March 25, 2013 -
PRLog -- These days the iPad is so popular most kids can't keep their hands off them, so it's important as parents we find age appropriate applications, movies and TV shows that are considered to be educational, or at least a valuable use of their time. While parents love recommendations from other parents with kids the same age, NERDS have found a couple resources to help you track down the “gems” in the sea of available media.
Common Sense Media (www.commonsensemedia.org)
provides ratings for every category of media: books, movies, TV shows, games, applications, websites and music. But it's more than just a simple ratings website. Their rating system is based upon recommendations from child development experts nationwide who provide criteria for what content and activities are suited for each age range. Their ratings are multi-layered, giving you guidelines for age-appropriate content while also evaluating the "messages" provided by the game and whether or not the application or website has a good "learning potential" for your child.
Browse by the type of media you're trying to find (such as "movie reviews"), or keep up to date with what's hot with their "New This Week" and "Editor's Picks" features. Reviews are sorted by age range, and you can click on multiple ages simultaneously if you have a couple different ages in your household. They even have a section for children with special-needs or learning-differences. Lastly, suggestions are provided for parents to enhance the media experience, explaining how to explore, discuss and enjoy the content, even providing sample questions to get your kids talking about lessons and themes.
OK (www.ok.com)
covers all-things movies. Movies are rated by users, so the data is pooled into the rating system that then gives an age range (OK for 6+, for example) and also a "thumbs up" or "thumbs down," denoting if the movie is worth your time. Users post detailed movie reviews, much like you see when you use Netflix, but they're generally family-oriented reviews that contain details to help you decide if the movie is right for your family.
Search for movies based on MPAA rating (G, PG, etc.), where the movie is available for viewing (Theater, Redbox, Netflix Streaming or Netflix DVD) and look for the genre you're interested in. Connect through Facebook to share when you rate movies or write your own reviews. Follow other reviewers that share your taste and standards, allowing you to build a community of movie reviewers to suit your own family.
Cool Mom Tech (www.coolmomtech.com)
provides reviews and recommendations for tech and applications. Their tagline: "We're not techies who parent; we're moms who use tech in our everyday lives." Follow them on Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest, or simply click on "Best Kids' Apps" and you're greeted with pages of suggestions laid out in a blog-like fashion with pictures and links to more detailed reviews.
Mashable (www.mashable.com)
has a nice weekly feature called "Top 5 Apps for Kids This Week," found under Lifestyle --> Family & Parenting. Ratings are given for ease of use, educational benefits and entertainment value of the application, and age appropriateness levels are given as well. Keep in mind some of their recommended applications are not free.
Children's Technology Review (www.childrenstech.com)
has been studying children's interactive media products since 1985. They provide ratings on products and applications in a similar way to Consumer Reports - extensive road testing and set criteria is used to evaluate each product they review. Like Consumer Reports, it's a fee-for-service:
$30 per year for a monthly PDF newsletter emailed to you. Each issue contains about 50 reviews of tech toys, websites, apps, video games and more.
Every child is different and learns at a different pace, so not all rating systems will be perfect. They're intended as a guideline to help you in your decision-making with regards to what content your kids are exposed to. Ultimately, you know your child best and you will be the best determinant of what he/she is ready for. Remember, always screen content before you hand over the iPad or turn on the TV.
Andrea Eldridge is CEO and co-founder of Nerds On Call, an on-site computer and laptop repair service (
http://www.callnerds.com/sacramento/) for consumers and businesses. Andrea is the writer of two weekly columns, Nerd Chick Adventures in The Record Searchlight, and Computer Nerds On Call, a nationally syndicated column for the Scripps-Howard News Service. She regularly appears on ABC, NBC, FOX, and CBS on shows such as Good Day Sacramento, Good Morning Arizona and MORE Good Day Portland, offering viewers easy tips on technology, Internet lifestyle, and gadgets. Andrea recently has begun working with Demand Media to produce content for eHow.com and has written a book for them
Smartphone101: Integrating your iPhone into a Windows World. Andrea is available for Q & A’s, expert tech quotes and will appear on your show, call today! See Andrea in action at
www.callnerds.com/andrea.
About Nerds On CallEstablished in a spare room in Redding, Calif., in March 2004, Nerds On Call offers on-site computer and laptop repair services (http://www.callnerds.com/
sacramento/) to consumers and businesses. Nerds On Call provides trouble-shooting for PCs and Macs, home and office networks, printers, iPods® and MP3 players, handheld devices and cell phones, home theaters and game systems, and virtually every other form of digital entertainment. In 2009, 2010, & 2011 the company was named to Inc. magazine’s list of 5000 fastest growing private companies. With 15 locations across California, Oregon, Washington, & Arizona Nerds On Call serves more than 40,000 satisfied customers per year. For more information, visit www.callnerds.com or call 1-800-919-NERD.
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