QUEENS - NY Parenting

Simplifying yourgift giving withAPPS6 QUEENS Family • December 2013BY SUSAN FRENCHWith the holiday season infull swing, the pressure’son to find that perfect gift.Gift-giving is a skill, especiallywhen findingpresents for kids.There are traditionalgifts like toys and clothes,which can be costly, and notalways what children are wishingfor. Practical items like sweaters,gloves, and scarves are not funfor the youngest recipients to open.When children are the target audience,keep in mind a few essentialgift-giving goals: find items that areentertaining, educational, interactive,and cost-effective.This may sound like a tall order,but it’s a cinch with apps!Children’s mobile apps fulfill allthe key elements of perfect gift giving.Apps turn learning into a game.Children’s apps use fun, colorfulgraphics to engage short attentionspans. Task- and level-based appshelp young children develop importantskills, such as vocabulary, math,reading, and organization. Greatchildren’s apps allow the child tointeract not only with the app itself,but also with the parent or teacher.For instance, if we want to teachchildren organizational and timemanagementskills, voice-activatedcalendar apps are great gifts (especiallyfor a new calendar year).They allow kids to hone organizationalskills through play with colorfulsticker graphics as they learn thedays of the week and schedule theiractivities. Look for interactive featuresthat encourage self-awarenessand build self-confidence, such asrecording reminder audio memosand sharing activities through socialnetworking.Not sure how to find the perfectapp? Lucky for you, there are entirewebsites devoted to reviewingeducational apps that can help guideyou through the process in just minutes.For a quick review, check outfuneducationalapps.comand bestappsforkids.org.It is the goal of thesesites to provide our kids with enticing,educational apps, and they providea place for parents and caregiversto see the app in action.And the great thing about appsis that you can give in bulk. Theymake great presents for teachersto give their students, and they area one-stop shop for grandparents’gift-giving needs. To top it all off,apps only cost a few dollars, as comparedto expensive toys and planners.They also cut-down on clutterand help the environment! Plus, appgivingallows you to shop from homeand avoid the holiday season’s long,stressful lines.So do yourself and your little onesa favor this holiday season — givethe gift of an app!Susan French is a kindergarten teacher,mentor, and math coach, working for thecity’s Department of Education for morethan 20 years. She is the co-creator of the4KidCal brand of mobile calendar appsdesigned specifically for children. Formore information on 4KidCal, visit 4Kid-Cal.com or write to 4kidcal@gmail.com.