In the news - Apps for kids: Tools or Trouble?

As I'm enjoying reading the news on my new iPad (after downloading some fun Korean ipad games), I came across this article from the Washington Post: Kids Apps explode on smartphones and tablet.  But are they good for your children.

The entire article along with a few of the comments are a good read, but here are some tidbits:

 Experts estimate that tens of thousands of kid apps are offered on Apple and Google Android devices, with titles such as BabyPlayFace and Elmo’s Birthday.  That worries some educators and child-development experts who view the flood of baby and toddler apps with trepidation. They warn that children already spend too much time in front of TVs, DVD players and computers. For children 2 or younger, all those screens can have a negative effect on development, according to a recent statement by theAmerican Academy of Pediatrics. If you really want to help boost brain power, the best solutions can be found with unstructured play, the academy said .

 I've mentioned my concerns on this blog that I worry our kids get too much screen time - too much computer, DVD, movies, TV shows, iphone, ipad, etc.  At the same time, we're preparing to make a DVD recording for our daughter so she can see our faces and hear our voices while we are waiting to bring her home from Korea.

Oh, and by the way, BabyPlayFace (as mentioned in the article) is a cute app and it comes in Korean.  The app allows your child to poke the baby in its face, which it will wiggle then say the term in the language you select.  There are about 7 features: eyes, forehead, hair, ear, cheek, nose, mouth, chin.  And you can select the baby face that looks Asian.

A few comments regarding ipad/iphone apps:

• I realized that there are different apps available to you based on what country code your itunes is set to.  I'm in the US, but some Korean app-makers have made it possible for us in the States to download (maybe it has something to do with their ability accept payment from itunes in US dollars)
• I think a lot of these apps are great for adults and children a like.  If I wanted to learn the names of facial features in Mandarin, I would totally use the BabyPlayFace app...because it's cute and fun (rather than a boring flashcard app).
• As the article states, I agree that baby's need laps not apps, but I think that there could be great learning and interaction with a baby on your lap playing an app. =)