Most experts agree that kids shouldn't get a lot of screen time. You can maximize the screen time they do get, by being intentional about how your kids use technology. Here are some great tips from Sherry Maysonave, Author of EggMania: Where's the Egg in Exactly.
- VisualSense:
Chooseillustratedebooksthatarevisually-rich,thosehavingartful(notmerelystickfigurekiddyartorcartoontypescommontodigitalgames)andcolorfulgraphicstofullyengagechildrenvisuallyandtostimulatetheirimaginations.
- Audio Sense:
Selectebooksthathavetwomodesofreading:a)NarrationwithEnhancedSound—musicandsoundeffects;b)ReadMyself.Tooptimizeaudiointegration,allowchildrentoenjoyandexplorethenarratedversionwithenhancedsound.Then,topracticeoralreadingskills,setupanauditionfor“thebestnarrator.” Useanaudiorecorderorsmartphonetotapechildren’sversions.Allowthemtocreatesomefunsoundeffectsandaddmusicalongwiththeirnarration.Parentsmayrecordforyoungerchildrenwhoarenotyetreadingadvancedvocabulary.Involvetheminthenuancesofyouroralexpression.Makeittheirsbyincludingtheirvoiceontherecording.Havethemread,speak,orrepeatafteryou,someofthewordsorshortsentences.
- Kinesthetic Sense:
Encouragetappingandtouchingofthescreentoactivatekinestheticandinteractivecomponents.Tomaximizethesefeatures,havekidszoominandoutonartimages,tapforduplicationoranimationofimage,andtapwordsfordefinitions.iPaduserscantakescreenshotsofillustrations,thenprinttheminblackandwhiteforkidstocolor,paint,trace,orcopy.
- Emotional Components:
- Hostalivechattodiscussstoriesandillustrationswithchildren;askwhat’stheirfavoriteillustration?Andwhy?Theirfavoritewords,etc.Avoidasking,“Whatdidyoulearn?”
- Supporttheheroinyourchild.Developtheirsubjectivethinkingskillsbyhelpingthemanalyzethesubtlerlifelessonstypicallyinherentinchildren’snarratives.Kidsdonotalwaysintegratewhatwethinktheywill.Helpthemcometopositiveconclusionsbyaskingthemquestionsaboutthemaincharacterorcharacters,askingwhattheylikedaboutthem/him/heranddidn’tlikeaboutthem.Askhowtheywouldrespondtothedilemmaorconflictiftheywerethatcharacter.
- Language Development:
Givekidsachoiceoftwoillustrationsfromanebookorhavethemselecttwofavorites.Thenhavethemwriteanewstoryorpoembasedupontheillustrationsandwhattheimagesinspireintheirimagination.Olderkidscanberequiredtohavealexicalhumorslanttotheirstoryorpoem,ortochooseagenresuchascomedyordrama.
- MemoryandFamilyFun:
Furtherdevelopkids’ memoryandintegrationbyextendingthesubjectmatterintofamilytimebyplayinggames,suchascharades,usingvocabulary-richphrasesfromselectedebooksyourchildrenenjoy.Afamily/friendsversionof“Who’sSmarterthanaFifthGrader” canbeplayedusingtheFunFactsthatsomeebooksprovide.
