4 online activities that can actually benefit your child

As much as we, as parents, would like to see our children playing outdoors rather than being glued to an electronic device indoors, we have to accept that in this technological era, screens will be a major part of all our lives. Kids today are growing up with screens all around them (aren’t we mums always clicking pictures of our babies/ kids on our phones?!) and are evening learning coding and other related subjects on i-pads in schools.

So instead of viewing electronics as the enemy, maybe we all could benefit if we embraced its positives (and there are quite a few!). Of course, moderation and monitoring is key here and it is essential to limit screen-time (however beneficial). So, on that note, here are 4 online activities that can actually benefit your child…

1. Educational programmes

Most parents have to endure a lot of drama when it’s time for homework. But what if we taught our kids in a more engaging and fun manner, through an educational programme or a fun YouTube video? Visual learning is always more interesting for children, and they tend to remember it better too.

Some of my favourite programs are BBC Bitesize (which covers all subjects and all age groups and has entertaining, explanatory videos on different topics and concepts) and Horrible Histories which makes remembering historical characters and incidents so much easier and enjoyable. Even a basic YouTube video will stick in a child’s mind over you spending hours explaining the same concept to them! I relied a lot on educational programmes during lockdown homeschooling!

2. Learning apps

Another time I don’t mind my son on an electronic device is when he is on a learning app. Similar to educational TV shows and YouTube videos, learning apps engage kids better and make them excel in difficult problems/subjects without them even realising it… for them, it’s all akin to playing games.

Among the apps I have tried and tested are Kidloland and Calculator.org. There are also a number of apps that teach the basics of coding to children, to help improve their reasoning skills. A google search will also reveal several language learning apps, in case you want to teach your child French or Spanish.

3. Gaming

The very word gaming itself might make you wonder how it can be beneficial to children. Well, you’ll be surprised that when played in moderation, some games can be great for your child; if not academically, then in building their problem-solving and lateral thinking skills.

Plays.org is a fantastic free online video game site that has a plethora of interesting games for both younger and older kids, with new games being added ever so often! What my son really likes about the site is that the games – although played on an Internet browser – all have the feel of playing on a gaming console (think Nintendo). And what I really like about the site is that there are no ads, no paid upgrades, no downloads or registration, so I know it’s a safe zone for my child to be in – online.

The Star Wars Rebels Team Tactics Logic Puzzle Game is among Little Man’s current favourite (huge Star Wars fan that he is); and I like it because it helps him with problem-solving skills. We have the Connect 4 board game, so this is another one we play (mostly during long car journeys). And the various ‘maze’ games are quite addictive (in a good way) too!

Little Man enjoys playing math-based online games – the Zombie Number Speed Math Practice Game and Feed Math are both great games and a fun way for him to practice his maths skills. There’s also a sudoku-style math-based game but it’s a tad tougher and more suitable for older kids.

4. Reading and audio books

Of course there’s nothing like reading a book, with actual pages you can turn. But let’s face it – ever since e-papers became a thing and purchasing books on a kindle became cool, reading online has become the norm. And to be honest, it’s a great way to get your child to start reading (sometimes, the size of a book or the number of words on a page can put early readers off; however, they don’t seem to mind swiping through a book online). And audio books are great for when you are too tired/ busy to read aloud to your children; or you want your child to do something educational and they still want an electronic device!