High-tech toys
can educate
digital kids
Game on!
By Scott Steinberg
FROM ALL;TIME family favorites such as
Silly Putty and Slinky to popular electronic
board games like Operation, technology
(albeit relatively low-tech) has brought kids of
all ages—including adults—countless good
times and dozens of fun innovations. But
starting in 1975, with the at-home arrival of
Atari’s Pong, a new breed of smarter, more
high-tech playthings began to emerge, and
today’s digital families continue to watch history play out before their eyes.
“Technology is everywhere. … Unlike
their parents and grandparents, today’s digital
natives [tech-savvy kids] were born into and
have grown up in a technology-driven culture,” explains Jody LeVos, manager for
LeapFrog’s learning team. “Swiping a touch
screen has become second nature.” According
to Internet security firm AVG, more kids ages
2 to 5 can actually now play apps and video
games than can tie their shoelaces. Mirroring
these advancements, manufacturers such as
Hasbro, Mattel and Kids II are increasingly
creating innovative new toys to match.
Designed for both educational and entertainment purposes, electronic options such as
The Learning Journey’s ABC Melody Maker
aim to teach spelling, math and language skills
to kids as young as 3 years old. More sophisticated alternatives, including child-friendly
PCs like V Tech’s Tote & Go Laptop, also introduce downloadable stories, activities and
games, and look to instill positive computing
habits in preschool-age children. Older
sprouts can now enjoy futuristic, hands-on
approaches to science via options like
Fascinations’ Ant Works space-age ant habitat.
While some tech toys may appear to be
simple distractions, don’t be fooled by appearances, counsels British child psychologist
Jennifer L. Hartstein: Many have potential
lessons to teach. “There are some wonderful
technology toys … that provide terrific sources
[of education], including teaching children
letters, and how to read,” she explains. “There
MEDIABAKERY
are also some wonderful applications and
gadgets that really help to stimulate problem-
solving and critical thinking.”
Not only do electronic amusements help
children explore who they are, offer new per-
spectives and promote greater individuality,
Hartstein says, many teach vital lessons without
children realizing they’re even learning.
As University of London professor Rose
Luckin recently told Time magazine, tablet-type devices for kids can promote forms of
social interaction central to the learning process and encourage helpful dialogue between
parents and children. Researchers at Harvard
have likewise discovered that positive video
games played in moderation on age-appropri-ate devices can help children boost creativity,
problem-solving and cognitive skills. Pediatric
neuroscientists at Massachusetts General
Hospital further point out that simple, streamlined apps can break down communication
barriers and help others better connect with
special-needs children.
“Technology toys can be a meaningful
source for learning,” suggests Essentials of
Smart Parenting author Carl Arinoldo, who
posits that electronic toys and games are the
wave of the future. Potential upsides include
their ability to build learning, language and
memory skills, and teach kids how to use
technology to research and gather information for more advanced school projects. But as
with any other tool, he says, it’s all in how you
choose to use these innovations.
Happily for parents hoping to strike the
right balance between high-tech and traditional play, fun and education, there’s no
shortage of options. “Many wonderful toys
and apps can help kids of all ages,” explains
The Costco Connection
You’ll find a variety of electronic games
that promote learning at your local Costco
warehouse and online on Costco.com.
Picking the
right tech toy
for your child
SHOPPING FOR high-tech toys this
holiday season? Before giving your
playroom a digital upgrade, say
experts, you’ll want to keep the
following advice in mind.
• Pay attention to playthings’
age-appropriateness.
• Follow children’s lead and purchase
items consistent with their interests.
• Provide a variety of toys and
games to enhance learning and
experiences.
• Set screen-time limits: 30 to 60
minutes is a good starting baseline.
• Ask questions
and be aware
of how children are
using these
devices. and participate
i
using these
devices.
• Balance high-tech play with equal
amounts of real-world activity.
VTECH
• Actively engage
and participate
with your kids
during playtime
activities.
Costco member Jeana Lee Tahnk, who blogs
about high tech for Parenting magazine. “In
many ways, technology can provide a much
more intuitive and visual way to make learning easier and more entertaining.” C
NOVEMBER 2012 ;e Costco Connection 67
Scott Steinberg is the author of the best-selling
Modern Parent’s Guide series (free download
available at
www.parentsguidebooks.com).
