An App For Children And Parents In A Digital World… ZillyDilly

Our children are growing up in a world of digital media.  Understanding the tech world is innate for most of them.  This new breed of children are not only tech savvy, they love the latest gadgets and advancements.  Innovators and developers are well aware of this and in turn, design new technology with our little ones in mind.  Because of their technical abilities, it is no surprise that an iPad and apps are a favorite amongst many.

When my girls were first-born, I used to worry that they would want to watch too much TV.  Although they do like watching television, there are other things that interest them much more.  My iPad for instance, is a favorite amongst both of my daughters.  With the amount of fun apps available for my girls to play and learn from, it is difficult for them to ever get bored.  Unfortunately, it also makes it difficult for them to put down the iPad.  Recently, I was introduced to a new app called ZillyDilly.  Although reluctant to let my girls get their hands on my iPad in the past, ZillyDilly has helped me hand over my favorite device without feeling like it would be abused by my four and five-year old.  Ok, so part of it is also knowing that I too, will get to use my iPad sooner than never…

ZillyDilly is an app that has been created by a leading child psychiatrist focused on teaching families about healthy media consumption.  The app allows you to build a media plan for each child based on age, interests, time allotted using the iPad and more.  The websites that are featured on the app not only engage your child, they promote growth, teach children in a positive manner and are safe.

The app is set up so the parent must register and is the first user.  Once the parent is set up, they can add children based on age and identify and manage a unique media plan for each child.  The media plan incorporates websites the parent would like their child to use.  The app alone has a variety of websites to choose from that are geared towards the age and even gender of each child.  By doing this and more, parents are able to set up a growth opportunity for each child, monitoring progress and ensuring that they do not overuse or misuse digital media.  Although still new to using this app, I genuinely believe that ZillyDilly and I are well on our way to a long and prosperous relationship.