iPads for Kids

I still remember when I was still a  kids, I will always can't wait for the time to show 4.00pm. This is when my favourite cartoon will be aired on TV. ThunderCat, Sailor Moon, He-Man, Duck Tales, Rugrats are a few of them. After 1 hour of seeing my cartoons, I will switch the TV off and wait outside for the "Roti-Men" to come by in his motorcycle, full of varieties of breads, cakes and junk foods. At only 5.30pm I am allowed to go out from my house to play with my friends within the same area of mine. We will either cycle to a park near by or just play our traditional game. the "teng-teng" of the aeroplane jumping, galah panjang, main getah or the skipping rope was so fun. We will played until we hear our mom calling us back as it is almost Maghrib.

Now, I have 2 daughters, age 8 and 5 years old. They are not obsess of the TV, they won't wait in front of the gate for the "Roti-men" to come. They don't even bother to asked me to buy for them a bicycle. What they always argue about is " Mummy's iPad".

Yes, my kids are not Gen-x or even Gen-y kids. They are being revolve in Technology worlds.

Why the iPad is great for kids?
According to Karen Wohlwend Phd, Assistant Professor Literacy, Culture and Language Education from Indiana University, "Children learn far more than the story in an e-book or the math skills in a puzzle game when they play on an iPad. They also learn a complex set of attitudes and literacy practices necessary operating new technologies". As the kids tap and sweep, they're generating and trying out many possible solutions, evaluating the results and discarding them, all in a moment.

Since iPad is just tap and sweep, even my 5 years old daughter who still can not read are much faster learner when it comes to operate a new applications on the screen of which she just downloaded. She will explore and with just a bit of trail and error she will be able to operate the iPad with out lengthy demonstration from an adult.

Being a "good and responsible" mother I will need to know what good app are for my children. Therefor I bought this MAGBOOK that tells me about the 500 best apps to help your child and play. This magazine will have apps that are suitable for children from the age of 0 month to 16 years old. There are apps of which the kids can play alone or we can play together with our child. Your children can learn song, time, shapes and they can even learn languages, playing music instrument or even astronomy. Knowledge is power and information are beyond your mind.

As i believe iPad is one source of great educational device, but our children will also need to explore their world and surrounding using concrete materials as well. Socialize with other children and interact with other people. Play with real pets and plant a real tomato.
Being a parent, we should always know how to balance and monitor this for our children.