Tap and Swipe

A tablet and a phone

This is a tablet. This is a phone.

They have a screen. The screen shows pictures, songs and games.

You can touch the screen to make things happen!

Ask: Who in your house has a phone?

Ask first

Before you touch a tablet or phone, ask a grown-up.

"May I use the tablet, please?"

Wait for the answer. If they say no, that is okay.

Clean hands first

Screens do not like sticky fingers!

Wash your hands before you touch the tablet. Dry them well.

Ask: Are your hands clean and dry?

Hold it with two hands

A tablet is not a toy. It can break.

Hold it with two hands. Sit down. Keep it away from the edge of the table.

Ask: Show me how to hold a tablet.

Gentle hands

Soft, soft, soft. The screen is like glass.

We do not bang it. We do not throw it. We do not drop it.

We use gentle hands.

Tap

Put out one finger. Touch the screen softly. Lift it up.

That is a tap!

Tap, tap, tap. Like a little bird pecking.

Ask: Can you tap the table with one finger?

Tap to open

Pictures on the screen are called icons.

Tap an icon. It opens! A game. A song. A story.

Ask: What picture would you like to tap?

One finger, one tap

Only one finger. Only one tap.

If you tap and tap and tap, the tablet gets confused!

Tap once. Then wait.

Swipe

Put one finger on the screen. Slide it across. Lift.

That is a swipe!

Swipe like you are wiping a window.

Ask: Can you swipe your hand across the mat?

Swipe to turn the page

In a story app, swipe to see the next page.

Swipe left: go forward. Swipe right: go back.

Just like turning a page in a real book!

Swipe up and down

Swipe up to see more. Swipe down to go back up.

Up, up, up. Down, down, down.

Ask: Which way is up? Point to it.

Drawing with a finger

Kofi opens a drawing app. He swipes his finger.

A red line! A blue circle! A yellow sun!

Ask: What would you draw?

The home button

Lost? Do not worry.

Press the home button. It takes you back to the start.

Some tablets have a round button. Some have a swipe from the bottom.

Ask: Where is the home button on this phone?

Home means start

The home screen is where all the icons live.

Press home. See the icons. Pick one. Tap!

Something strange?

Sometimes a strange picture pops up. Sometimes words you do not know.

Do not tap it. Stop. Call a grown-up.

"Mama, what is this?"

Do not tap "buy"

Some games say "Buy!" or "Pay!".

Never tap that. It costs Mama's money.

Ask a grown-up first. Always.

Keep it dry

Water and tablets do not mix!

No tablet near the bath. No tablet near your cup of water.

Keep it dry and safe.

Charging

The tablet gets tired. The battery goes low.

A grown-up plugs in the charger. Now it can rest and fill up.

Ask: Where does the tablet charge in your house?

Not too close

Hold the screen away from your face. Not too close!

Sit up straight. Keep the room bright.

This keeps your eyes happy.

Ask: Show me how far away the screen should be.

Not too long

A little screen time is fun. Too much is not good.

When the grown-up says "time is up", we stop.

We say "okay" and put it down. No crying!

Rest your eyes

After the tablet, look far away. Look at a tree. Look at the sky.

Blink, blink. Your eyes need a rest.

Ask: What can you see far away right now?

Learning on a tablet

Tablets can help us learn! Letters. Numbers. Songs. Stories.

Abena taps the letter A. "A is for apple!"

Ask: What would you like to learn on a tablet?

Sharing the tablet

One tablet. Two children.

Kofi has a turn. Then Ama has a turn.

We share. We wait. We do not grab.

Ask: How do you feel when you wait for your turn?

Talking to a grown-up

The tablet is fun. But people are better!

Show Mama your drawing. Tell Papa about the song.

Talk about what you did.

Playing outside

After the tablet, go and play!

Run. Jump. Kick a ball. Climb a tree.

Your body needs to move too.

Ask: What will you play outside today?

Putting it away

Finished? Press home. Turn off the screen.

Give it back to the grown-up with two hands.

"Thank you for letting me use it."

Be safe online

Some apps talk to other people. We never tell them our name or where we live.

If someone you do not know talks to you, tell a grown-up.

The tablet rules

1. Ask first.
2. Clean, gentle hands.
3. Tap once. Swipe softly.
4. Something strange? Stop and tell.
5. Time up? Put it down.

Ask: Can you say the rules with me?

Practise together

Let us try. Ask: "May I use the tablet?"

Tap an icon. Swipe a page. Press home.

Give it back with two hands. Well done!

Well done!

Tap. Swipe. Home. Ask.

Now you know how to use a tablet gently and safely.

Ask: What was your favourite thing to learn?

Learn more

• Childnet: Parents and carers — how to keep small children safe with screens
• SafeKids.com — simple online safety tips for families
• UNICEF Parenting — advice for parents, including screens and play
• Common Sense Media — reviews of apps and games for young children
• Khan Academy Kids — a free, safe learning app to practise tapping and swiping

Watch more

Think about it

1. What do you do before you touch a tablet?
2. Show me a tap. Show me a swipe.
3. What does the home button do?
4. What should you do if a strange picture pops up?
5. What do you do when a grown-up says "time is up"?