The new generation are growing up in a world that’s growing ever more digital, at an ever faster pace.
As someone born in the 80s, I’m part of that brief micro-generation that has grown up with technology all around us, and yet can still remember a time B.G. . Yes, it’s almost hard to imagine it now, but there was a period when ‘Apple’ more commonly referred to a piece of fruit and the iPhone remained a mere twinkle in Steve Jobs’ eye, and your parents’ dusty encyclopedias – rather than Wikipedia – was the place to go to swot up on trivia .
Jump to the here and now though, and kids growing up in 2013 are firmly part of Generation Tech. They’re growing up in a world with plasma screens on buses and high streets, smartphone apps helping them learn their times tables, YouTube as their very own home entertainment system, and streaming and downloading being as natural an activity as breathing. And when your niece gets a shiny new Tablet for her 7th birthday – which easily elbowed the Barbies and scooter out of the way on the Excitement Scale – it’s clear that this shiny world of gadgets and hi-tech is becoming the norm rather than the exception.
But, of course, these developments aren’t without their fair share of controversy. Like many things in this fast-moving world, it’s easy to dismiss tablets as another fad or fashion, like apps or Facebook, which are certainly having their moment now, but are sure to soon be replaced by another new, more exciting and ‘of the moment’ digital platform .
But there are other debates raging around the topic of ‘kids’ tech’ too. Some people argue that children’s attention spans are being frazzled by the endless glut of information out there; that reading has now become the equivalent of channel-hopping, bouncing from one digital distraction to the next; and that this connected culture is actually leaving kids more isolated and lacking social skills .
So where does this all leave the vexed issue of tablets for kids? Are they really something of a ‘necessary evil’, or are they actually revolutionising classrooms and kids’ lives for the better – and opening minds and possibilities in the process?
KIDS' TABLETS – PROS
- Interactive
- Educational
- Lightweight
- Easy to transport.
KIDS' TABLETS – CONS
- Can be expensive
- Easily damaged
- Require parental control.
popular tablet COMPUTERS for kids
More and more companies are releasing tablets aimed more at the kids' market. Some popular brands include:
- Lexibook Junior
- Kindle Fire
- Kurio 7
- Arnova ChildPad
Allof these tablets run Google's Android OS, which gives your little ones access to a huge range of apps and games - and some, such as VTech's InnoTab, come pre-loaded with educational software and child-friendly, extra-durable hardware.
On the one hand, you can pack your child’s tablets with loads of educational, fun apps and learning games. Indeed, some tablets are specifically designed to help kids improve their maths, science and literacy skills, with tools and tutorials – ideal for on-the-go learning.
But on the otherhand , most of the current tablets on the market are certainly pricey; with the cheapest setting you back around £50 brand new for a basic model. And kids being kids – and tablets not tending to bounce too well – it might not be too long before your little one’s brand new tablet is in a few hundred bits on the floor!
tablets for kids: the verdict
So, are tablets really an ideal gadget for kids? Like most technology, it's largely a question of how they're used. Increasingly, tablets are being used in schools and classrooms as handy learning tools and learning resources, allowing children to tap into the wealth of useful information on the web.
Of course, as with everything, there are downsides, and just as with games consoles, films and TV, parental supervision is an important factor - particularly with younger children.
But ultimately, as the world becomes ever more connected, and the range of tablets grows and develops, it seems they're likely to become just as big a part of all our everyday lives as our smartphones have.