If you've got a smartphone or a tablet, chances are your child already knows how to use it (maybe even better than you do). Children are learning to use computers often before they can write their own names. Our kids are digital natives. Computer gaming is fun, but it can be educational too with the right app or website.
Before letting your child play on the computer, discuss the rules, time limits, and Internet safety. Keep the computer in a location where you can monitor your child's activity. Choose age-appropriate websites and check the safety settings. Look for sites with parental controls ad opt-out features. Whenever possible, take advantage of a free trial yourself to see if it is a site you want to introduce to your child.
Great educational apps:
- Scholastic Reading Timer - Use this free app to keep track of your child's reading minutes for the Douglas County Libraries Summer Reading Program. (FREE)
- Motion Math - This award-winning program has several versions, many of which are free. From simple counting to working with fractions, there's a program for all levels, including challenging ones for grown-ups! ($1.99)
- National Geographic Explorer - Interactive online magazines at a variety of prices will keep your kids enthralled. Just don't remind them they are learning! (FREE)
- Sushi Monster - Scholastic's free math app is a new game to practice, reinforce, and extend math fact fluency. (FREE)
- Go Away Big Green Monster - Ed Emberley's beloved and best-selling book is now an app. Put your child in charge of turning scary into silly. ($2.99)
- Build It Up - This free app made just for toddlers helps develop visual perception skills, fine motor skills, and primary math concepts. (FREE)
- MeeGenius! - A must-have for every parent, this free app is an easy-to-use library of e-books for you and your little ones to enjoy together. (FREE)
- Don't Let the Pigeon Run This App! - This app is one of the more expensive ones, but it lets your child create original Mo Willems' Pigeon stories. ($5.99)
- I Hear Ewe - Like a digital version of Fisher Price's classic See 'n Say, this free app for toddlers has 24 animal sounds and 12 vehicle sounds. (FREE)
- Easy Bake Treats - Let your child get creative by making, baking, decorating, and sharing virtual cakes, cupcakes, and cookies. Bonus: You don't have to worry about the calories! (FREE)
- Puppet Pals - Create unique shows with animation and audio using this free app. (FREE)
Great educational websites:
- Starfall seems to be a favorite "first" website among parents and preschool teachers, with games that teach letter sounds and the alphabet, online books that can help pre-readers and early readers, and online movies that reinforce these skills.
- PBS Kids is a name I trust and was a favorite with my boys when they were younger. Kids get to choose their favorite PBS shows and play games associated with them. This site focuses on early literacy.
- ABC Mouse is perfect for little learners, with a full online curriculum for preschool through kindergarten. Subscription price is $7.95 per month or $79 per year. For a limited time, you can get your first month free.
- Learning Planet has games and learning activities covering a wide variety of subjects for preschoolers to middle-schoolers. An unlimited access annual subscription for 5 or fewer kids is $39.95 but you can try it free for 10 days before deciding whether to join.
- Tux Paint is an award-winning drawing program for ages 3-12.
- Cool Math 4 Kids teaches everything from simple addition to pre-algebra.
- Fun Brain has a Math Arcade, Comic Book Reading, and a Playground — kids won't even realize it's educational!
- Herotopia lets kids create an avatar and play games to protect the world from the Bully Bunch. Bonus: Kids learn tips for dealing with bullies in the real world too. Limited access is free; purchase a one-month subscription for $5.95, six months for $29.95, or twelve months for $49.95.
