At Christmas shopping, you may have noticed toys are becoming very complex. They fly, hop, jump and follow you around – some even need to be ‘connected’. But why are we seeing such technical advances?
It can be hard to tell whether what’s in the box will encourage development or just be a waste of time.
AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis
There’s a spectrum of quality when it comes to what kids can do with screen time. An expert in early childhood technology suggests picking tech activities that promote problem-solving and fun.
Beebots are robots that kids can easily program, with direct feedback seen in where the robot goes.
arselectronica/flickr
Toys and games that involve friends and family members are more than just fun: they can foster new skills, challenge children to work in a team and encourage thinking and idea development.