Hands up everyone whose kids get picky once in a while. Okay, that’s all of you. What if you could teach your kid to use their powers of pickiness for positive purposes? Well, letting your kid have a little screen time can help them do just that. In fact, letting your kid have only a little screen time can really help to hone these skills.
Here’s how you can encourage your pint-size connoisseur to become a critical thinker:
- Put limits on what they’re allowed to play, and how long they’re allowed to play it. Knowing they have restrictions will actually encourage them to make informed choices, as opposed to just watching or using whatever is around.
- After they’ve used an app or game for a little while, ask them some evaluative questions about it, and challenge them to use their higher thinking skills. What did they learn from it? Would they recommend it to a friend? Is there anything about it they would change if they could? How would they rank it against other material, and why?
- Limit the number of games and apps they can have on their device. If they want to add a new one, they’ll need to take an old one off, and they’ll need to explain why.
- Help them to write a top 10 list, as well as a wish list of new material they’d like to try. For each game or app, have them write a few points about what they like about it.
- Put them in the designer’s seat. Whether they use crayons and paper, or even software that enables them to create their own digital material, allow your kid to decide what a game or app should be like, what it should do, and make sure to have them explain why it would be useful or engaging.
Digital literacy, a key 21st Century skill, entails teaching learners to recognize the role technology plays in their lives, and to be discerning about what they choose to use. A little screen time can be a great opportunity for your kid to become informed and empowered. You may be surprised at how perceptive and how discriminating they can be when it comes to digital media.