iPad Play Groups

iPad Play Groups Banner

iPad Play Groups Banner

Overview

The Center's iPad Play Group concept includes the participation of parents and/or caregivers to play alongside their children and take an active role in their emerging literacy development, while witnessing their growing confidence in group settings. iPad Play Groups help parents understand how they can incorporate developmentally appropriate technology and interactive media activities in a safe, stimulating, nurturing and fun environment.

Objective

  • Through the use of six, structured, adult-child sessions, the effective use of technology to support learning and interaction for young children will be demonstrated to parents and caregivers of children ages 3-4.

Adult Goals

  1. Exposure to, and an increased knowledge of, high quality technology
  2. A greater understanding of a child’s healthy interaction with technology
  3. Increased concepts of educational activities for children
  4. A greater understanding of the ways to integrate technology into daily activities
  5. A greater understanding of the resourceful function of technology, as a tool to answer children’s questions, stimulate their ideas, and creative process
  6. Foster adult-child interaction

Child Goals

  1. Exposure to, and an increased knowledge of, high quality technology
  2. A healthy interaction with technology (i.e. being able to stop when asked, display comprehension of games and activities, being able to hold a conversation while playing, being able to relate screen concepts with real life experiences, etc.)
  3. Exposure to a more diverse range of educational games and activities
  4. Fine motor development
  5. Hand-eye coordination
  6. Comprehension and recall of activities
  7. Ability to connect games and activities to daily life games and activities
  8. Understanding of the resource functionality of technology
  9. Adult-Child interaction

iPad Play Groups Banner

General Guidelines

  1. Participants should register for the iPad Play Groups with the expectation that they will attend all six sessions.
  2. Group registration will be limited to 5-8 children (10 – 16 with adults) to foster an attentive, intimate group atmosphere.
  3. Groups will be run based on age/development; activities will be more effective if all children are capable of participating at a similar level.
  4. We request that parents and caregivers sign-up with one child, based on age group offerings. Any siblings should receive childcare for the duration of the sessions. Both adults and children reap the highest benefit from this scenario, allowing for greater interaction between the adult and the child with the technology.
  5. Sessions will take place once weekly at the same time and on the same day for the sake of routine.

Groups and Meeting Times

  • We are currently in the process of scheduling new groups. As soon as dates are available, we will post them and open registration.

Presenters: Jeremy Brueck and Lisa Lenhart
Location: All iPad Play Groups will be held on the campus of The University of Akron in Zook Hall Room 1

Cost and Registration: $120 per child/parent pair

For additional information and assistance, contact Jeremy Brueck at jbrueck@uakron.edu