Today it’s over to you, the readers of Love, Mum. What are your app recommendations for preschoolers and early years school children?
If you’ve been following this blog for a while, you will know we have relied on minimal screen time over the last couple of years in our home. This is a personal choice based on my children’s sensitivity to screens as well as preferences relating to our family. Our way would not suit every family and that’s okay.
Whether you embrace screen time with your children or you use it reluctantly, the reality is that devices and technology are a part of our lives. And I suspect even more than usual in 2020!
Many parenting experts suggest parents of young children use screen time as a tool. The parent decides when screen time is appropriate and plans it into the daily routine. This way, both parent and child have clear boundaries around when the TV or devices will be used. We have slowly introduced more screen time into the day like this and I can confirm this does eradicate a lot of nagging.
So, for those times in the week when I hand the iPad over to my preschooler, I’d love to hear from you what your favourite apps for young children are. What apps have you found that encourage creativity, problem-solving, develop communication or social skills or are simply fun or educational?
Share you app recommendations in the comments section below!
Lots of valuable information here, Roxanne. I’m a former classroom teacher for twenty years. I worked with children primarily aged 8 to 14 and now I work online with adults. I would like to recommend Evernote for students of all ages as a way to organize your thoughts before you start writing. You can search for “Evernote for elementary age” and find lots of helpful ideas for kids.
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Thank you Connie. I didn’t realise Evernote had different versions. I’ll definitely check it out!
I wish I had apps when I was a kid. The closest I can remember to an app is where you pulled a string and whatever animal it landed on it made that noise. I don’t even consider myself that old. 😉
I’ve seen some writing and journaling apps for kids that I would have enjoyed for sure. Something like iDiary would have been right up my alley as I kept a journal from a young age.
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Thanks Hannah. Another one I hadn’t heard of. My eldest would love a journaling app. I’m off to have a look.