A Parent’s Guide to Digital Learning
Digital learning uses technology to support how kids learn, explore, and build skills. When digital tools are well designed and thoughtfully used, they can support different learning styles, connect home and school, and encourage active engagement beyond the screen.
What Digital Learning Really Means
Digital learning is learning supported by technology. It includes digital content and tools delivered on devices such as computers, tablets, and smartphones. These resources count as digital learning when they are designed to help kids learn academic subjects like reading and math, support social and emotional learning, or build skills such as creativity, communication, and collaboration. Examples of digital learning tools you might use at home include games, apps, videos, or websites.
Not all digital content that claims to help kids learn is effective, and not all effective tools work for every kid. Digital learning often involves screen time and can include learning through play. The first step is finding a high‑quality tool that fits your goals and your kid’s needs.
This guide summarizes what trusted experts recommend and offers clear, practical ways families can support kids at home.
The goal is to help your family use digital learning tools in ways that feel meaningful and engaging.
Why Digital Learning Matters for Kids
Well-designed digital tools can help kids learn through play and meaningful engagement. Effective tools can support different learning styles, bridge learning between home and school, and complement healthy screen time. Digital learning tools do not replace the need for real-world experiences, relationships, or good teaching.
What Experts Generally Recommend
The potential benefits of digital learning tools are often overlooked in broader debates about screen time. Experts agree on these key points:
- Well‑designed, well‑used digital learning tools can support learning.
- Active engagement, where kids are creating or problem‑solving, improves learning potential.
- Digital tools are most helpful when guided by adults; they cannot replace good teaching.
- Kids benefit when tools are integrated into broader learning at home or at school.
- Personalized digital tools can help adapt learning experiences to different needs.
- Learning benefits tend to accumulate over time rather than appear instantly.
What Counts as Digital Learning Tools
Families at home are most likely to use digital learning in these formats:
- Games: Learning challenges that reward progress by unlocking new levels
- E‑Books: Digital books that include narration, animation, or interactive elements
- Apps & Websites: Interactive lessons that support specific topics or skills
- Podcasts & Videos: Audio or visual content that explains ideas or concepts
- Maker Tools: Platforms that guide hands‑on creativity and self‑expression
- Augmented Reality (AR/VR/XR): Immersive experiences that help kids explore ideas or “learn by doing”
How to Make the Most of Digital Learning Tools at Home
Digital learning tools are most valuable when they support connection and reflection. Here are some steps you can take at home:
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Choose tools as a family. Include kids in the decision-making process so they learn how to make thoughtful choices.
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Explore new tools together. Set a trial period to see whether a tool is a good fit for your kid.
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Ask your kid about their experience. Talk about what they enjoy, what feels challenging, and what they’re learning.
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Use tools to connect with others. Look for opportunities to read, play, or learn with family members who may live far away.
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Connect digital learning with real-world learning. Encourage kids to apply ideas from digital tools to offline activities.
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Adjust tools based on results. Use dashboards or progress indicators, when available, to support next steps.
Suggested Resource: Family Time with Apps, a collection of comic strips from the Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop (available in English and Spanish)
In Depth
Bridging Home and School with Digital Learning Tools
The digital learning tools described in this guide focus on how kids play and learn. They are designed primarily for kids and can be used at home, at school, or in after-school settings. Kids might come home with a link or login that lets them continue a game or project started at school.
Some educational technology (edtech) tools are designed to bridge communication and coordination between home and school, rather than directly engaging kids.
Study and Assessment Tools
Tools that use game-based strategies to engage students and provide teachers with real-time assessment data include Kahoot!, Quizizz, Quizlet, and Gimkit.
Collaboration and Portfolio Platforms
Platforms for sharing work with fellow students or families include Seesaw, Canva, Flip, and Padlet.
Online Curriculum
Comprehensive digital courseware, often accessed for specific homework assignments, includes i-Ready, IXL Learning, Amplify, and DeltaMath.
Learning Management Systems (LMS)
Platforms for organizing, sharing, and grading assignments include Google Classroom, Canvas, Blackbaud, and Schoology.
Review any guidance your school provides on the use of AI, chatbots, and online tutors for schoolwork completed at home.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is digital learning the same as screen time?
No. Screen time refers to the total time spent on screens, whether or not that time supports learning.
Do kids learn as much from digital tools as from books or hands‑on activities?
It depends. When a tool is well designed and matches your kid’s needs and interests, it can be just as effective as other learning experiences.
How do I know if my kid is learning?
Look for engagement, curiosity, and problem‑solving. See whether your kid can explain what they’re learning and connect it to real‑world experiences.
How Locket Supports Digital Learning
Digital learning tools can support the many ways kids learn. At Locket, we highlight tools that encourage active engagement and curiosity beyond the screen. By selecting tools that kids love and parents trust, we make it easier for families to use digital learning in meaningful ways.
References for This Guide
As parents, we understand how frustrating it can be to sort through conflicting guidance. Our team at Games & Learning, the makers of Locket, has spent decades working at the intersection of education and children’s media. We review research and reports from trusted sources to identify common ground on the challenges families face.
These are a few key references for A Parent’s Guide to Digital Learning:
- American Library Association
- Digital Promise: Learner Variability Project
- Edutopia (George Lucas Educational Foundation): Tech Integration Playbook
- The Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop
- New America: Learning Sciences Exchange
We also advise impact-driven education and media organizations. For inquiries, contact: info@gamesandlearning.com.
This page was last updated on May 11, 2026.