How to make screen time educational for your kids.
We’ve all heard the downsides of screen time for our kids. Research has even gone into how much is too much and at what age. But screen time can also be a positive thing for children–serving as an educational tool that helps children learn and engage with the world around them.
But many parents struggle to find a balance when it comes to screen time. And it can also be difficult to identify the best resources and programs when it comes to age-appropriate screen time.
What experts say about screen time
Screen time influences the rhythms and routines in your child’s life. In fact, the bright light of the screen can inhibit the body’s release of the important chemical melatonin. This means that if your little one is using screens close to bedtime it’s likely they will have trouble falling asleep. This is even applicable to pregnant women who want to get better sleep.
Bottom line: screens should be kept to a minimum in the hours leading up to bedtime. But, what about during the day?
The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry has weighed in on how screen time should be handled for young children. Under the age of 18 months, it is only advised for video chats but that standard is a bit more relaxed between the ages of 18 and 24 months. At this stage of development, children can watch educational programming with a responsible adult.
Once a child reaches ages two to five, they can have more non-educational screen time in the form of games or television shows. Parents are encouraged to limit this time to one hour during the weekdays and no more than three hours on the weekend.
Children over the age of six should be encouraged to participate in additional hobbies and activities outside of a screen. At this age, it is important for parents to teach their children balance when it comes to screen time activities. While it doesn’t have to be inherently bad, it should still be limited even for educational programming.
Finding the right programming
Educational programming is paramount for parents who want their kids to have screen time. But it can sometimes be elusive. What programs are best? And how can we know?
Enter Homer.
The Homer app uses a four-pronged approach to learning: introducing a topic, practicing a skill, applying it to the real world, and transferring those skills outside of the screen. It is perfect for children of all ages–from toddlers up to age eight. It teaches skills in crucial areas including:
Reading (letter recognition through independent readings)
Math (verbal counting through multiplication)
Socioemotional learning (naming emotions through independence)
Creativity (arts and crafts, music, and dance)
Thinking skills (one-step instructions through complex categorization)
Parents can feel confident that their little ones are receiving quality instruction that can boost their confidence and their measurable skills in every area. Prepare preschoolers for their kindergarten year or let children ages six through eight practice their skills in a fun and low-pressure setting.
It doesn’t matter what age or stage your child might be in. Homer can help them with these skills in a fun and interactive way.
Why kids like to learn with Homer
Not only does Homer make screen time educational, but it does so in a way that children love. They offer more than 1,000 activities across each of their subject areas. Children can increase early reading scores by 74 percent without even realizing it.
Customized learning
More than that, the activities found on Homer are personalized to age and level. Their approach to learning is fun and playful, focusing on each child’s unique interests. You can find tons of great activities related to space, sports, vehicles, princesses, dinosaurs, and more.
Every aspect of the program can be customized for your child. They will be proud to show off what they learn from the interactive games that they play, creating plenty of opportunities for “I Did It” moments.
It goes without saying that Homer is also safe for your child to explore with no advertisements.
Plus, it is a research-backed program with founders who have decades of experience working in both education and entertainment for children. You can rest easy knowing that your child is in the best hands with Homer. They will love playing on it and you will love knowing that it supports their growth and education. Win-win!
How your kids can start learning for fun
Homer is the educational solution to your screen time dilemma. Parents can try the platform out for free for thirty days. That’s all the time you and your little one will need to fall in love with the fun and interactive nature of Homer.
From here, you can sign up for an affordable annual or monthly subscription, depending on how you want to pay. Annual subscriptions feature a 50 percent savings.
When you sign up, you automatically have access to all of the great online games and you also get offline activities and printables so that the learning can continue and you can bond with your child over their new favorite program.
Watch how this app creates a confident child with their great personalized games and activities. Sign up today to learn more about how you can maximize your child’s screen time with Homer!
