Attention parents: Are you craving a new PC or cell phone? Well, if you're like a quarter of your fellow parents, you can just buy yourself a new one and give the old one to your kids. That's what PBS KIDS found out from a survey of parents of 2 to 10 year-olds.
Of those devices handed down, 54% are computers and 38% mobile devices.
What to do before giving equipment to kids
Before you give your old PC or phone to your child, PBS recommends that you:
- Sweep it: All devices should be cleaned of any content including personal files, credit card information, etc. before handing down to kids. Parents should swipe all their browser “cookies” and perform an application sweep.
- Secure it: There are parental controls on most tech devices that can turn certain features on and off. Settings on the iPhone, for example, that can be restricted include explicit song titles, Internet browser, YouTube, iTunes and the camera.
- Set limits: As with any new toy, parents should set expectations and limitations with their kids when the device is handed down, and should encourage other forms of learning and play beyond the screen.
- Find the right apps for your child: A good app is the perfect combination of education and entertainment, and should be appropriate for your child’s age and stage of development.
The non-profit organization also suggests that you"Avoid apps that try to sell." Specificaly beware of "Apps labeled 'lite' or 'free,' which "often attempt to make money by trying to sell virtual items while a child is playing a game, or link to another related app that requires payment to download."
And, of course, you should only 'Select apps from trusted, reliable sources, and make sure that they are not trying to market to your child."
PBS KIDS is an excellent source for free apps, videos and web experiences for younger children. There are apps for iOS devices and Android.
To find out more, I spoke with Lesli Rotenberg, PBS's Senior Vice President of Children's Media.
