It’s important to use the family iPad as a means of keeping the family unit strong and together, rather than distant and unconnected. With so many kid and family-oriented apps, it’s not hard to incorporate it into family time. One of the things that the iPad does that normal books can’t do is offer interactivity between the child and the page. Looking for some new books to add to your collection for story time? Here are a few books that fit the bill while keeping kids engaged and entertained.

Another Monster at the End of this Book - $3.99 – Newly optimized for the latest version of the iPad and its impressive retina display, those beloved Sesame Street characters return for a fun and beautifully illustrated interactive book. It’s gotten rave reviews from parents and grandparents alike, and has been voted the best book app on several occasions.

Plug & The Paddywhacks - Free for first installment – This interactive story is a hit with kids of all ages. It’s released in monthly installments, and by purchasing a discounted season pass, you ensure that your little ones get to hear about Plug’s latest adventures as soon as they’re released. Not sure if you want to commit? Download the first installment for free and decide!

Harold and the Purple Crayon - Free lite version, $6.99 for full – A fresh take on an old favorite, this app brings “Harold and the Purple Crayon” to an interactive level. Kids can color in the pictures drawn by Harold, have the story read to them or interact directly to advance the storyline, thanks to its multiple story modes. Check out select chapters with the lite version for free before purchasing the full version!

What are some interactive story apps that you’ve found for the iPad that your kids love? Share them with us!

Want to introduce your little ones to the internet? ZillyDilly™ is the world’s first curated media manager for children. Now available for iPad! Click here to learn more.

Product mentions or links made by authors of the ZillyDilly blog are for informational purposes only.  Reference to any specific product, application or service by name or otherwise does not constitute or imply a partnership between the manufacturer and ZillyDilly. It also does not constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation or favoring by ZillyDilly or Dr. S. 

In our first guest post, Parenting & Education Writer Rhonda Cratty discusses how parents can help equip children for solving problems and making decisions.

Teachers, managers, scientists, engineers, computer technicians and lawyers are constantly be challenged to make decisions and solve problems. Even in our everyday lives we’re challenged to make touch decisions. Every day we work at choosing issues that require attention, setting goals, finding or designing suitable courses of action, evaluating and choosing among alternative actions, and finally decision making.

Nothing is more important for our children to learn than to problem solve effectively. For our children to learn when they have a decision to make, they need to look at all the options, then realize that some choices will be challenging and take careful thought and consideration. They may need to choose between two equally good options and begin to waver back and forth. This is normal, however, there are techniques that they can fall back on when trying to make a difficult decision or solve a problem that seems unsolvable. Your child may not be able to solve every problem this way; however, they will help them to have a plan for when they need to make a decision or solve a problem. What you are building is self-confidence so that your child sees himself/herself as a competent person, and believes he/she can solve any problem they are facing with a little hard work.

1. They need to approach each situation with confidence and willingness to devote time and effort to find an appropriate solution to their problems. Let them see you struggle until you learn to solve everyday problems.
2. First, they need to gather information about the problem. Making sure, they are trying to solve the “real” problem. Sometimes a child’s answer will be completely different than the real problem. This step involves your child thinking about understanding the problem. It will be helpful for them to prioritize the steps in the problem and deal with each one separately. Your child will be developing the ability to break a problem down into its sub-parts and look at the parts closely to see how they fit together.
3. Once they have broken the problem down into its sub-parts, have them think: What have they done in the past when this type of problem has occurred? What possible solutions have they come up with before? What options do they have?
4. They need to learn to ask themselves: How realistic are their options?
5. Once your child has examined options and decided on. One that seems to accomplish their goals they need to give it their best effort. Realizing that sometimes they may find that the solution is just not working, revise and try something else.
6. Make it a family motto to never give up hope because with persistence and best efforts, our children can make difficult decisions and can solve problems.

Parents can help their children realize that problems are challenges. If parents help their children break the problem down into parts, they can begin to provide their child with valuable skills that they can apply time and time in many learning and life situations. If our children learn a clear and systematic way of tackling problems, which works for them in most cases, it will give them a greater sense of self-confidence and will contribute to their sense of self-esteem.

Problem solving involves logic, associative reasoning, creative thinking and deductive reasoning to move from a set of given principles or circumstances to the desired result. Our children need a lot of practice and support to become expert problem-solvers.

Want to introduce your little ones to the internet? ZillyDilly™ is the world’s first curated media manager for children. Now available for iPad! Click here to learn more.

We’ve all been there before. No matter how careful you are, chances are your cellphone has taken an unwanted dive into some water. Whether it’s a tub, puddle or (if your little one happens to grab it) a toilet, if you act quickly you can save it. Lucky for us, the same idea applies to wet iPads.

So what should you do if your iPad gets wet? First dry it off as much as you can using a  towel. Make sure you don’t use a source of heat! It could cause further damage.

Next grab a large freezer bag, like a gallon size Ziploc. Place the iPad in it and then fill it with enough rice to cover the iPad on all sides. The rice will absorb the water, and the longer you leave the iPad in the rice, the better your chances are to dry it without any technical issues. Silica packets are also excellent for drawing water out of a package, but because they are dangerous if ingested, (a big concern when you have little ones) and a little harder to come by, a good rule of thumb is just to have rice on hand.

The longer the tablet was exposed to water, the longer you should leave it in the rice. If it was a simple water spill, or getting caught in the rain, around 8 hours should be enough. If a little (or big) pair of hands dropped it in the tub, however, you’re better off keeping it bagged up for at least a day.

Water damage is definitely no fun, so if your kids are water threat to the family iPad, check into purchasing a waterproof case. This one, by Case Logic, is available for $30. The plastic bag-like cover keeps moisture out, while still being responsive to touch.

What other problems have you encountered as a parent, or grandparent, with kids and iPads? What tips can you offer? Share them with us!

Want to introduce your little ones to the internet? ZillyDilly™ is the world’s first curated media manager for children. Now available for iPad! Click here to learn more.

Product mentions or links made by authors of the ZillyDilly blog are for informational purposes only.  Reference to any specific product, application or service by name or otherwise does not constitute or imply a partnership between the manufacturer and ZillyDilly. It also does not constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation or favoring by ZillyDilly or Dr. S. 

There are so many iPad apps for kids available in the App Store, but you just don’t have the time to go through and decide which ones are fun and actually worth the price. Don’t worry, we’ve done the hard work for you and have a list of 5 fun iPad apps for kids that your kids are sure to love!

Draw and Tell by Duck Duck Moose ($1.99) – This app gives kids a space to draw, color and paint without all of the mess. For less than the cost of a pack of crayons, kids have 27 crayons, 27 paint brushes and 27 colored pencils at their fingertips. Stickers, glow in the dark crayons and stencils are just a few of the additional tools that kids can use to create. The app also lets kids create stories they can record and share later.

Shape-O ABCs ($1.99) – This fun app presents puzzles in a non-traditional way. Kids put together shape puzzles of animals and objects whose names are spelled out beneath them.  There are over 100 images to choose from, and kids will learn the alphabet and spelling as they play.

Tap the Frog 2 ($0.99) – Bright and colorful, Tap the Frog 2 is made up of several mini games that engage the player to paint the frog, fly the frog and feed the frog, among other activities. It’s addictive and entertaining and sure to entertain you and your kids.

Tiny Wings ($0.99) – Reminiscent of your favorite side-scrolling video games from your own childhood, Tiny Wings is a fun game for almost any age of user. The birds with the titular tiny wings use hills as ski slopes to launch them into the air to advance through the world. The graphics are bright and cute, and the app offers a nice alternative to Angry Birds.

Toca Hair Salon ($1.99) – Inspire your budding hairstylist with a bright and colorful app that encourages her to cut hair and create new looks on your iPad…and not on her Barbies. The app lets you cut, style, shampoo, shave and dye hair that acts like real hair.

Have you found an app that keeps your little ones happily entertained? Share it with us in the comments below!

Want to introduce your little ones to the internet? ZillyDilly™ is the world’s first curated media manager for children. Now available for iPad! Click here to learn more.

Product mentions or links made by authors of the ZillyDilly blog are for informational purposes only.  Reference to any specific product, application or service by name or otherwise does not constitute or imply a partnership between the manufacturer and ZillyDilly. It also does not constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation or favoring by ZillyDilly or Dr. S. 

The iPad offers so many kid-focused games and apps, but the device itself isn’t very kid friendly. Among the thousands of cases available only a few have what it takes to be a great iPad case for kids. We took the time to check them each out, and here are our favorite iPad cases for kids.

Speck’s iGuy – The iGuy is a cute and sturdy iPad case for kids that makes it easier for them to carry and see. The iGuy’s feet make him free-standing and his arms double as handles. He’s also made of lightweight, non-toxic EVA foam available in three bright, fun colors.

Gripcase – Less adorable than the iGuy, the Gripcase is no less sturdy. Made of the same non-toxic, EVA foam, the Gripcase’s design gives your little one multiple handles for ease of carrying. It’s also washable and mildew and bacteria-resistant, making it a fantastic iPad case for kids.

Have you found an iPad case for kids that meets your family’s needs? Share it with us in the comments below.

Want to introduce your little ones to the internet? ZillyDilly™ is the world’s first curated media manager for children. Now available for iPad! Click here to learn more.

Product mentions or links made by authors of the ZillyDilly blog are for informational purposes only.  Reference to any specific product, application or service by name or otherwise does not constitute or imply a partnership between the manufacturer and ZillyDilly. It also does not constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation or favoring by ZillyDilly or Dr. S. 

Recently, ZillyDilly creator Dr. S discussed how web and mobile devices affect attention spans in children. Although iPads, computers and other tech gadgets can be excellent learning tools, when used without parental supervision, or time limits, they can have a negative effect on a child’s ability to focus and concentrate. Here are some guidelines we recommend that parents keep in mind when having kids interact with tech.

• Make the act of paying attention a distinctive behavior to notice, monitor, discuss, learn and teach.
• Use parental controls on digital devices to limit time and access. ZillyDilly for the iPad can help you limit sites visited and restrict time spent online and on the iPad.
• Choose apps and online content carefully — do not buy on impulse. Less is more.
• Remember that children vary in their auditory and visual attention span among each other and over time. A good rule of thumb to keep in mind is that a young child’s attention span in minutes is roughly twice his/her age in years.
• Limit over-stimulation by restricting the number of choices and blocking distractions online to accustom children to sharply focus attention and enjoy opportunities for the pleasure accompanying true mastery and learning.
• As skills improve gradually with age and practice, increase the challenges of more focusing time and discipline to resist potential distractions.
• Reinforce with specific praise and reward persistence and discipline of paying attention.
• Teach self awareness of media consumption — its duration and benefits/disadvantages.
• Teach recognition of information overload, potential distractions and attentional drifting and strategies of stopping, taking a break, etc.
• Play games to teach visual and auditory attention skills like taking turns closing eyes and asking “What color was that car?” or “What ad did you see that you avoided?” or “What did that radio announcer just say?”

What exercises and activities do you do with your children to help nurture and develop their attention spans? Let us know in the comments below!

Want to introduce your little ones to the internet? ZillyDilly™ is the world’s first curated media manager for children. Now available for iPad! Click here to learn more.

A recent study (including more than 800 special-ed and general-ed students between the ages of 9 and 16 from nine different schools) found that 38% of the students admitted to bullying other students and 67% said they had been the victims of bullies. Additionally, it concluded that special-ed students are at greater risk for being bullied or bullying others, and students with visible or more obvious disabilities were victimized most often. They also reported the highest levels of bullying.

Dr. S has addressed the issue of bullying at length, and has advice about how parents and educators need to handle the subject.

First, the child who is bullied often or regularly requires identification and urgent attention from caregivers. The often-bullied may already be depressed or withdrawn. This is important to note. Any often-bullied child can suffer chronic psychological injury, blows to self esteem, humiliation and anger. The child can also harbor frustration, helplessness, and rage and can become depressed.

Often, both bully and bullied desperately need and crave positive attention at home, especially from the same gendered parent or other mentor. And both may benefit from after school or special school programming.

A bully should always be stopped immediately and monitored closely. He may need to develop increased social awareness and sensitivity to others, acceptable ways to increase self esteem and channel aggression, and an identity not based on aggression alone. Ideally, the bully should be brought to a point where he understands his obligation to apologize meaningfully to his victim and actually does so without coercion. Bullying itself can be a traumatic experience for the bully who experiences remorse, shame and guilt. Such bullies, who are also followers or act impulsively, are easier to treat and have a better prognosis. The bully who is a leader or deliberately cruel, or suffers little or no remorse, shame, or guilt, is much harder to rehabilitate and can be at very high risk for future criminality.

In addition, educators and parents should assure the often-bullied child’s safety. He may need help to develop self esteem and to learn specific strategies to stand up for and protect himself. For general principles regarding coping with the violence. His other needs may include learning social skills or appropriate assertiveness or self defense techniques and their deterrent value. Depression may require treatment by a child and adolescent psychiatrist.

Want to introduce your little ones to the internet? ZillyDilly™ is the world’s first curated media manager for children. Now available for iPad! Click here to learn more.

Product mentions or links made by authors of the MyDigitalFamily, Ltd. /. ZillyDilly blog are for informational purposes only. Reference to any specific product, application or service by name or otherwise does not constitute or imply medical / psychological advice nor a partnership between the manufacturer and MyDigitalFamily, Ltd. /. ZillyDilly. It also does not constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation or favoring by MyDigitalFamily, Ltd. /. ZillyDilly or Dr. S.

We are always on the lookout for great iPad accessories for kids, and this app and kids iPad stylus may just change the way your kids color.

It can be a challenge finding a kids iPad stylus. Traditionally, styluses are small and thin, making it difficult for the littlest hands to get a good grip. Luckily, Crayola has solved this dilemma with a chunky, durable kids iPad stylus that is closer in appearance to a marker than a Palm Pilot pen.
The Crayola ColorStudio stylus acts like a marker, crayon and paintbrush all in one, letting kids express their creativity without making a mess. Even better, the stylus comes with a free app that is constantly updating with new pictures for your kids to color.

This is easily one of our favorite kids iPad styluses.

Have you found an iPad accessory made just for kids that you love? Share it with us in the comments below!

Want to introduce your little ones to the internet? ZillyDilly™ is the world’s first curated media manager for children. Now available for iPad! Click here to learn more.

Product mentions or links made by authors of the ZillyDilly blog are for informational purposes only.  Reference to any specific product, application or service by name or otherwise does not constitute or imply a partnership between the manufacturer and ZillyDilly. It also does not constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation or favoring by ZillyDilly or Dr. S. 

With valuable tech tools like iPads becoming more and more accessible to parents, children teachers and students, it’s safe to say that tech will be changing the way we view and the way children learn in a classroom.

Veteran child psychiatrist and ZillyDilly creator Dr. S thinks there are many ways that teachers can safely and effectively integrate technology into the classroom. Here are a few he he mentioned in a recent discussion about ZillyDilly.

• Apple’s new Mac tool Configurator enables duplication of content among iPad devices. This, along with an app that provides childproof, curated online content customizable by the educator (like ZillyDilly for iPad), can allow teachers to give tools and assets, like website lesson plans, to individuals as well as groups of students.
• Teachers can use age-appropriate online sites to enrich whole classroom instruction, fulfill IEP goals and give students a starting point for projects. With ZillyDilly, students cannot wander off to unassigned sites, so teachers stay in control, choose from pre-selected categories for students to browse and monitor usage.
• Teachers can collaborate with parents in encouraging healthy and safe Internet use and coordinate with other teachers and librarians. For instance, they can find bilingual sites and those with teacher/parent guides easily for appropriate age groups. This helps introduce young children to the Internet safely.
• Teachers can search ZillyDilly’s extensive database as they create media plans to engage students by increasing exposure in areas already of interest to them.
• Teachers can also occasionally treat students to special, fun journeys on their own iPad (via TV or overhead projection) to sites not included in ZillyDilly’ database.

Are you a teacher that has begun integrating the iPad, or ZillyDilly, into your own classroom? What are some techniques you’re using? What have you found effective? Share your techniques with us!

Want to introduce your little ones to the internet? ZillyDilly™ is the world’s first curated media manager for children. Now available for iPad! Click here to learn more.

More and more educators are seeing the benefits that educational games can have. According to school administrators, electronic games can increase student engagement by 74%, and it can help personalize learning for each individual by 50%.

What’s more, a Scottish study found that 19 schools saw improved student engagement following game-based learning. So, why are game-based learning strategies working?

Are you an educator who has been using video games to encourage learning in your classroom? Share your experiences with us!

Want to introduce your little ones to the internet? ZillyDilly™ is the world’s first curated media manager for children. Now available for iPad! Click here to learn more.

Product mentions or links made by authors of the MyDigitalFamily, Ltd. / ZillyDilly blog are for informational purposes only. Reference to any specific product, application or service by name or otherwise does not constitute or imply medical / psychological advice nor a partnership between the manufacturer and MyDigitalFamily, Ltd. / ZillyDilly. It also does not constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation or favoring by MyDigitalFamily, Ltd. / ZillyDilly or Dr. S.