Sitting in the kitchen with your coffee cooling, and your 3-year-old pointing at shapes on your cell phone and yelling out every color correctly. It's not you a month ago. This was you last week, when you replaced one app with another. The question isn't if your child has a screen, it's if your child is using a screen. It's how they act when they are on it. The change in thinking is everything.

Why Screens Don't Have To Be The Enemy?

As a parent, it is a concern you will have about your child's time spent on a tablet; and it's a valid concern. A good game for toddlers can make all the difference though. Your child will now be able to tap, drag, and match the shapes as they develop their hand-eye coordination without having to view the same videos repeatedly.

What you have to look out for when picking the apps is making sure that you pick the ones which are meant to teach, not just entertain. With the right app, screen time feels like a mini lesson your child would actually like.

Making Learning Feel Like Play

Children do not like to be seated for a class. They want to play. This is one reason why it is very effective to teach your kids new skills by playing kids games. Even though they do not know that they are learning about colors, letters, and numbers while collecting points, leveling up, and earning stars, they still acquire these skills in the course of playing.

Before you choose an app for your kid, check for these characteristics:

• Simple instructions your child can follow without your help
• Rewards that show up as they complete a challenge
• Bright visuals without flashing lights or loud, jarring noises
• An option to turn off ads completely
• Math Doesn't Have To Be Scary

Some children are anxious about numbers even before they begin school, and it is not the numbers that cause them to be anxious, it is the pressure. That is where free math games for kids can be of assistance to concerned parents. They allow children to count, add and solve small math puzzles without the worry of a grade. This is the kind of low-pressure practice that will add up over time, and will help your child gain confidence.

Not all the games that are marketed as "fun" are educational. Spend time with your child watching them for a few minutes before allowing them to download anything. A great educational game is the one that keeps kids' attention while improving their memory and concentration without them even knowing about it. Also, pay attention to your child’s reaction. If they feel frustrated rather than curious, then this app is not for them.

Conclusion

The use of screen time as part of your kid's daily routine can be beneficial as well, when used thoughtfully. Provided that you choose the appropriate app, the same mobile device can become a learning resource for your kid, which can keep him or her busy for some time. In most cases, it is exactly the thing you fear that turns out to be the best for your kid.