Augmented Reality Children's Reading & Colouring in Books
Children’s education doesn't stop at the classroom. Interactive and immersive books, games and apps keep their minds active and engaged outside of school. From unlocking the secrets of the universe to hearing from long dead kings and queens and exploring remote forests and jungles there is a lot of digital excitement to be had with a technology called augmented reality (AR).
This is where physical objects and environments are augmented with superimposed sounds, images, videos and text, enhancing the perception of reality. With AR technology books spring to life when traditional text is merged with digital content via a smartphone, tablet or gaming console. It allows children to interact with 3D images and get involved with objects and environments in a digital setting much in the same way that they interact with the real world. None of this is to decry conventional methods of learning and reading but they can sometimes be a bit, well,…err,…dull.
There is a gamut of augmented reality books and games. Here we have picked three for you:
Augmented Reality Education Books: young readers can experience realistic environments as they see dinosaurs come to life, explore animal habitats and watch animal videos as they read.
Augmented Reality 3D Pop Up Cards: AR flash cards on which animals come to life. Children can feed them, move them around and have selfies taken with the wildlife.
Augmented Reality 3D Colouring Books: children can colour in pictures of birds, safari animals and much more and then sit back and watch as they leap into action.
So, why should you encourage your children to clutch their digital devices when they’re learning? Here are the principal educational benefits of this form of screen time:
- AR learning is fun and highly entertaining. If children are enjoying what they're doing and not getting bored they're more likely to stay engaged which means they can absorb more information. They’re also more likely to do something educational if they know it's going to be fun.
- AR learning is portable. AR books and apps can be played on myriad devices which means that learning can happen anywhere. Even when you're stuck in traffic on the way to the mall or supermarket your kids can be on the backseat acquiring new information - and keeping quiet at the same time!
- AR learning can lead to better results. A research paper titled Augmented Reality Video Games: New Possibilities and Implications for Children and Adolescents highlighted studies that demonstrated the potential of AR to teach subjects and enhance educational outcomes.
- AR learning allows children to play and explore freely away from adults. Unlike previous generations of children, today’s kids can no longer go outside and roam for a variety of reasons. However, with AR they can go anywhere in the world or universe without leaving their bedroom or the living room. Educational psychologists believe that self-directed learning makes children happier and more self-reliant, inspires them to solve problems and increases their appetites for learning.
Christmas Gifts that Keep on Giving
Augmented reality puts children at the centre of their learning. Reading is transformed from a sometimes boring, passive experience into a multisensory one in which kids are fully engaged. If you're looking for Christmas present ideas for your children or grandchildren give the usual one-minute wonders a miss and consider AR books and games. They're full-on fun while enhancing cognitive development and encouraging a lifetime of learning.
