benefits of toddler and preschool educational apps

As technology continues to progress, new educational opportunities arise. From online classes to e-books, the possibilities for using technology for learning purposes are endless. Strengthen children’s intelligence with technology in the form of educational apps is on the rise. Educational applications are available for computer, smart phones, and tablets and enable children to learn and develop, all while engaging with technology and games.

It is important the parents ensure that the educational apps chosen are age appropriate and engaging. Through simple research of parent and expert reviews of the apps, you can find apps that will best work for your child. Some of the most popular apps for children as young as toddler aged to preschoolers are educational apps that teach ABC’s, shapes, colors, numbers, entry level foreign languages.

There are a multitude of benefits of using educational apps for children. These 5 benefits of toddler and preschool educational apps include:

1.  Coordination. The use of educational apps and technology encourages the development of hand eye coordination at a younger age.

2.  Social interaction. Social interaction allows parents and children to accomplish a given task collectively and improves the connection between parent and child. Multiple use of the app encourages repetition and memorization of the task and skill.

3.  Enhancement of technological intelligence. By creating a technology foundation at a young age, the child becomes more proficient and able to participate in further technological devices as they age.

4.  Entertainment. Entertainment is a beneficial to the learning process of all children. It is important to ensure that the app allows for equal education and entertainment so that the child will not become bored with the app. Many age-appropriate learning apps can improve vocabulary and reading skills without the child’s awareness of they are participating in a learning activity.

5.  Additional learning. The use of apps can instruct and continue learned classroom lessons during summer breaks and outside of the classroom.

It is important to monitor the amount of time that your child uses technology. Research continues to suggest that creative playing with toys and hands-on activities stimulates a child’s creativity better than technology. Appropriate development of motor and cognitive skills can be attained through a regulation of outdoor play, creative play, educational toys and books, and the use of educational apps.

Enhancing your child’s educational development through the use of educational apps allows your child to have an enhancement to traditional education before they even enter the classroom. A good rule of thumb to remember when implementing educational apps into your child’s daily routine is to follow the screen time recommendations set by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). The AAP recommends that children and teens use entertainment media (which includes the accumulation of television, tablets, computers, and Smartphones) for no more than two hours per day.