Even the most ordinary moments in daily life present a learning opportunity for young children.
Take a trip to the grocery store, for instance, where kids can pick up new vocabulary spanning the alphabet—from avocados to zucchinis. But today’s family trip to the store is just as likely to find a parent pushing a cart while a child sits absorbed in a tablet or smartphone.
From family outings to bedtime rituals, electronic devices have taken on a central role in the lives of children as young as toddlers. Forty percent of children have their own personal tablet by age 2, and nearly 25% of 8-year-olds own a cellphone, according to a 2025 national report by Common Sense Media. Educators say the effects are increasingly visible in the classroom.