Technology has become an integral part of not only our daily life, but also of our educational endeavors. This is just as true for children, as it is for adults, and sometimes, our young people surprise us by their ability to manipulate and navigate computers, video games, and cell phones.As a parent, I like to be cautious about overdoing technology, but in an effort to equip my kids with meaningful opportunities, I would be remiss to not include technological tools. Ereaders are fast becoming popular, as a means of giving people access to virtual books, and while the feel of a physical book is nice, the opportunity to read extensively is also a great help. A virtual library can be transported anywhere, with many free classics available, as well as learning tools such as dictionaries. There are many ways of accessing these free resources, including via computer, and by cell phone application. Ereaders provide a bigger screen size than that of a tiny phone screen, and are more portable than a laptop, netbook, or computer, making the ereader the best combination in size and portability.
For kids, the Kindle is a good choice because of its anti-glare technology.
The images featured here are clickable, with details on pricing, through Amazon.
The less expensive of the Kindle options is the wi-fi enabled Kindle, which will connect to your home wireless network, or which can access the internet for downloads and updates, via wireless connections in public hotspots: Starbucks, the Library, and other venues, for example.
The more costly of the Kindle versions has free 3G access, which is great for the person who is on the go, needing access, but not guaranteed a hotspot.
When it comes to providing your children with Kindle ereaders, keep in mind the ability to care for such devices. For very young children, I don't suggest their owning their own Kindle, but rather, cooperatively using a parent's Kindle, or a family version. For an older elementary aged child, age 9-10, a personal Kindle should be permitted if the child is very responsible, and if protective equipment is purchased, as well. If your child has problems keeping track of things, it's better to establish a place for Kindle storage and reading, and to exercise limits on when and where the child uses the device.
For Tweens, an ereader can be just as useful as a cell phone, or ipod, and perhaps a bit more productive.
Again, protective equipment is essential, as Tweens can be a little bit careless with belongings.Teens should be a little more trustworthy with their belongings, and a Kindle is a great way to meet the interests of your teen bookworm.
For some great options in Kindle Cases, scroll over the images below, and to find and purchase a Kindle, you can follow these links:
Kindle Covers and Cases
