Dubai: It shouldn't come as a shock. Children have been using things that weren't primarily bought with them in mind. This thinking, however, could change when the "thing" is a tablet computer.
According to a recent Nielsen survey, a leading global information and measurement company that provides market research and insights, 70 per cent of American kids use tablets in households that own tablets. For Dubai children, a tablet is arguably just as irresistible and some parents are forced to use it as a weekend treat or shelving the product to wean young obsession.
Amal Talib a Singaporean mother, believes that kids shouldn't be raised on technical devices. She told Gulf News, "My husband bought the iPad 1 a year and a half ago. My sons Amir Raeza, 6, and Adeil Raiyan, 4, immediately took to it, given its easy interface. My eldest would play games and the younger, educational apps like tracing alphabets, identifying animal sounds and colouring [using fingers]."
She said she only allows the children to use the iPad on the weekends. "Together they divide their activities among cartoons on YouTube, games and educational apps. I allow them to play with the Ipad only on weekends, and in the living room under supervision."
Another mother, Indian Ritu Gupta had to hide the iPad from her three-year-old daughter Uttara. She told Gulf News that the youngest was too fond of it. "We got the iPad as a gift. When my son, five-year-old Uday Veer, saw my husband using it, he too wanted to play with it. We allowed him to use it, especially because he was fascinated with the animated storybooks and puzzles. Uttara too was excited and enjoyed watching cartoons on YouTube and experimenting with the colouring apps. The good thing is she learnt counting 1-9 through one of the apps. The tablet definitely has advantages."
Liberal perspective
Though parents exercise caution when allowing their children to use tablet devices, educators have a more liberal perspective.
At GEMS Royal Dubai School, iPad use is encouraged. The Jumeirah English Speaking School (JESS) recently had a week-long pilot scheme for Year 4 students of the Jumeirah branch of JESS. Asa Firth, Year 4 Group Leader, and Steve Bambury, Year 4 Teacher, told Gulf News, "It is also apparent that life skills such as self-management, personal organisation and problem solving can be developed in parallel with the educational benefits of acquiring literacy and mathematical skills. In terms of tablets themselves, the Apple iPad is the clear leader in terms of educational apps; the number of devices available in school was supplemented with pupils bringing in their own devices, pre-loaded with the necessary apps."
When asked whether tablets are a viable teaching device in school, they said it is a means to deliver cutting edge, personalised content to a generation of children who are living as digital citizens. "Long term, the staff and management of JESS Jumeirah plan to continue to integrate mobile technology into all aspects of learning and teaching," they said.
As to whether these plans apply to younger children, Dubai-based South African nursery teacher Ursula Fernandes said she is aware that two- to three-year-olds use tablets outside of a learning environment.
"Parents have told me that their kids enjoy playing on tablet computers after seeing them use it. I feel that if used in the right way, it can be beneficial as long as it doesn't encroach on family time and if used in an age-appropriate manner."
Specials needs children to benefit
In April, The Special Needs Department at the Higher Colleges of Technology will hold a workshop titled ‘Using iPad and iPod Applications as Assistive Technology for Individuals with Special Needs' at the Dubai Men's College.
The workshop will feature Angela Desideri, an internationally recognised Speech Language Pathologist who specialises in the use of assistive technology for kids with complex communication needs including those with autism, cerebral palsy, down's syndrome, traumatic brain injury, and other communication disorders.
Specials needs kids to benefit from tablets
The iPad is being used as an educational tool for children with special needs.
In April, The Special Needs Department at the Higher Colleges of Technology will hold a workshop titled ‘Using iPad and iPod Applications as Assistive Technology for Individuals with Special Needs' at the Dubai Men's College.
The workshop will feature Angela Desideri, an internationally recognised Speech Language Pathologist who specialises in the use of assistive technology for kids with complex communication needs including those with autism, cerebral palsy, down-syndrome, traumatic brain injury, and other communication disorders.
Sultan Karmostaji, HCT Associate Provost for Student Support Services at the College told Gulf News. "Many applications such as text-to-speech, visual prompts, and speech recognition have been beneficial in helping students to achieve their best, including learning skills in reading, writing, math, daily organisation, social and behavioural skills. There are a number of valuable educational applications that can be uploaded to the iPad or tablet for one-on-one use by parents and teachers with the child or student in a friendly and accommodating environment."
