Children and parents: media use

Children and Parents: Media Use and Attitudes came out in October, and has masses of data on how British children are getting their entertainment across different devices.  
And it have nice information about kids: 

Smartphone ownership has remained stable for 8-11s (18%) and 12-15s (62%). But there has been a decline in the number of 5–15s owning a mobile phone (43% vs. 49% in 2012).
This reduction in ownership of mobile phones that are not smartphones comes at the same time as a sharp increase in the use of tablet computers at home, which has tripled among 5-15s since 2012, and a decline in TVs, radios and games players in children’s bedrooms.

Four in ten (41%) 12-15s with an active profile say they mostly use a mobile phone to visit their main social networking site profile - which makes this the most popular device for accessing their profiles.

Smartphone users send an estimated 184 instant messages (IM) in a typical week and smartphones are the most popular device for accessing social networking sites among 12-15 year olds.



 For the first time there has been a decrease in the number of children with social networking profiles, and there appears to be greater diversity in the types of social networking sites being used. However, there has also been an increase in the number of children who can potentially be contacted by people unknown to them via their social networking profiles. Parental awareness of the minimum age requirement for Facebook has increased among parents whose child has a profile on this site.

Most parents of 5-15s say that they know enough to keep their child safe online, but around half of parents continue to feel that their child knows more about the internet than they do, as do 14% of parents of children aged 3-4. This may reflect the fast pace of technological change and the ease with which younger children in particular can embrace and explore new mobile technology and apps, and suggests that parents need continuing support to build their own skills and confidence.

Tablets are becoming the must-have device for children...
Around one quarter of children aged 12– 15 (26%) and 18% aged 8-11 have their own tablet computer, while household ownership of a tablet has more than doubled since 2012 (51% vs. 20%). Use of a tablet computer at home has tripled among 5-15s since 2012 (42% vs.14%) while one-quarter (28%) of 3-4s use a tablet computer at home.


...while older children opt for smartphones...
Ownership of mobile phones among children aged 5-15 has decreased to 43%. This is a decline of 6 percentage points since 2012, driven by a 10 percentage point decline in ownership for 8-11s (33% vs. 43%) and a 5 percentage point decline for 12-15s (82% vs. 87%). However, smartphone ownership has remained stable for 8-11s (18%) and 12-15s (62%).


Among 12-15s, schoolwork/ homework is the most commonly-mentioned internet activity (84%), followed by information (79%) social networking (68%) and watching audiovisual content (68%). A majority of 12-15s also go online weekly for other communication (66%) for games (54%) and for music (53%).

And about tariff....


Personal information for sharing...

Youngsters and Tech All Over The World

It's amazing facts you can find  at ITU Report about young people and technology. Over 250 million people came online over the last year, and almost 40 per cent of the
world’s population will be using the Internet by end 2013. Mobile technology and services
continue to be the key driver of the information society, and the number of mobile
broadband subscriptions is close to 2 billion. Young people all over the world are the most active users.  While 30 per cent of the youth population are digital natives today, the report shows that within the next five years, the digital native population in the developing world is expected to double.

The most impressive facts of research:

• only about 5.2% (363 mln) are digital natives, out of a world population of 7 billion

• the largest number of digital natives at China 

• the largest % of population (13.9%) of digital natives has Iceland

But you can learn even more from the infographic.

   

How kids use devices!

Can Online Education Replace Classrooms?

Today, the internet is widely regarded as a major bridge linking the small and big, the possible and impossible, hidden and open and creating extensive possibilities across a wide spectrum. It strategically empowers the small guy to set up home-based business and pose like a giant concern. Even charities organizations are now thriving better through application if Internet resources. In reality, the whole world, on a daily basis, is currently under the spell of phenomenal growth of Internet. And one of such areas that Internet has drastically changed forever is EDUCATION - yes, education is now being carried out online and popularly called E-Learning! Unlike in the days of yore, a young man can now stay in the Hinterland of Africa and attend a school in England or Australia without qualms.

Needless controversy?

However, despite the beautiful advantage of online education painted in the above paragraph, there are raging controversies against it. While others are shouting about which is superior to the other? While this article will not make an armchair judgment on this issue, however, you shall be presented with the facts on the ground. Firstly, realize that online education is being used by both secondary and tertiary students. But due to the fact that secondary students still require adult guidance, E-Learning is not yet as deep at this level as it is for tertiary level. How the E-Learning changes the live of young students worldwide. It's proven that majority secondary students are presently hob-knobbing between classrooms and sitting in front of computers undergoing intense lectures and prep-work with great successes. Also, E-learning enable young students to sit for international exams and pursue scholarship, while learning foreign languages have become as simple as enrolling for community classes. The only exception is practical and laboratories guidance from teachers at schools. It should also be noted that online education is making it possible for hitherto, rural-based schools to favorably compete in, arm to arm with those in the urban centers. It also allows rural schools improve academic curriculum to meet international standards. On a general scale, the worry of overcrowded classrooms has become a thing of the past. How? Because a well-laid E-learning program can admit hundred of students from many countries to access same course at the same time.

Can online classes ever replace physical classrooms?

From what has been said so far, it is clear that supplanting online education to physical classroom can not be possible. Just as Internet can't supplant our cultural ways of life, but meant to add more benefits and opportunities to them. The same way has online education help the growth of basic classroom education - it is presently widening inherent opportunities of education.

Choosing Educational Software For Children

In recent years, computers have become an integral part of everyday life.  Now, more people own computers than ever before, and the numbers continue to rise.  As a result, children are learning how to use computers in school at a much earlier age than ever before.

There is a wide array of educational software available for children of all ages. This provides you, the parent, with many options when choosing educational software for your children.  Since many educational games have been shown to help children learn and improve their skills in many subjects, these games have become an important part of a child's learning experience.  But choosing the right educational software makes all the difference.  For this reason, it is essential to take care when choosing computer software for your children.

The best educational software is designed by people who know how children think.  By nature, children like to see, touch, and interact with a thing in order to learn about it.  This same concept also applies to computer software.  For this reason, interactive applications have become so prevalent.  Among these, there are many different types of software applications.  Some are actual simulations, while others are open-ended creativity tools.  There are also a number of structured activities available for the computer such as puzzles, tutorials, and reference titles.  They are made by the 700+ publishers that specialize in educational items.

Because there are so many options available to you, selecting those that will truly help your child to learn may seem like an overwhelming task.  This, however, does not have to be the case.  When choosing computer software for your child, there are a few factors you should consider.

First, make sure you choose software that your child will be able to operate.  This is especially important if you have a small child, as he or she will probably only be able to use the mouse.  Be sure the application you choose accommodates this, as your child's attention span will probably not last very long, otherwise.

When choosing software, you should also take care to select programs and games that best fit the interests of your child.  While it is wonderful to encourage the learning of new skills and acceptance of new ideas, your child is less likely to take part in something of which he or she has little or no interest.  Introducing your child to newer concepts and skills more gradually, however, may peak their interest and help build character and skill.