Tablet or picture book: why one goes with the other
Digital aids and analog tools are not mutually exclusive. On the contrary, they promote the spirit of research and therefore have their place in the “Science Discovers” educational area.
The topic is polarizing. As is the case with poles, both one view and the other have their appeal. There is the technology-savvy faction, which believes that children today must also learn to live in a digital world. The opposite pole sees digital devices as a reason for lack of exercise, obesity and developmental disorders.
From flashlight to tablet
We at globegarden span an imaginary rainbow between the poles, because also when dealing with digital media it depends on the measure.
In the educational area “Science Discovers”, the age- and development-appropriate use of digital tools is part of gaining initial scientific knowledge. In the process, the children are always supervised by our kindergarten-staff when solving a problem. The children are encouraged to explore various technologies, from flashlights to tablets, in order to explore their environment in a variety of ways.
Exciting topic of picture books: digital or on paper
Take picture books, for example: adults can argue their heads off over this topic. The arguments are strong on both sides. Some fear that during picture book viewing with an e-book, there is too little content dialogue and too few speaker changes, or that children do not listen to the story. On the other hand, it has been shown that the use of e-books expands children’s language skills and has a motivating effect, stimulating children’s engagement.
A meta-study examined the benefits of using a picture book in the form of an e-book. In most cases, children can have the device read the story to them. Static or moving images help them better understand the story, sometimes text is inserted or interactive games or appropriate songs complement the story.
Tips for choosing an e-book or app
- What’s it about. As with the picture book, adults should first look to see if the topic fits the age or is perhaps still a little too complex. Make sure it’s not too long and that your child can intuitively grasp the navigation.
- How is the app made? It should complement and not distract. Accordingly, the animations should be attractively designed and sensibly placed. If illustrations and moving images do not contribute anything to the content of the story and seem to be interspersed randomly, you can save your money.
- Read aloud, please! Voice-assisted instructions or a narrative voice are an absolute must-have so that children can use the device independently. It’s just as important that the voices, background noise and music can also be turned off. Otherwise, you’ll have static in your ears the next time you go on vacation.
- Navigation. This should be as simple and reduced as possible and only have clear symbols.
- And now the advertising... The treacherous details you know from your own everyday smartphone life. With children, it’s even more important that they get as little advertising as possible. In-app purchases are a no-no and personal data should be protected as much as possible. It is just as important that you can keep an eye on the costs.
Of course, you can also contact the globegarden specialists. They will provide good input and make a recommendation or two.
