Dive Brief:
- NBC analyzes educational apps being purchased as an antidote to "summer learning loss," questioning whether or not they are the best choice for entertainment and learning over the break.
- According to nonprofit advocacy group Common Sense Media, over 50% of U.S. parents have downloaded educational apps for their children in 2013. This, combined with the belief that students can lose up to two months of grade equivalency over the summer, has many app developers marketing screen time as the perfect way to curb learning loss.
- Author Alfie Kohn pushes parents to consider other options, as he implies many of these apps are less about deep thinking and more about "making a buck."
Dive Insight:
According to Kohn the "summer learning loss" that parents go crazy about is typically exaggerated and affects only standardized test-taking abilities. He thinks summer should be a time for students to explore and be creative — and screen time may hinder that process.
The American Academy of Pediatrics somewhat agrees with this, saying parents should monitor closely the amount of time children are spending in front of cell phone, tablet, TV, and computer screens. According to the AAP, learning difficulties and sleep and eating disorders are connected to excessive media use.
Additionally, Common Sense Media has created a Summer Learning Guide that breaks down the various kid-friendly education apps by subject and grade level. The guide encourages pairing apps with real world exploring.
