#SmartKids : Awesome Tech Bundles for Kids
"Digital natives"-- that's what kids born in the last 5 years or so are called. They are children who were born into a world wherein mobile technology, tablets and smartphones, the subject of sci-fi movies of yore, were now mainstream and actually a standard in most households already. This adds a new dimension to parenting as we challenge ourselves to make technology our friend and something that will be positive in our children's lives, and not the opposite.In my friend Michele Alignay's book (co-written with Dr. Queena Lee Chua, Maribel Sison-Dionisio, andNerisa Fernandez), "Growing Up Wired", here are some tips which she share on the Mommy Hacks show of Cheska Garcia and Rice Peralejo.- Allow only what is age-appropriate. From knowing which platform is appropriate, to the time they spend on gadgets, to the activities and material that they view and use online, these must be determined based on their age, stage, personality and inclinations.- Set internal regulations. Our own kids should be trained to be "critical media literates". Ask them how they feel about certain content. Communicate what is right or wrong. Know your child and what his interests are. Be present and set rules.- Keep up. Parents should also try to keep updated and be aware of how technology works. Knowing about technology will give us another thing in common with our kids, plus it also gives us an idea on how to set the necessary controls to make sure they are safe.- Establish a relationship with our kids. The most important thing is to be able to establish a relationship with our children not only so that we can really know them and what motivates them, but also so that we can communicate our expectations and regulations. We will have an easier time implementing rules when we are connected to our children.With our support and close monitoring that leads to responsible technology use, children can gain much from being connected. Add to that these bundles and new plans from Smart plus Smart Bro’s fast and reliable connection they can get the best form of learning through educational apps, videos, and sites. As an extra treat, Smart Bro’s awesome gadget deals come with FREE 30-day subscription and FREE 1.1 GB data for top entertainment apps like iFlix, FOX via Viewstream, and Spinnr.Here are the hero plans to check out for our families:2 Acer Iconia One 7 + 4G Pocket WiFi at Plan 599
2 units in one application. If you have two children, they can actually have one each and explore the online world individually, and they can also play virtually with each other through wifi connectivity.iPad Mini 2 16GB @ Plan 899 (no cashout, 30 mos lock in)
The kids can play games like Minecraft and Clash of Clans on this cool iPad mini 2. Check out the unboxing video of this bundle-Lenovo Tab 2 A730 (3G) @ GPP 399
Let's also always be responsible modern mamas and make sure we inject learning in our kids' gadget use. Some apps to check out are: Joomajam and Study Buddy.What's this gadget like? View here, from the mouth of kids:Here's how to avail of these new plans: Simply head to the nearest Smart Store with a valid ID, a proof of address and proof of income and accomplish a form indicating your choice of gadget and plan. You can also opt to sign up online with free nationwide delivery via the Smart Online Store at store.smart.com.ph.For more info on the Kids Tech Packages, visit smrt.ph/kidstechtalk