With each upcoming generation, it seems they are entering the digital era at younger and younger ages.
Even toddlers are engaging with technology and digital content.
A recent survey gathered information about this in the lives of kids ages zero to four-years-old.
The study surveyed over 1,000 parents of toddlers. Here are some of the findings.
It's getting easier and easier for toddlers to navigate touch screens.
42% of toddlers know how to open apps.
28% of toddlers are able to navigate apps.
42% have mastered basic functions like turning the volume up and down.
13% of parents said their toddlers can record videos.
34% of toddlers can take pictures with the phone.
32% can draw on a digital tablet.
30% can turn a device on or off by themselves.
27% can unlock a device if it has a pass code.
What do toddlers engage with on touch screen items:
- videos 73%
- games 56%
- educational content 41%
- drawing and coloring 34%
65% of preschoolers use tablets.
45% use cell phones.
20% use laptops.
How much time are toddlers spending using technology? 10 hours per week. This is up from 8.8 hours a year ago.
Here are some thoughts I have about this:
Today's kids are growing up in a digital world.
It's how they learn.
It's how they communicate. Here's an example of this. Each Sunday evening, I talk with my grandson who lives in another state. We talk by using FaceTime. A digital app that lets us talk with him face-to-face.
It's how they are entertained.
It's how they fill their discretionary time.
My nephew, who is 5, got his first haircut when he was around 2-years-old. To help keep him calm during the haircut, his dad gave him his cell phone to play games on. Even at the age of 2, he knew how to navigate through the smart phone and open game apps. It keep him occupied and the haircut took place without any crying or flinching or restlessness.
Since touch screen technology is the language today's toddlers speak, we need to be looking for ways that we can use it to communicate God's love.
A great example of this is the Bible App for Kids. This application uses touch screen to help kids navigate through and learn Bible stories and truths. I highly recommend it.
The Bible App for Kids is the newest member of the YouVersion family of
apps. Available now for Android smartphones and tablets, the Bible App
for Kids is always completely free!
Through interactive
adventures and beautiful animations, kids explore the big stories of the
Bible. The Bible App for Kids is a delight-filled experience designed
to encourage kids to return again and again. It’s the beginning of a
lifelong love of God’s Word.
You can get more information and download it at this link.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bible.kids&hl=en_US&gl=US
Touch screen is the world today's toddlers are growing up in. A lot of companies and organizations are using this to try and capture the heart of the next generation. We must get there first with God's Word, His ways, His wisdom and His way of salvation.
Your turn. How are you using touch screens to disciple children? Any apps or programs you recommend for this? Share your thoughts with us in the comment section below.
