Though some parents feel they’re a bad influence, Ghada Salem suggests mobile devices can also be helpful in your child’s development.
Mobile and tablet apps are a big part of children’s lives nowadays! A lot of parents complain that their kids spend extended hours using their devices to play games that we parents feel are not adding anything to their skills. We are concerned, also, that the games can affect their eyesight and limit their imagination.
Having said that, it is hard to keep the kids away from technology and from using tablets and other gadgets. In my opinion moderation is the key. Let your youngsters use tablets for a certain time per week, explain the pros and cons and agree on a timetable for tablet use. You can allow extra use as a treat from time to time but always keep the tablet charger with you!
This month, I ‘m sharing a few apps and websites that are actually pretty good and will help your kids excel at school. And guess what? They’re almost all free. I’ve been using these apps and websites for quite some time now, so my recommendations come from first-hand experience.
APPS
Duolingo – I am all for teaching kids as many languages as I can. Duolingo is an amazing app that can help your little ones, and you too if you wish, to learn Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Italian, and English for free
Mathmateer by Dan Russell-Pinson
Maths can be fun! Build your very own rockets and fly them to the stars with this app! While your rocket is floating weightlessly in space, the real fun begins! Play one of the many fun maths missions. Each has touchable objects floating in space, including stars, coins, 3D shapes and more! Kids can earn a bronze, silver or gold medal and also try to beat their own highest scores. Missions range in difficulty from even and odd numbers all the way to square roots, so kids and their parents will enjoy hours of fun while learning maths.
NASA
By far, this is my kids’ favourite app. It is developed by NASA and includes a huge collection of stunning images, videos, mission information, news, NASA TV and featured content.
Class Dojo
This app is not educational but it is a great way to get kids to set targets for themselves and evaluate their performance. In addition, you can set certain behaviours that you would like you children to develop or stop and, through the app, you can challenge them to do (or not) certain things and give them points on Class Dojo.
My Story Book Creator
Children can draw, use photos, record voice, type and then send their finished creations to their parents and friends .
WEBSITES
Oxford Owl Reading and Math
Helping your child learn to read and learn to love reading is one of the greatest gifts.
Xtramath
A free web-based resource designed to help kids master basic math facts. Suitable for kids of five and above.
IXL: This isn’t a free website but I highly recommend it. The membership is about BD5 a month. It’s an immersive K-12 learning experience that provides comprehensive, standards-aligned content for maths, language, arts, science and social studies in line with the American curriculum.
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