Technology has pushed the boundaries of what is possible in many ways, including early learning. Today's children are spending more and more time in front of screens from ever younger ages. But thanks to advances in technology, parents can guide their children's use of their phone or tablet from the start, exposing them to fun learning techniques that blur the boundaries between play and school.
What is early learning?
A common misconception is that early learning is done in day nurseries, or that it is similar to babysitting. But early learning is much more than that - it's learning techniques built with specialiststo help educate and develop the child before contact with kindergarten or school. Children who are exposed to professionally-tested early learning methods develop important cognitive and emotional skills, are more sociable, more self-confident, more attentive later in school and more open to learning new things.
Why is it important to start learning at an early age?
First of all, early learning satisfies children's curiosity and gives them a way to understand the world around them! Although children generally start school around the age of 6 in Romania, the brain starts to develop and absorb information long before that. The toddler goes through several stages of language development, with vocabulary growing exponentially in the first years of life and reaching several hundred words by the age of 3-4 years. Early learning helps these stages run smoothly, improving listening, comprehension, vocabulary, mathematical thinking (counting, recognizing geometric shapes), creative thinking and problem solving.
According to UNICEFchildren who benefit from early learning are more likely to succeed in school and in life. School drop-out rates are greatly reduced, and as adults they will be better integrated into society, with better career opportunities and better jobs.
Technology and traditional learning methods - which to choose for your child?
It's tempting to think of education in black and white - what's better for my child, to rely on traditional learning methods or to rely on new technologies? But why can't both be effective and useful learning tools in child development? Online platforms, games and digital apps can be seen as complementary learning methods, not intended to replace traditional learning, but to complement and support it! Under parental guidance, technology can be used in a safe and responsible way, with proven benefits for young children.
We provide you with the VOXi online speech therapy platform, where you can connect with a speech therapist and your child can participate in 1-on-1 therapy sessions from your laptop or computer connected to the internet. VOXi is built with a high degree of interactivity to meet all the expectations and needs of a speech therapist during therapy sessions. Your child enjoys hundreds of interactive exercises, educational games, sound practice and pronunciation modules and much more!
We have recently launched the new version of VoxiKids App - a mobile app for children designed together with speech therapists and therapists, based on the principle of learning through play.
Our lives as adults are often hectic and it can be a real challenge to provide children with activities that are interesting for them, that capture their attention and keep them occupied for longer. The VoxiKids App includes interactive games and exercises, audio stories, puzzles and songs - just what you need to keep your little one's attention while they develop their language, pronunciation and verbal comprehension.
What impact does educational technology have on early learning?
In addition to the fact that technology applied in education gives the parent a little more free time, it can also create a personalized, safe and interactive environment for the child that better engages their attention and skills. Through educational digital games, the young child embarks on a true adventure of creative exploration where they learn interesting things as well as how to handle different situations independently without parental help.
From VoxiKids App, you will be able to assess your child's language development and easily monitor educational progress. But the most important results will be seen in everyday life, when your child will start to make better use of the communication and comprehension skills practiced through play in the app.
More benefits of technology in education
| Fun and antrenant | The more your child plays, the more they learn and develop their language and thinking. |
| Improves communication skills | Going through the stages of play independently supports your child's listening, patience and attention. When you play together, you will communicate better and more easily. |
| Improves memory and knowledge integration | The interest and attention invested in the game helps the child to better retain new information and integrate it into their existing knowledge. |
| Encourages both individual and collaborative learning | Each child progresses at his or her own pace, sometimes needing to pick up things on their own that they don't do well at first. Other times, it is easier to learn in a group or with the family. Technology can cater for both learning styles. |
| Learn modern skills | VoxiKids helps children get to grips with modern technology and quickly discover how useful it can be in developing what educators call the 4 C's of early education - creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, communication. |
| Mobility | Thanks to technology, learning tools can be accessed from anywhere. Mobile apps don't need to keep track of a timetable, your little one can use them whenever they feel like playing! |
