Mobile learning. Tablets free children from classrooms, allowing them to learn anywhere, at any time at their own pace. The virtual classroom never closes. - Learning through games. While younger children can learn through play, older kids can refine their problem-solving skills, hand-eye co-ordination, and collaborative abilities through digital games. Thanks to the digital revolution, this generation of children will possess cutting edge technological skills when they enter the workforce.
- Incredible apps. The number of incredible apps grows daily. There are simulations that take the user on a trip through the Milky Way or back to pioneer days. There are also programs that allow kids to record their own music or make their own movie, and apps to help improve their hockey skills.
- Easy access to books. It’s simple and fast to find and download books either through online stores or local libraries. Hundreds of books can be digitally stored in a tablet, which can lighten the load in your child’s backpack.
- Encourages teamwork and collaboration. Since so many apps have built-in social media potential, kids are increasingly able to share and collaborate online. It’s now easy to work on projects together and this teaches collaborative, social and problem-solving skills – which are vital to success in the working world.
- Personalizes learning. Tablets allow children to learn in the way easiest for them, whether that’s reading, watching videos, listening or figuring things out for themselves. There are also apps that can help engage a child who has ADHD, for instance. Some apps have been created specifically for the visually impaired and others have been developed to help children who have learning disabilities.
- Provides accessible research for school projects. Tablets, smartphones and laptops can give students access to the largest knowledge repository online with the tap of a finger from the convenience of home.
- Explores new interests and develops talents. Whether your child is musical, artistic, or athletic, tablets can help them develop their gifts. Do you have a budding scientist or mathematician at home? There are some spectacular apps on the market that even make the periodic table fun to learn. Not sure what special talent your child possesses? Observe the games and activities he or she likes to play and go from there.
- Encourages environmentalism. Paper waste is eliminated, along with the unnecessary time of collating, copying, and printing out documents that may likely be destined for the trash anyway. Imagine the amount of paper saved if a child went through 12 or more years of schooling using a tablet for all of his or her books, reports, papers, projects, and studies? That is a lot of paper! Eventually you may no longer require your tablets and other electronics. When this happens, please be sure to keep E-waste out of landfill sites by ensuring these items are either recycled or safely disposed of.
- Evolves computer skills. The future workforce will require people with outstanding technological skills – no matter what field they enter. The introduction to tablets and digital devices at a young age can make the beginning of their technological journey fun and exciting. They will likely continue to be excited with technology and easily embrace new concepts.
Overall, tablets let children understand the world around them. Older kids can check out news from around the world – and you are able to engage them in discussions and debates about current affairs. This all can start at a young age, by introducing concepts through these digital chalkboards.