texting as a learning tool:

My kids think texting is so cool that they still argue over who gets to have our old, battery-free cell phones that don’t even turn on anymore.

[{"selector":"#anim-a778b6fd-692e-49c5-9926-6cf18c107370","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9faacb77-13aa-4663-afaf-4a8043029770","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-06425287-03cc-440e-9ed7-965c493df57c","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(100.00000%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn more

They think it’s cool to answer my cell phone if they notice their dad or aunt or nanny or pap are calling, and they think it’s cool to unlock the screen, answer, mute, put on hold, and hang it up.

[{"selector":"#anim-11220469-4504-49d7-be09-7b5a250ef6d5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-206320a1-a804-4f0e-a895-ca2e7925c576","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn more

Texting as a Learning Tool–Reading, Spelling, Composing

[{"selector":"#anim-ed11ed4a-4edb-429a-b8e8-10f653f7f5f7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d7e0298e-0298-49d9-a5fa-63e586d8a3d9","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -106.67366%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-72d447ec-e00a-4f82-aa8c-cbe995447be0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6e748319-74b6-41df-a2cd-47652e278cc2","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1f8c7b79-f563-47ee-bd13-96832f5d2671","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 105.78324%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn more

For years now, my kids have loved my phone for gaming, playing, buying time when needed.

[{"selector":"#anim-555b6169-7e6d-4bec-bd98-b08ec15210da [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(26.124875709060756%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c1f2b896-5a8a-435a-9566-c3889a977f8f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn more

But only recently have I really tried to steer them in a different direction–trying to teach them how to use the phone while texting in a safe and controlled way.

[{"selector":"#anim-9a5aa28e-35f7-44a9-85a3-8690398f2463","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a849f189-4345-4125-bc32-cb4f56ad9579","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(113.90625%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d7c4cdf6-f7cd-4ab0-94cf-e172adf97d77","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn more

I’ll ask something like: Hey Owen, would you please text Daddy a quick ‘have a good day’ message? You decide what it should be.

[{"selector":"#anim-e4913ad5-279d-4101-a4b9-60037a206489","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6fcafd8e-3228-4a3f-8524-0cee3fa9b3cc","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(100.00000%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-52346476-4a4c-48cf-ac9d-d53fe7686a81","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn more

It’s not easy to take someone’s general idea and make it into a comprehensive message; that’s a skill that takes practice.

[{"selector":"#anim-f9b2dc08-bdc9-42c2-8b91-a91dd4f0cae3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn more

SWIPE UP FOR MORE...

[{"selector":"#anim-d0b8f1c2-6424-4c96-8767-23e4d691773e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":100,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c7e3e2d5-f224-4249-940f-3e717173154f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -181.28129%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":100,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e1b52aa0-762a-4896-9aba-68fe8eaac6a1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d077696c-884f-4040-85ce-49e29d2f97e9","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(-340deg) translate3d(-62.70271%, 0px, 0) rotate(340deg)","rotate(-340deg) translate3d(0px, 0px, 0) rotate(340deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-073faed4-d56b-4411-ad97-cf3ef794f0ae","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-93ab0f38-dd69-49ee-ae06-02f0d9c5b32b","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(-345deg) translate3d(48.10811%, 0px, 0) rotate(345deg)","rotate(-345deg) translate3d(0px, 0px, 0) rotate(345deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Squiggly Line Squiggly Line Learn More

Learn to read app for kids 3-7: Duolingo ABC

[{"selector":"#anim-5c6d7a7a-137a-469c-be2a-3d9c76f53345","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-789e7984-a721-4031-a6d3-f8228a63041d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-133.33334%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4b23a846-6d83-44a6-ae46-129fe7e5e1b1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":350,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6bc57a4c-3a11-48bc-8099-a8c5ad727bab","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(112.56830%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":350,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b28dafa8-0f62-4fdb-89c0-952b3f75ea2e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-025c10c2-bd1a-4d1f-be31-e47af206272c","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(123.27046%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2eccee5c-6d5e-4209-b229-159f5159969c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-af7967e4-5caf-4cb4-9c16-1b5c80fd9de1","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-141.66667%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Everything free and awesome online to do while kids are home: classes, crafts, virtual tours and more