Digital teaching aids fly off shelves

• Source: Global Times
• [10:02 June 02 2010]
• Comments

A boy tries out a student computer in Bao Da Xiang Shopping Mall for Kids on Nanjing Road East Tuesday. Photo: Zhang Cao

By Zhang Cao

Digital education aids were popular among parents buying gifts for their children in downtown Shanghai on International Children's Day Tuesday, although professionals have questioned the pedagogic value of such products.

With some children given a half-day off school Tuesday, many families took advantage of the opportunity to go shopping, with digital products such as student computers and electronic dictionaries and books proving popular among parents hoping to boost their children's academic progress.

The Readboy student laptop, costing around 1,800 yuan ($264), which comes pre-loaded with course materials, was selling around twice as many units as usual Tuesday at the Bao Da Xiang Shopping Mall for Kids on Nanjing Road East, a member of staff told the Global Times.

"I think the computer will help my daughter with her school work because it can teach courses in an interesting way," said a mother in her 30s surnamed Zhou who was buying the product for her 9-year-old daughter.

A salesperson in the mall, who wished to remain anonymous, said that high sales of the product in the run-up to International Children's Day had almost depleted their stock.

Electronic dictionaries retailing for between 500 yuan ($73) and 1,000 yuan ($146) were another popular item Tuesday. "They are more convenient than paper dictionaries, and I have heard many children have them, so I am buying one for my daughter as a Children's Day present," said a mother surnamed Shen, who was out shopping with her daughter near People's Square Tuesday.

With many parents placing stock in the Chinese saying "do not let your child lose at the starting line," it's not uncommon to see parents lighten their wallets to further their children's education.

However, one expert told the Global Times that such expensive electronic aids may not be as useful as parents believe.

"I don't think such devices are helpful with school work, especially for kids under 10," said Sun Hongyan, director of the Children Research Institute of China Youth and Children Research Center. "Children should spend more time with their teachers, parents and friends. Relationships help them succeed, not technology."