Have you ever noticed how advanced kids have become with tech gadgets such as cellphones and tablets? Though we may complain the young generation spends too much time on these gadgets, items such as tablets can be extremely educational. Tablets can develop a toddlers hand and eye coordination using certain types of kid-friendly games. What’s more, there are thousands of educational YouTube videos your toddler can enjoy.
So if you were thinking about the perfect present to get your three-year-old a tablet is definitely a gift you could consider. But first, you need to know how to select the tablet you think would be best suited for your child.
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Is a Tablet for Your Child a Good Idea?
Technological gadgets make up a huge part of our world. Your children will always be curious about the gadgets you’re using and they’ll want to use them too. Helping them grow up in a technologically advanced household will definitely help them be more tech savvy when they grow up.
If managed correctly, screen time can be an important part of your child’s learning process. Age-appropriate apps can help your child with a wide variety of play and creative learning. The type of apps you can install are:
- Digital finger painting
- How to count
- Sing along songs
- How to pronounce words
- Learning about animals
Giving your toddler their very own tablet could also help them be calmer during your travels. Sometimes when children get bored, they become restless. A portable source of entertainment that’s easy to store, such as a tablet is a major advantage.
How to Introduce a Tablet to Your Toddler
You, as a parent, know what’s best for your child. You will know when the time is right to introduce your toddler to a tablet. Every child is different so the right time for each one may also differ if you have more than one child or if you’re planning on having more children in the future.
The best way to introduce them to a new gadget is to slowly incorporate the use of tablets into their daily lives. You can do this by:
- Allowing them to use Facetime with you when speaking to family and friends
- Let them Skype with you when talking to family and friends abroad
- Introduce them to fun apps like Snapchat
- Watch fun YouTube videos with them
Here are a few other useful ways you can safely introduce a tablet to your toddler:
Use the Tablet with Them
Like any new toy or gadget, your child will need to know how to use the tablet. By sitting with your child you can show them how to press buttons, how touch screens work and how to select apps.
Your child may not be able to use the device independently in their early years. The best way to use a tablet alongside your toddler is holding the tablet like you would a storybook.
Your child may want to chew or grab onto the tablet or press all the buttons the first time around. So this would be the best time to teach them not to break the hardware. Once your child develops the skills to use the tablet they’ll want to use it independently.
Make sure you always sit with them even after they’ve developed their skills. You can ensure they continue to learn about the gadget as much as possible. Playing games on the tablet with your toddler is a fun way to bond.
Select Age Appropriate Apps
As mentioned before there are many apps you can download onto a tablet for your toddler. Select apps that develop their senses such as:
Sound
Apps with nursery rhymes, notes and any form of music they might enjoy.
Visual Content
Select games with bright colours. Perhaps a game that teaches them how to colour in or how to mix colours digitally.
Touch
Touch screen games are excellent as they develop your child’s hand and eye coordination. There are many touch screen games your child can play to move objects around.
Now that you know how to introduce a tablet to your toddler, you’ll need to select the correct kind of device.
Selecting a Tablet for your Toddler
There are toy tablets that you can buy from toy shops, but they’re limited in features. You’ll need to select a tablet that has the specifications you’re looking for so your child can have the ultimate experience Check out our recent post on the 10 Best Tablets Toddlers in 2019.
Size is Important
The size of the tablet shouldn’t be too big as children have small hands. Screen size should also be big enough for them to enjoy cartoons and their games.
The Safety of the Tablet
There should be no loose parts on the tablet such as styluses or other removable hardware. Those can be choking hazards for children. Always make sure you select a sleek design.
Parental Safety Mode
The tablet should allow you to block sensitive content from webpages. Your child should only have a positive influence via a tablet so this is an extremely important feature.
Camera and Video
A tablet with a camera and video recorder could be fun for them, especially for apps such as Snapchat. For safety, make sure that the ‘share’ features on these apps are turned off.
The Tablets’ Storage Memory
Make sure the tablet has a large storage memory so you can download many educational apps for your child to enjoy.
Will it Last?
Another important factor is to inspect the robustness of the tablet. Make sure the tablet comes with screen protectors and covers. Because toddlers are still developing their motor skills, they tend to drop objects often, so make sure the tablet is insured and it has the appropriate protective covering.
Conclusion
Living in a technologically advanced world, toddlers need to have access to as many of these gadgets as they can get their tiny hands on. They’ll grow up more advanced in their tech knowledge, and it will prepare them well for their future.
Check out our Recommended Top 10 Tablets for Toddlers here
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