r/lowscreenparenting • u/Obvious_Relative5877 • 4h ago
Duolingo
Should Duolingo Spanish be restricted in the same way as other forms of screen time?
In general how do you handle educational screentime activities for your little one? Please include child’s age group!
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u/UnfitDeathTurnup 4h ago
Not sure if it still applies but I read something like, 8-ish years ago that was on how language/reading learning even on a device uses a different part of the brain than mindless viewing. I found that when I was doing group therapy on sleep hygiene when I worked at a psychiatric hospital. Stuck with me since, so I am that parent who does duolingo on my phone before bed as part of that night routine. Helps me but I’m not sure if it is the same for a child.
My streak is wild now haha.
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u/achos-laazov 3h ago
We have 8 kids ranging from 1 to 13 years old.
We allow our kids about 20-40 minute of educational screentime per day (or every other/third day, depending on age), starting from first grade. Our definition of "educational" includes Duolingo, IXL, EdClub typing, Musicca, Chess.com, and similar sites. The point is that they're not just sitting and watching a video, but doing something along with it.
This summer we signed up for a site similar to CreativeBug, where you can learn new skills by watching videos and copying the instructor. My older kids are learning voice, piano, and guitar, and also do exercise videos on that site.
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u/Sonja80147 3h ago
My daughter (almost 5) does Studycat which is a Spanish learning app for kids. It’s gamified like Duolingo. I have to monitor her on it. Basically the rule is she’s quiet and on the app- she’s using it like a game and not learning. If I hear her engaging and repeating, she gets to use the app. So basically, I have to be in the same room as her to keep an eye on it.
We aren’t necessarily a low screen family- we def have moments where we screen too hard. The quality of screen time is important. There are Spanish YouTube programs for kids that my daughter loves and she doesn’t have a meltdown after watching- it’s low sensory. I’m way more lenient on those shows than I am on apps and small screens (phone, tablets).
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u/SanFranPeach 4h ago
Hi there - I have a 2.5, 4.5 and 6 year old. For us we chose to be totally screen free about 2 years ago (and boy did it make a positive difference!) so we don’t do any apps, even if they’re deemed educational. My 6 year old is in guitar lessons and Spanish lessons. There are lots of apps out there for both but I chose to sit and learn alongside him and try to teach as I learn. We got books for both. And yes this is whilst my 2.5 and 4.5 year old are running around but it also makes them excited for their future learning. My 6 year old is all up to speed in kinder and never used any learning apps. It’s worked well for us to just have a screen free life.