Teaching kids to be tech whizzes as early as elementary school (Paid Content by Amazon)

Physical devices

By age 7 or 8, most kids feel comfortable using devices like smartphones — recent research puts the percentage of American kids between the ages of 10 and 12 who have their own service plans/smartphones at around 45%. Another survey found that 42% of U.S. children aged 8 or younger have their own tablet devices. The age you’ll want to introduce kids to devices like these understandably varies from family to family. Developing a “family media use plan” is one way parents can set appropriate limits for screen time — for every member of the crew (yup, that includes you, Mom and Dad).

Tech devices that are custom-tailored to kids, such as the Amazon Echo Dot Kids Edition or an Amazon Fire Kids Edition Tablet, are a perfect introduction to digital devices, and with features like Amazon FreeTime Unlimited, a subscription service that provides access to hundreds of hours of fun and educational content, families can enjoy a breadth of exploration together.

Specifically, with Fire Kids Edition tablets you can set reading goals and track progress with FreeTime Unlimited and build up your child’s vocabulary with tools like Word Wise. This can help boost confidence and foster a love of reading. To reduce screen time, you can access more than 1,000 kid-friendly books narrated through Audible on the Amazon Echo Dot Kids Edition.

The Echo Dot Kids Edition allows children to explore their creativity and strategic thinking through voice control. So kids can ask Alexa to play interactive games, like Nickelodeon’s “No Way That’s True” or National Geographic quizzes. Kids can test their knowledge with the whole family. For parents, co-viewing and co-playing with kids as they explore these features is a unique way to encourage family bonding. And you never know: Mom and Dad may even learn a thing or two.