With young children gaining access to a dizzying array of games, videos and other digital media, will they ever learn to read? The answer is yes - if we ensure that the media at children's fingertips is harnessed to promote the skills and knowledge that enable reading, instead of undermining them. Tap, Click, Read helps educators and parents become more successful at supporting young children's early literacy skills in the "digital wild west." With compelling text, videos, and interactive graphics, the book answers such questions as: In what ways could new technologies promote the adult-child interactions that help children develop language and literacy skills that help them become strong readers? Who are the pioneers in this field? What will it take to create a future in which parents and teachers become adept at using media to build a foundation for children's reading? Beyond traditional literacy, what are the digital competencies that today's young children will need to master in an increasingly complex and interconnected world? The authors provide findings from an ongoing examination of the app marketplace that identifies bright spots and pitfalls--a first-of-its-kind analysis, providing statistics on what kind of reading and other early learning apps are on offer in the free-for-all of the Apple app store and Google Play marketplaces. They also provide toolkits (such as e-media resource lists and community audit worksheets) for schools and community organizations to use as they foster literacy-focused relationships with parents and build high-tech learning spaces for tomorrow's readers. Rather than telling parents and teachers to push technology to the margins, Tap, Click, Read shows them how to put technology to work in serving children's needs and helping to address the crippling problem of low reading skills across the country.
