There are so many options competing for our children’s attention when it comes to screen time. How can we provide our children with ‘richer’ screen time? By ‘richer’, we are referring to media to help our child learn and develop new skills. Below are a few places you can find up-to-date, accessible suggestions for richer screen time full of learning opportunities.
Common Sense Media https://www.commonsensemedia.org/
- This site reviews apps, shows, and movies, and groups them by age group, theme (e.g., TV shows prompting literacy skills), and ranks them by quality. Below are suggestions from Common Sense Media.
TV Shows for richer screen time:
- Wonder Quest (mine-craft theme)
- Daniel Tiger
- Doc McStuffins
- Ask the Storybot
- Dinosaur Train
- Creative Galaxy
- Reading Rainbow
- Sid the Science Kid
- The Magic School Bus Rides Again
- Wild Kratt
TV Shows Promoting literacy skills:
- Sesame Street / Play with me Sesame
- Word Girl
- Martha Speaks
- Word World
- Alpha Blocks
- Blues Clues & You
- Wilbur
- Word Party
- Wally Kazam
- The Electric Company
Literacy Apps
You can find suggestions for apps targeting literacy skills from
- Reading Rockets – click here
- CBC – click here
Educational Websites
Check out these websites with educational content!
Book readings on YouTube
- Read Along on YouTube (e.g., type a book title into the search bar on YouTube with the phrase “read along” or “read aloud”)
- Read A-Louds by Canadian Writers and Illustrators
Do you know of other resources to find rich screen time for your child? This list serves as a great starting point. Keep an eye out for educational shows and sites to introduce during your child’s screen time! For young children, research recommends caregivers co-view screens, or watch them together, to provide learning and social interaction opportunities. Consider how you can be involved with your child during screen time!
