Before we get started. Remember that I do not recommend that children under the age of 2 watch TV and their time with any multimedia is limited. This applies to videos on phones or any of the "learning" apps that I may review. Although I've downloaded these Apps, I do not show them to my son (who is almost a year old). I am recommending these learning Apps for kids who are age 2 or older. That is simply my recommendation - take it with a grain of salt! Check out the blog on June 28 (Too Much TV) for the long version of my recommendation and why. There are links with more reputable sources than myself as well.
Flashcards can be time consuming to make. However, kindergarten.com has created apps with electronic flash cards. There are some for FREE and some for sale. I have only downloaded the free apps, but they are great so far. These flashcards are designed with the principles of "Applied Behavior Analysis" in mind. However, they can be used for anyone. Each flashcard has the written word, a picture, and a recording of the word. When you touch the screen, the word is repeated. You must touch the arrows in order for the picture to change. This can be combersome or frustrating for little fingers, but a great way to make sure you are staying involved with your child's learning. The FREE categories are: the alphabet, things you wear, things you eat, things you use for play, vehicles, zoo animals, fruits, vegetables, instruments, sports, and actions.
I'm a huge supporter of interacting with your child as much as possible. I also understand that sometimes you need a break and so these flashcards are a way for your child to access some learning while you can close your eyes. However, with that said, it is always better when multimedia is paired with human interaction. One great way to use these "flashcards" on the go is to pull out the "things we eat" category while you are waiting for food at a restaurant. You can talk about all the things you can eat. Have the child look through the flashcards and tell you what he/she likes, dislikes, why, the prettiest food, what foods they wish were on a flashcard, etc. The same thing can be done with the child on the way home from a trip to the zoo (zoo animals), grocery store (things you eat), playground (things you use for play), etc. Simply hand your phone to your child and listen to the words that come up with the flashcards. You may not get to sit next to your child (he/she should be in the backseat), but you can share a conversation about the items being viewed and pair it with a shared experience from that day or a favorite memory.
If your child is over two and still not doing a lot of talking, this is a great way to get involved in a conversation with your child. Pull out your "flashcards" as a different activity and talk about the things you see. Make sure to tell your child the name of the item, its function, where you see it, describe it, tell about a time you two interacted with that item (if applicable), etc. Tell them as much as possible. Leave some gaps in order to encourage your little one to talk too! You can simply say the name of the object and pause to leave room for your child to mimic you. Example: "Look at this airplane." (pause) "It's a big airplane." (pause) "Do you remember when we went on an airplane to see Grandma?" (pause) "Airplane" (pause) "What is it?" (pause) "It's an airplane."