News: Technology Play Helps Children Learn

Less work, more play! A new parliamentary report on children’s play has revealed that playing with technology has a significantly positive impact on a child’s development, resulting in suggestions that ‘tech play’ should be made an integral part of official teacher training.

While the importance of physical activity is heavily focused on in the media, mental play has lost political momentum in recent years and the report, sponsored by LeapFrog Toys, calls for a fresh approach.

The report spotlights the positive role of modern technology in child’s play in both home and school settings, affirming that tech toys can be of great value if they are used to support and enhance other learning activities and goals.

Dr. Jody Le Vos, director of the LeapFrog Learning Team, says: “We know that children learn best when they are having fun. Dedicated learning tablets designed for kids hold great play appeal to children and when coupled with the right educational content, it can help supplement other home or classroom learning techniques.”

The report lands as LeapFrog launch a new Android based tablet for children called LeapFrog Epic a product built with parent-pleasing features such as parental controls and content safety measures.

Former ‘Playschool’ TV presenter Baroness Floella Benjamin chairs the All Party Parliamentary Group and had this to say about the report: “This is the most comprehensive recent study of play in all its forms and proves the truth of the old saying ‘All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.’ I am delighted to commend it to my parliamentary colleagues.”