Our iExcited week continues with this awesome guest post from Jenna at Call Her Happy. She is one of my fellow co-hosts for the Weekend Blog Walk every Friday, and I'm so glad I've gotten to know her and her "happy" blog. Let's hear from Jenna!
The use of technology with children is a hot topic in today's society. While we all want our children to be aware of and proficient in today's hi-tech world, we also want them to find a balance between device and human interaction. Today, I want to focus on how technology can benefit us in our journey as parents -- specifically, the iPhone.
Here are my top 5 uses for an iPhone as a parent:
1. Item Identification
One of my favorite children's apps is Sound Touch. It is an amazing app created by parents, and it is wonderful in its simplicity. There are six menus with 12 pictures on each menu. Each picture has four pictures of the same item and each picture makes the noise of that item. Sounds simple, right? Sorry. Basically you touch a picture and it makes the noise. Touch the dog: ruff ruff! Touch the blender: whirrrrrrrr! Touch the motorcycle: vroom vroom! My daughter has learned so many noises just from this app.
2. Parent/Child Interaction
Lest you think I hand my
14-month-old the iPhone and then go about my day, I have found that it
is a great way to interact with her. Instead of letting her mindlessly
click through apps, Ellen and I love to sit down together and play.
Sound Touch is one of many apps that we use together. For example, I
will ask Ellen to press the kitty. She presses the kitty and I say,
"Wow! What did the kitty just say?" Ellen loves to make animal noises so
she responds, "Mow!!" Or I let her push whatever she wants and tell her
about it. She might press the dishes, and I say something like, "It's
time to do the dishes. Boy, the kitchen is messy after cooking dinner."
Technology can be a great learning tool if used properly.
14-month-old the iPhone and then go about my day, I have found that it
is a great way to interact with her. Instead of letting her mindlessly
click through apps, Ellen and I love to sit down together and play.
Sound Touch is one of many apps that we use together. For example, I
will ask Ellen to press the kitty. She presses the kitty and I say,
"Wow! What did the kitty just say?" Ellen loves to make animal noises so
she responds, "Mow!!" Or I let her push whatever she wants and tell her
about it. She might press the dishes, and I say something like, "It's
time to do the dishes. Boy, the kitchen is messy after cooking dinner."
Technology can be a great learning tool if used properly.
3. Distraction
That doesn't mean that I don't sometimes use my
phone for good old-fashion distraction. There are days where we are
running late for something (gasp!), and we just need to get out of the
house. As I am putting on my shoes and grabbing diaper bag supplies, I
have two options: let the little one wreak havoc and run from me when I
try to scoop her up into the car (a favorite game), or, I can hand her
the iPhone for three minutes while I get organized. It is priceless.
phone for good old-fashion distraction. There are days where we are
running late for something (gasp!), and we just need to get out of the
house. As I am putting on my shoes and grabbing diaper bag supplies, I
have two options: let the little one wreak havoc and run from me when I
try to scoop her up into the car (a favorite game), or, I can hand her
the iPhone for three minutes while I get organized. It is priceless.
Or
what about that horrible moment when you will do anything to keep your
baby quiet and happy? I'm talking about things like an airplane. The
iPhone is airplane magic.
what about that horrible moment when you will do anything to keep your
baby quiet and happy? I'm talking about things like an airplane. The
iPhone is airplane magic.
4. Medical Organization
There are two main ways I use my iPhone for help with doctor visits. First, I like to keep a running list of questions I have for our pediatrician. Before my phone, I had a list in my purse that would get lost, ripped and forgotten about. Now, I have a section in my phone where I keep these questions; I pull it out at the office and run down my list with the doctor. I even add notes in when she is talking. There are plenty of note-taking apps for the iPhone, but the Notes app that comes standard does just fine. My favorite place to keep to-dos and notes: 2Do.
The second way I can use my phone for help with medical issues is more...ahem...visual. I won't go into detail or post any of the pictures that I assure you I have, but when something doesn't look quite right, I snap a picture before taking my daughter to the doctor, you know, for evidence. How many times have your kids displayed a symptom only to have it miraculously disappear at the doctor's office. So frustrating! Now I take videos or photos if I am worried so I can show the doctor what I mean. And, before you get too grossed out, I delete them when I am done.
5. Preserving Memories
Speaking of visual...the most frequent use I get from my iPhone is photo and video. I am always filling up my phone with pictures and videos of Ellen doing the most hilarious things. I do have a fancy DSLR that I love to get out, but if you have kids, you know that those cute, funny moments are fleeting. More often than not, there just isn't time to get out the nice camera. Fortunately, the iPhone actually takes wonderful pictures, especially in natural light.
And, when you're done, there are plenty of photo apps that will help you doctor up your phone images. A few of my must haves: Instagram, PopBooth, Color Effects, Pic Stitch and Retouch.
There are certain inventions that have come along in life that make parenting easier. The iPhone is certainly one of them. Why not make use of it? What is your favorite parenting app?
Come back tomorrow to link up your social media with the Weekend Blog Walk, then again on Saturday as I wrap up our iExcited week!
My iPhone was such a huge bonus on our flight last week. I kept Sullivan entertained for 30 minutes (which is 100 years in toddler time) by showing him pictures and videos of himself from the past 20 months. He loved it and kept saying "beebee Sulla". And you're not the only one who takes pictures of things on your kid. I recorded Sully's croup cough and called my dr from out of state to play it over the phone. He assured me it wasn't the strangest thing a parent has done so I felt good.
ReplyDeleteSo glad someone in the medical field does that too. I'm not crazy then.
DeleteAs a G-ma, I love my iPhone for facetime. I feel like I'm right there not missing a precious moment! I get to see my out of state DGD almost every day, thanks to my sweet DD. I'm also excited to try out the Elmo calls app the next time I see her! iPhones are great for G-ma's too!
ReplyDeleteYes, they are! Ellen isn't going to know a life without FaceTime. Weird!
DeleteI have been looking for a post like this, I need to download some new apps for my little one!!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you found it helpful :)
ReplyDeleteHi Stephanie! I'm glad you found it helpful :)
ReplyDelete