For most kids growing up in today’s high-technology world, things like Lincoln Logs and Tonka trucks (the metal ones, anyway) would seem more at home in a museum than in their toy chests. Their parents, on the other hand, remember such relics almost as fondly as the outlandish concept of actually playing outside.
Outlandish, indeed.
If you’re a parent and you’re reading this, you know all about what it’s like trying to pry an Xbox controller out of your twelve-year old’s hands. Tell the kid to go play outdoors, and he’s likely to manifest an impressive tantrum. At a minimum, he’s sure to negotiate a settlement that will keep him inside, where he can happily pursue some other sort of tech-heavy entertainment.
Today, such a negotiation may well include begging Mommy or Daddy for a few minutes alone with their iPhone. And surprisingly, those few minutes could ultimately turn into time well spent – or at least, they can be a reasonable alternative to (gasp) physical activity in the back yard.
In response to the ever-growing popularity of iPhone applications, PBS (the same folks who brought Sesame Street to the screen) is looking to mobile communications as a new outlet for reaching children. They are reaching past the now-traditional scene of a child using Daddy’s iPhone to play games, and hoping to use the device as an educational tool instead.
PBS has contracted with developers to build several applications designed to offer educational benefits. A recent study by the Department of Education suggests that one PBS application improved user vocabulary by up to 31%.
Not bad, considering that PBS apps cost $2.99 at most. That’s a lot less expensive than a private school education.
Developers like SocialJitney have recognized this area as a growth opportunity for quite some time. SocialJitney, even recently created a child’s application for a partner that reached number one in the Education category for the iPhone.
For their part, naysayer’s who have panned the iPhone as more of a consumer toy than a business tool may point to children’s applications as further evidence that the iPhone belongs at home instead of the office. But if your child turns his nose up when he unwraps a box of Lego ® bricks on his birthday, try handing him your iPhone. Equipped with the right applications, you may well find it to be an excellent supplement to his out-of-school education.
PBS thinks so, anyway.
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