More and more children are using smartphones, tablets and laptops for playing games, reading, watching cartoons and learning. It’s difficult to separate everyday life from computer use. Parents themselves determine how often children will use technology and what exactly they will do.

From researching articles to exploring news in the media, taking an online class, connecting on social media, or passing the time playing a game, it will always be a challenge to manage what a child does online.  So, it only make sense to properly teach a child how to effectively and safely us a computer, tablet or smart phone.

The computer does not harm itself: content and time of use are important

Much as been written about the dangers of computers. Constant use of a computer by children can lead to vision problems, poor posture and diseases of the back and neck, dermatitis and breathing problems.  Experts also point to how technology can harm a child’s psyche.  Most likely, they mean the impact of computer games and dangerous content on the behavior of children and adolescents.

The Department of Education in Northern Ireland names roughly the same risks: postural problems, photosensitive epilepsy, uncontrolled consumption of content. WHO pays the most attention to the fact that children spend time at computers instead of moving more and playing outdoors.

Vision

Doctors have long believed that screen flicker aggravates nearsightedness, and have recommended working at a computer only with a protective screen. But studies conducted over 20 years have shown that the computer does not harm vision, although it can cause computer vision syndrome (CVS), which includes eye fatigue and headaches.  Permanent impairment to vision due to Myopia is affected by heredity and lack of ultraviolet radiation. Therefore, it is more important for a child to walk in the fresh air in order to maintain vision.

Problems with the muscles of the back and neck

The researchers interviewed more than 400 children in New York schools and found that the back and neck are more likely to hurt those who sit at the computer more. The study was small, but the same data is given in the Hopkins University guide. The compilers warn that those who sit at the computer for a long time develop not only back and neck problems, but also injuries from repetitive deformities, such as carpal tunnel syndrome. To avoid these risks, children should take breaks every half an hour and study in comfortable chairs.

Impact of dangerous content

Psychologists often say that children who play violent computer games or watch violent videos are more aggressive than others. Scientists at Dartmouth College conducted a meta-analysis of such studies and saw that children who play violent computer games are more likely to fight in school and on the street, damage property, such as school furniture. But the research doesn’t tell us what’s causing and what’s the effect — it’s possible that initially more aggressive kids are more likely to play violent computer games.

It seems that the more children stay at home, the more they are exposed to dangerous content. In a 2011 study, scientists saw that children rarely use the Internet in an unsafe way, that is, they rarely go to sites with dangerous content and rarely leave their data on sites, download harmful programs from them. At the same time, in 2020, Unicef ​​reported that due to the lockdown and the transition to distance learning, the risks of dangerous content for children have increased, and they need to be protected.

Little mobility

The more children spend on computers and smartphones, the less they move. This is reported by the American Association of Pediatricians and Psychiatrists and considers it one of the main risks for the development of children. From swaddle wrap parents set out to protect their children.  They grow quickly and it’s not long before they are using computers or tablets. Movement is important for development, for example, WHO considers time spent at the computer as harmful as time spent in a stroller or crib for children under four years of age. In addition, it is the movement in the fresh air that reduces the risks associated with eye diseases.

Game addiction

By gambling addiction, you need to understand that the child not only spends a lot of time playing games, but does not see the benefit and pleasure in other activities. It just doesn’t matter how much time you play. A longitudinal study of 11,000 British schoolchildren concluded that there was no difference in behavior between children playing for one hour and three hours.

But if teenagers sit at games longer, then this affects health first of all. Indian University research says that most teenagers who play computer games have high heart rate and blood pressure due to too much anxiety and stress.

The computer helps in learning, socialization and self-control

Emotional well-being

Researchers at Oxford University found that children who play computer games for one to three hours a day have fewer emotional problems and are more satisfied with life than those who do not play the computer and than those who play it constantly. Apparently, they are able to show some of the negative emotions in the game and get rid of them. At the same time, those who play a lot, apparently, are more tired and do not feel so good.

Self control

In the same study, it turned out that children who play from one to three hours a day experience fewer problems with self-control and less prone to becoming addicted to their mobile phone.  They are also less likely to have problems with hyperactivity.

Help learning

A study by the British National Literacy Foundation found that children between the ages of three and five enjoy e-books more than regular ones. Apparently, this is due to the fact that it is easier for children to interact with e-books.

Cognitive psychologist Heather Kirkorian confirms these data and says that there is nothing harmful for children in the very use of computers and e-books. If children play educational games, learn letters and numbers, it only benefits them.

True, there is a feeling that this only works for preschoolers and younger students. Researchers debate whether there is a difference in academic performance between those who use computers and play games and those who do not. In 2013, economists Farley and Robinson did not find this difference, but in a survey study, specialists from the University of California found it.

Social ties are bigger and stronger

According to the same study by Farley and Robinson, having access to computers helps kids build social connections, and not just online. They had more social connections, not only virtual, but also real.  Still, parents struggle with how early they should allow their kids to use social media.

According to preliminary results, children who accidentally received a free computer regularly interacted with more friends than students without computers. They also spent more time interacting with these friends in person. And there was no tangible difference in cyberbullying experience.

Researchers who have studied preschoolers who use and do not use computers have come up with similar results. The former showed more social skills and fewer behavior problems.

Helps develop critical thinking

Researchers from Redbud University have shown that role-playing and strategy games help develop critical thinking and develop reflection. That is, the child learns to ask the right questions, to separate the important from the unimportant – and shooters and other action games do not affect these skills in any way. But, of course, games cannot be the only source of development of critical thinking.

It is no secret that the impact that social media has on children is far beyond what we should allow. With platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, teens can communicate with each other and share photos and thoughts instantly. But what is less known is how social media affects a teen’s body image.

In this blog post, we will explore the ways in which social media can influence teenagers’ perceptions of their own bodies. We will also discuss some tips for parents who want to help their children maintain a healthy body image in the age of social media.

How does social media affect teens? Learning what it does to their body image

Teen years are already a tough time for many kids. They’re navigating new emotions, trying to fit in with their peers, and figuring out who they are. On top of that, they’re bombarded with images of “perfect” bodies from the media. It’s no wonder that so many teenagers struggle with their body image. Now, a height of 5’8 isn’t that short for a guy, but most social media posts or adverts show guys that are 6ft+.

The same goes for girls, most social media posts or adverts show women with perfect hourglass figures when the average size in the UK is actually a size 16. Although this might not seem like a big issue, we have to remember that teenagers see this on a daily basis. During the teenage years, the brain of the average person is still developing. So, when they see these “perfect” bodies on social media, it can have a profound effect on their brain development and how they see themselves.

It leads to a lot of comparisons

One of the primary ways social media negatively impacts a teen’s body image is by driving them to compare themselves against others. With an overabundance of images of so-called “perfect” bodies, it’s easy for teenagers to understandably start comparing their own appearance with what they see on social media. If they don’t stack up favorably, it often leads to feelings of shame, insecurity, and poor self-esteem. Constantly comparing their lives to the ‘perfect’ ones they see on social media, teenagers may feel like they don’t measure up in terms of looks, popularity, or success. And when they witness their peers achieving things that they haven’t accomplished yet, it can result in feelings of jealousy and insecurity.

It can cause eating disorders

Social media also takes a toll on a teen’s body image by causing or worsening eating disorders. Many teenagers feel immense social pressure to have the “perfect” figure, which for some can lead to the development of anorexia, bulimia, crash dieting, or over-exercising. Not only does social media engender eating disorders, but it can also trigger those who are already struggling with their body image. Say someone with anorexia Views pictures of stick-thin celebrities or models on social media and compares themselves to those images. This might lead to a harmful pattern of restrictive eating and compulsive exercising.

It can cause body dysmorphia

People with body dysmorphia see their own bodies in an inaccurate way. For example, they may think they are fat even when they aren’t. Social media can make body dysmorphia worse in two ways. First, being constantly exposed to people with “perfect” bodies on social media can cause the condition in people who are vulnerable to it. Second, for those who already have body dysmorphia, social media can be a trigger. For example, someone with body dysmorphia may spend hours browsing through pictures of thin celebrities on social media and comparing their own bodies to those images; this constant comparison can make teenagers feel less adequate and less valued.

It can be a gateway to mental illness

Social media is partly to blame for worsening mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression in teenagers. Studies have found that there is a relationship between time used on social media and subsequently developing mental health issues like loneliness, anxiety, or depression. It’s speculated that social media can cause or make worse certain mental health problems in numerous ways.

For example, constant exposure to “perfect” lives can lead to feelings of envy and jealousy. In addition, social media can be a trigger for those who are already struggling with mental health problems. For example, someone with depression may spend hours scrolling through pictures of happy people on social media and comparing their own lives to those images. This constant comparison can lead to feelings of loneliness, inadequacy, and low self-esteem.

It can render development in teenagers

Some of the harsher impacts of social media on a teen’s body image are that it can stunt their emotional and physical development. For example, if a teenager is constantly comparing their own bodies to the “perfect” images they see on social media, they may start to believe that they need to either look or behave a certain way to be able to achieve the things they want in life. Furthermore, by making teenagers think that they will “never achieve this type of physique”, many teenagers can simply give up and not try at all. This then leads to a less active lifestyle and consequently can stunt their physical development as well.

It increases the risk of developing anxiety and depression

Although we did touch on this subject two paragraphs above, when speaking about depression and anxiety, it’s important to reiterate how detrimental social media can be to a teenager’s mental state. Social media plays a role in increasing the risk of developing anxiety and depression because it can be a trigger for those who are already struggling with mental health problems. For example, someone with depression may spend hours scrolling through pictures of happy people on social media and comparing their own lives to those images. This constant comparison can lead to feelings of loneliness, inadequacy, and low self-esteem.

Social media is not as bad as one might perceive it. However, because there are children on the platforms, it is our duty to ensure that we are not causing more harm than good. We need to have open discussions about the impact of social media on body image and mental health so that we can help our children develop healthy relationships with social media.

The advent of online education has given rise to the adoption of modern and unconventional techniques to teach students. Animation videos in e-learning have become valuable resources incorporated into presentations and lectures to improve the teaching and learning process.

Whether it is a playful 2D animated character or a 3D animated video, animations liven up online courses and help to drive home the objectives of the learning. This post looks at three tips you can use to boost engagement in your online courses using animation videos.

How to Make Animated Videos

Before learning the tricks and tips for using animation videos to liven up online courses, it is imperative to know how to make these animated videos. It is impossible to leverage a technique you do not know how to create. So, the first step is to know how to make animation videos using the best tool available in the market.

Doratoon: Online Animation Maker per Excellence

Doratoon is a reputable and highly intuitive online animation maker. The software tool offers extensive resources for creating customized animated videos. It offers millions of royalty-free animated templates, animated characters, props, backgrounds, footage, props, and others.

You can create professional-looking 3D animations using Doratoon without any experience or skills. The tool has many features that make it the best choice for creating highly engaging videos for online courses.

Whatever topics you have to cover in your online course, you will find the perfect animated template you can adapt to suit your needs. Everything you need to create an attention-grabbing animated video for your e-learning project is available in Doratoon.

How to Make an Animation for Free

Step 1: Sign up for a free Doratoon account with your email ID and password.

Step 2: Select an animated template for your e-Learning video creation.

Step 3: Edit the template and incorporate your content. The intuitive editing tool lets you drag and drop elements. You can import personalized images or use them from the millions of royalty-free animations and backgrounds available on the platform.

Step 4: Preview your animated video and download it to your computer system. That is all it takes to make educational videos with Doratoon.

Top Features of Doratoon

• AI Drawing and AI Dubbing
• Text-to-Speech Feature
• 100 Million+ stock images and video clips
• 1000+ animated characters with facial expressions and actions
• 10000+ stock props
• 10000+ 2D and 3D animated background images

Everything you need to inspire your creativity is available with Doratoon. You only have to explore and create your e-learning video in minutes.

Tips to Use Animation Videos to Liven up Online Course

Now that you understand how to use an online 3D animation maker like Doratoon to create animation videos for your online courses, let us see tips you can use to make it better. What do you need to do to boost the engagement and interactions of students with animation videos? Here are the top three tips.

#1: Have a Story-based Content for your Animation Video

Creators underrate the place of the plotline in contemporary entertainment. It is easy to hide behind the stylish design, flashy elements, and the paparazzi. However, you cannot do this with educational animation.

The goal of creating animated videos for e-learning courses is to impart knowledge and equip learners with some skills. To drive home the points:

• You need a narrative thread in your creation. This offers an element of memorability to your video, which is very critical in learning.
• Do not use animated characters haphazardly. Let them work as your assistant in telling the story. You can use elements of simulated exercise or video sequences to build momentum for your story.
• Give your animated character a backstory and bio to help your audience connect better. Choose characters that align with your topic and give them depth to achieve an emotional connection with your audience. You can make this possible by weaving your animated video around a storyline.

#2: The Simpler the Better

Never try to over complicate your animated videos. Yes, the temptation is there to use many elements, especially when you have millions of digital assets at your fingertips. However, you must not fall into temptation if you do not want to make a mess of your creation.

As you work on an animated template, remember that you are creating content for educational purposes. You are not making a movie. Therefore, reduce the elements and only use important assets.

• Keep it simple, smooth, and linear to make it understandable and memorable.
• While it is important to make the course fun, do not make it too playful to the point of losing the essence of the teaching.
• Introduce your characters one at a time and do not have too many of them. Do not fill your e-learning with cartoon characters. They can defeat the purpose.

#3: Use Dialogue Effectively

Yes, we said your video should be simple, but not boring. The best way to make your animation more interesting and engaging is to use the element of dialogue. Create conversational dialogue among your characters and make the conversation natural.

You surely do not want your animated characters to sound like they are reciting a manual verbatim. Doratoon has a powerful AI Dubbing feature you can use to create a perfect dialogue for your video. You can choose your preferred voice character to deliver the verbal content of your video.

Create Animated Videos with Doratoon

Creating video animations does not have to be a difficult task. With the right tool, you can make an animation for free in minutes. We recommend Doratoon for all your educational video animations. It is available for free and comes with powerful features and tools to make your online class creation highly effective.

Your child deserves the best chocolate, candy, and of course the best English tutor.   Tutoring on its own has become a larger part of the academic community as almost every school and organization has a tutoring center. The service has also been made unrestricted by teachers and students who often offer it as volunteer service or a means to earn extra dollars.

Although this service is in abundance which means it should be easy to find almost any tutor that you want, it is imperative that you find the one that suits your child’s needs while excellently delivering the job, and doing this task may be quite arduous. But there is an assurance that by the time you are through with this article you will be able to discover the perfect English tutor that your child needs following just three steps.

The good thing is that these steps are useful regardless of whether you are considering getting a tutor for the first time or your child has worked with one before, it is also helpful regardless of the level of education whether they are in elementary, middle, or high school.

In the quest of finding the perfect English tutor for your child you have to;

Realize your Objectives

The moment you discover that your child is having difficulties learning English and you have concluded that what your child needs is a good English tutor for kids; you will have to do some little research on the child by answering some introspective questions. These questions will serve as the foundation to help you discover the child’s needs and understand the child better.

Although some of the answers to these questions are what the tutor should find an answer to on their own. Your assignment is your assignment and the tutor’s assignment is his assignment. But the results from your research will guide you in identifying your child’s needs.

Question 1: Learning Style

The first question is to identify your child’s learning style.

Your child’s learning style is the method that helps them learn and assimilate quickly. Some children learn by reading, touching, listening, or through pictorial effects such as pictures, videos, or moving objects.

Question 2: Learning Preference and Motivation

With that being established, you have to find out if your child learns better with a male teacher or a female teacher, and find out what motivates or drives your child to learn.

Some of these questions can be asked of the child and the child’s teacher to be accurate. Another way to find answers to these questions is through the school counselor, the counselor should have the files that track your child’s scores in tests and notes on possible personality problems.

Question 3: Budgeting

Under this category, you may also need to ask yourself how much of your time and money you can devote to tutoring.

Explore your Options

Searching for potential tutors for your child can be done through the following steps:

1. Reach out to your child’s school to confirm if they have a list of registered tutors.
2. Ask friends and families for recommendations
3. Visit a reliable online learning center to hire one

Assess your Options

After you might get a list of about 2 or 3 or more potential tutors, the next thing to do is to evaluate them to find out which one is best for your child.

Here are lists of questions you should look into:

• Set up a physical or online consultation with the tutor. This helps you have a physical assessment of the person who is going to be tutoring your child as well as giving you room to assess them.
• Inspect their certifications thoroughly and carefully, you need to find out if their skills match your child’s needs and your goals.
• Have an idea of the type of teaching background they have, this includes the number of years, the kind of style they have used over the years, and the schools and children they have worked with. If it is possible tell them to get a recommendation letter if they applied for the opening online, you can as well ask them if they have worked with children who are identical to your child in terms of age and ability.
• Find out how the tutor will assess your child
• Find out how they will discover your child’s strengths and weaknesses
• Find out what method will be adopted to tutor your child and how it will be implemented
• Confirm if the tutor would love to work hand-in-hand with the child’s classroom teacher and counselor
• Ask them how long it will take for them to have their lessons prepared according to the subject matter and the needs of the child.
• Find out how the tutor motivates his students to learn and study and make sure it suits your child’s way of getting motivated.
• Find out where they prefer the tutoring to take place as some tutors prefer a library or their tutoring center and if you want the tutor to come to the house for the exercise then you should let them know of that arrangement but make sure there is an arrangement for another person to be in the house while the exercise is going on.
• Ask how long it will take for the child to progress and develop their skills
• Find out how much they will charge for the next job
• Finally, find out about their expectations from you and if there is any area they want you to come in as a form of assistance to the child.

Also, it is imperative to work on a contract form between you and the tutor. Here, you can find out more about their payment policies. Some tutors accept only cash and require that you pay them in advance, while others don’t. You should also find out if they want to be paid per session, or on a weekly/monthly basis. Whichever works for you and the tutor should be documented to avoid future misunderstandings.

In addition, make sure you are aware of their cancellation policies. Some tutors like to be given a week’s notice once their services are no longer needed while some are rather flexible.

Conclusion

Finally, after you have successfully secured a private tutor for your child, you have to seal it up by partnering in the result. And how you can do this by tracking your child’s progress by asking for feedback and monitoring their grades. You can also observe your child’s relationship with the tutor by choosing to be part of the session sometimes.