✨ Before we get started, one piece of technology I find valuable and want to share is a screen-free audio device called the Yoto Player. I’m sharing because it’s something I truly believe in and share regularly with friends and family; this is not a sponsored recommendation.
With a Yoto, your child can learn a new language, listen to classic literature on tape, or listen to you read their favorite book over and over while you’re away. It’s also more affordable and portable than similar devices. You can check it out here.✨
Today’s post is part two of a special three-part deep dive for paid subscribers, covering digital technology for gifted and neurodivergent kids. If you missed part one, please start here for information on the effects of screen time for bright kids.
In part two, I’m covering:
How to evaluate what devices, programs, and media deserve a spot in your family’s life—and which to skip
The tools and products I recommend as a parent, researcher, and former gifted education teacher
If you’re a parent with a child over the age of two, you’ve likely realized that your child is going to eventually interact with screens in some capacity—even if it’s not in your home. How can you make wise decisions that benefit your child while minimizing harm?
Programs and tools designed specifically for learning and problem-solving are frequently better choices than letting your child passively scroll through Instagram. However, many such EdTech companies will claim to help your child identify shapes, learn to read, or do basic math, but actually have little to no data to back up their claims.
I refer to this phenomenon as ed-washing, in which technology companies appeal to families by marketing their products in vaguely helpful-seeming terms, such as “supports learning” or “educational.” This can make products seem safer or more justifiable for a child to use, but in reality, the benefits are often minimal or simply not proven.
So, how can you evaluate whether a tool, device, or television program is worth your time, or even potentially harmful to your child? Here are a few strategies.
The best educational programs are backed by independent, third-party research (as opposed to EdTech company-funded research, which can be more prone to bias). Even better are meta-analyses, or studies that review the results of many individual studies to draw more statistically certain conclusions around a topic.
Here are three trusted sources I use that look at both individual research studies and meta-analyses to find evidence on the effectiveness of various academic interventions and programs you might be considering in your home or school:
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