How to make your child’s screen time productive

To help you strike the perfect balance of activity with your child’s online screen time – here’s how you can make the most out of your iPad and MacBook to keep your children safe, connected, and active.

Navigating the ins and outs of parenthood is no small feat – especially in our daunting and ever-changing world.

Between keeping up with parenting trends, school requirements, and evolving technology catered toward child development – it can be tough to strike the perfect balance of keeping your children safely engaged with the world around them.

While many parents may shy away from technology for fear that it will turn their children into robotic beings – there’s no need to panic. Industry leader Apple has premium and budget-friendly devices within their MacBook and iPad ranges that allow you to make the most out of Apps available in the App Store to help foster your child’s development.

To help you strike the balance of entertainment, productivity, and physical activity through your child’s online screen time – here are three ways to incorporate learning, mobility, and bonding through these powerhouse devices:

Learn through play...

While this phrase may seem confusing to some, it’s fairly simple. There are a range of educational resources, apps, and games available on the App Store that allow your child to continue their learning all while interacting with a game or fun interface.

Whether it’s to help your growing toddler with pattern, shape, letter, and word recognition and identification or to help your high schooler through simplified games that cover the complexities of coding, mathematics, or setwork books – there’s something for children of every age to feel engaged and informed all while being entertained.

Playtime with purpose...

Who said screen time had to be sedentary? Break the stereotype by incorporating fitness and movement into your child's digital routine. The interactive games available on the App Store aren’t limited to sit-down activities. If you’re looking to keep your children active and energised with the safety of still being indoors – you can. There are gamified activity apps available in the App Store that allow you to turn your iPad or MacBook into a virtual gymnastics instructor.

This is especially great for busy toddlers and young children who are full of energy with nowhere to roam or when it’s cold outside. You can get your children dancing, jumping, and running all while being entertained with music to match.

This option also works for school-going children who need to practice dance routines or gymnastic techniques for school or extra-mural fitness classes. And some games even allow you to explore outdoor scavenger activities through Augmented Reality (AR) game play.

Staying connected...

If you’re worried about losing a personal connection with your children in these techy times – you needn’t be. Find time to bond with your children through technology. Whether it’s setting up a regular movie hang-out session on your Mac with your older children or watching the shows you both enjoy; or playing interactive games on the iPad for family game nights with your children – there are plenty of ways to stay connected and touch base while being entertained and engaged.

You can encourage your child to explore creative passions through digital art, music composition, or storytelling apps. When exploring these hobbies, don't forget the importance of promoting inner well-being and cyber safety.

You can introduce mindfulness and meditation apps to your children that teach valuable life skills like stress management and emotional awareness - especially during those busy exam seasons. Together, you can dive into conversations that explore themes of kindness, empathy, and self-discovery.

iStore - your helping hand

For parents who still feel unsure of how to keep up with their growing children and the evolving tech – South Africa’s leading Apple Premium Reseller, iStore, offers a variety of educational services – and they’re not just aimed at students and children. Offering courses to help empower parents through understanding the new tech as well as how to monitor and track your children’s screen time to keep them cyber safe as well as on track with their studies and development.

iStore Education, the only Apple Authorised Education Specialist in Africa, has deals and offers on iPads and Macs that are ideal for families and students. Students are eligible to opt for iStore’s student discount offers available and, if you pair that with a trade-in discount, you’re looking to save big time on your family’s iPads and MacBooks to help balance out your children’s personal and school life in the safety and comfort of your home.

Visit iStore today to learn more about the MacBook range and iPad range to help you secure your young one’s future, today.

For more information on iStore’s offerings for businesses, please click here.