While many people think that screen time should be limited to small children, today’s use of technology is inevitable. It plays a vital role in development and learning during the preschool years. As a parent, incorporating technology in online learning for kids is an essential skill. When you use it appropriately, you and your child will have access to innovative and latest early childhood education methods.
The following are good reasons you should recognise and accept technology in your kid’s online learning:
Prepare for core academic skills.
One excellent use of technology in early online learning is that it helps reinforce academic skills. With a computer, laptop, or tablet, many activities can help your kid learn shapes, sounds, colours, numbers, counting, letters, etc.
Compared to traditional printed work activities, online learning activities can be customised to fit the specific needs of a child. For example, if young students are breezing through their activities, the teacher or parent may jump them over to an advanced level. For those students who have a tough time answering questions and performing activities, you can redirect them to another level that is more suitable for them or review again those materials they are struggling with.
Promote emotional and social development.
It is easy for preschoolers today to use touchscreen devices, mainly because at this age, they are developing their fine motor skills. With proper guidance of adults, touchscreen devices and computers can help kids enhance their social skills and work with other people together. The students may be able to view academic content at the same time and complete activities together.
Online learning becomes a fun process.
Every student is unique, and not all of them love learning and school automatically. However, the majority of young kids these days enjoy using gadgets and other technological innovations. Educators and parents can use this when getting students to enjoy the process of learning. Technology is vast, and you can rest assured that many innovative and enjoyable activities are available for kids in early childhood education.
Allow for multi-step directions.
It can be difficult to make small children follow directions. Teaching small kids to recall and listen is not easy for both the adults and the students. But, it is another story with the use of technology. Kids can easily follow and understand multi-step directions on their laptop or tablet. For example, choosing objects on the screen or opening another tab.
How to Take Advantage of Technology as a Parent of a Preschooler:
- With technology, you can save, record, or share what your child learns throughout the day or during a specific activity or lesson.
- Make use of gadgets and devices in the same way that you use other educational resources and materials like books, blocks, toys, art supplies, and many more.
- You can use assistive technology for online learning for kids, particularly in encouraging development and communicating with students with special needs.
When you incorporate technology in early online learning, the advantages weigh more than the disadvantages. It can help your child develop and improve their social and academic skills, and will also be beneficial in the future.