Feeling guilty about screen time? Turn game time into brain time with SylvanPlay

How much screen time is too much? This is a question that gets asked a lot at Sylvan Learning in Suwanee and the information available for parents isn’t exactly consistent. One day a study might come out saying that screen time can make kids smarter; and the next, a report is released highlighting the new ways that TV, tablets and other devices can harm a child. Parents may aspire to raising their kids TV or mobile-device free, but in today’s ever-connected world, it’s not a reality.

So what is the key to reducing screen-time guilt for parents and ensuring that kids actually benefit from their time in front of a device? Finding the right apps that blend educational lessons with engaging and entertaining games that kids will love is critical but isn’t always easy.

Kids today are digital natives who are used to spending time on devices. According to a study from Common Sense Media, 63 percent of children ages -- 5 to 8-years old -- regularly play games on mobile devices. To ease the guilt, it’s important to find the right kinds of educational games that can enhance their digital experience, so they’re actually learning something but still having fun. The challenge lies in sifting through the more than 100,000 educational game titles to find content that is not only educational but also engaging -- it’s a seemingly impossible feat.

Here are some tips for parents trying to find the right edutainment apps that allow kids to play anywhere and learn everywhere:

· Choose games that reinforce grade-appropriate lessons in fun and engaging ways and enhance what kids are already learning in the classroom while on-the-go.
· Find apps that access all different areas of a child’s education.
· Games that address multiple senses (e.g. compelling visuals, sounds) and are not too repetitive will keep kids engaged.
· Select games that are appropriate for both age and skill level.
· Get help choosing apps by reading the user reviews before you download. Even better, select games that are created or endorsed by known education brands to ensure a healthy mixture of fun and learning.

SylvanPlay -- a comprehensive, educational mobile games network developed by Sylvan Learning for kids in first through fourth grade -- combines all of these things in one. SylvanPlay helps take the guesswork out of choosing the right educational games and offers a library of Sylvan-approved edutainment apps -- all packaged together -- that reinforce grade-appropriate lessons and fit within the always-on-the-go lifestyle of today’s family.

For instance, one of the favorite games at Sylvan Learning in Suwanee is Critter Cruise, a zany road trip with 32 stops at North American landmarks that was designed exclusively for SylvanPlay. With Critter Cruise, kids can test their math and language arts skills as they travel Route 66, Pacific Coast Highway, Eastern Seaboard and Trans Canada Highway. Additionally, Critter Cruise aligns to specific grade level content and, in the U.S., the Common Core curriculum.

The SylvanPlay network -- available for download on iOS and Android devices -- currently has more than 30 games that can help build critical skills in reading, math, science, geography, strategic thinking and more. It will continue to expand with new games on an on-going basis, and will soon be available for kids up to sixth grade. By choosing SylvanPlay, parents can be confident that their kids are turning game time into critical brain-building time.

For more information about SylvanPlay from Sylvan Learning, visit the SylvanPlay site.

Susie Hill is the Director at the Suwanee Sylvan Learning, the leading provider of tutoring to students of all ages, grades and skill levels. With 30 years of experience and more than 900 centers located throughout North America, Sylvan’s proven process and personalized methods have inspired more than 2 million students to discover the joy of learning. Sylvan’s trained and Sylvan-certified personal instructors provide individual instruction in reading, writing, mathematics, study skills and test-prep for college entrance and state exams. Sylvan helps transform kids into inspired learners with the skills to do better in school and the confidence to do better in everything else. Call 1-888-789-7958 or like us on Facebook.