carried in a handbag. Operating systems installed on kids tablets are optimized and re-engineered to accommodate small children and keep them safe from harmful content. Also, many educational institutions are now replacing books and paper material with electronic tablets for a more comfortable and fun learning process. Similarly, most parents have a tablet at home for their children to use for homework and to build their cognitive skills.
Various models and designs from countless manufacturers have flooded the market in the past few years. It might be difficult for you to put your finger on one out of so many. To aid you through the choosing process, we are listing some of the best tablets for kids below.
- Amazon Fire 7 Kids Edition
- Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Edition
- Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Edition
- LeapFrog Epic
- Dragon Touch K8 Kids Tablet with Stylus
These devices are a productive and easy way for a child to learn, but parents may need to monitor excessive usage. Spending too much time in front of a screen can have adverse effects on your child’s health, productivity, and general habits. Are you wondering about how much is too much? Consider these suggestions:
Allow limited screen-time
It is required to keep in check and limit the screen-time, so it does not interfere with the child’s routine. Pediatricians provide a basic guideline and time limit for kids of different ages.
0-18 months: We recommend that screen-time for babies be limited to occasional video-chats with family or friends.
18-24 months: For children of this age group, we advise to allocate a few minutes for them in front of a screen, so they can learn about visuals. You should keep supervision over them during that time.
2-5 years: Kids of this age usually start going to school. To aid them to learn new things, allocate an hour of the day for supervised screen time. You can talk to them about the events they saw on the screen to help them understand it better.
Above five years: At this age, kids have a better sense of their surroundings resulting in a steep learning curve. Provide your kids with an optimum amount of screen-time according to your judgment. Make sure they don’t miss critical daily tasks due to them, e.g., sleep, studies, etc.
Other things to consider:
Make good use of screen-time
Although kids tend to get hooked to these devices, there are certain precautions you can take to limit the screen-time or make it more productive.
- Keep enough non-screen material, e.g., magazines, toys, games, etc. in your room and house to keep the child occupied and entertained without a screen.
- Don’t let your children use these devices during meal times or while doing homework
- Treat screen-time as a reward for kids to earn by being productive and finishing their chores.
- Supervised screen-time should always be preferred.
- Cut down on your screen-time to set an excellent example for your kids to follow.
- Make and adhere to a screen-time schedule.
Content safety
Kids have a fast-growing mind, and they learn from whatever they see on the screen. There is a lot of content in games, movies, videos, and on the internet that might not be suitable for your child. You can take a few steps to control the content that your child can access.
- Have the complete know-how of the internet and gadgets to block any harmful and inappropriate material.
- Educate your kids about internet rules and safety.
- Keep the device in an open space to be supervised by a guardian. Don’t allow kids to have gadgets in their rooms
- Preview ratings of the video games to make sure they’re suitable for your child.
- Learn about safety guidelines provided by the manufacturers and use only kid-friendly devices.
By: Jessica Howell
