The American Academy of Pediatrics' guidelines for screen time and use of visual media with preschoolers, released in 2016, emphasize the importance of caregiver-child interaction, stressing that adults should mediate the experience for young children, rather than having them interface with a screen alone.
Some librarians and educators have reservations about recommending any screen time with preschoolers. A recent study out of the Hospital for Sick Children of Toronto found a link between the amount of passive handheld screen time and a delay in expressive speech in toddlers. While the authors of the study state that their findings do not prove a direct causation, they certainly give parents and caregivers pause.
It's imperative that we model positive digital habits for your patrons, no matter how we personally feel about screen time. After all, serving as media mentors is part of our job. Recommending quality content, though, is no small feat. Apps- both good and bad- abound. We've selected our favorites for the preschool set (specifically, children aged three to five) and highlighted key concepts explored in these notable apps.
Top PreK App Developers
Duck, Duck, Moose (iOS, Android)
Free/ duckduckmoose.com
You can't go wrong with this app. We are partial to their nursery rhyme options but any of their offerings are excellent choices. Contains no advertising.
Toca Boca (iOS, Android)
$2.99/app/ tocaboca.com
A perfect marriage of technology and play, Toca Boca creates apps that celebrate the exploratory nature of childhood. A great example is Toca Band. The app allows users to select from a cast of characters to craft an ensemble of performers who sing, whistle, and play instruments, all while creating silly songs. All of their products are ad-free.
Sago Mini (iOS, Android)
$2.99/ app/ sagomini.com
Sago Mini offers a suite of apps that celebrate exploration and discovery. Aimed squarely at the preschool set, Sago Mini's apps are best experienced with a child-adult pairing. Many of their apps offer children a chance to learn new an unusual vocabulary words. For example, in Pet Café, users get to pour their own milkshake and, if it's "eaten" too quickly, their character might get brain freeze! All of their products are ad-free.
Top Preschool Apps
Breathe, Think, Do with Sesame
by Sesame Street Workshop (iOS, Android)
Free/ Ages 4 up
Follow a monster through a set pattern of strategies to solve problems like putting on shoes or separating from a parent at the beginning of school. Repetition is used throughout each scenario to reinforce the idea of pausing and thinking before reacting. A small amount of gamification is employed as users have to pop bubbles as they think things through. Many of these scenarios are fitting for children who are about to start school. This app has both English and Spanish settings.
Build and Play; Build and Play 2
by Croco Studio (iOS and Android)
$2.99/ app / Ages 3 up
Assemble planes, trains and all sorts of automobiles in this interactive, puzzle-like game. Rather than offering a "static" puzzle- assembling experience, the Build and Play app rotates and moves the object as it's being reassembled. It's a unique offering that encourages users to place the object's pieces (plane wings, engine, propeller, tail) in a certain order - which is not small feat for the preschool age range. Upon completing each object , users then get to "play" and move the object- a nice reward after assembling each vehicle.
First Words Sampler
by Learning Touch (iOS and Android)
Free/ Ages 3 up
In this free sampler version, children are presented with an illustration and tiles with letters on them to start on the road to letter and sound recognition and basic spelling. Children tap on the letter and slide them into place to spell out the desired word. It is impossible to put the letter in the wrong spot, so success is imminent. While there are no in-app purchases for youngsters, adults can buy more games through the app.
Play and Learn Science
by PBS Kids (iOS and Android)
Free/ Ages 3 up
New and interesting scientific vocabulary is introduced along with images to reinforce them. Learn about life sciences, physical science, and earth science through temperature and thermometers, shadow and light, near and far, targets, rolling, and more. Worthy for its rich content and preschool simplification of scientific concepts. Users can toggle between English and Spanish.
RelationShapes
by VizuVizu (iOS and Android)
Free/ Ages 3 up
More than 300 puzzles encourage young users to construct and match. Craftily imparting concepts such as spatial reasoning, logic, and problem-solving, this app is simple enough for the youngest of users to enjoy (with or without a grown-up's support), and just open-ended enough for an older pre-K
user to really get creative. Kids can also team up, each taking one half of the puzzle. It's a unique app that fills the need for preschool-friendly mathematics and spatial-thinking apps.
Enjoy!
SLJ July 2018
Stacy Dillon & Amy Laughlin
SLJ/ July 2018
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