Primary aged students can and should be using technology.
Some will argue that it is developmentally inappropriate.
With the projected growth of the computer science field young students should start learning with technology at an early age.
The question isn’t really whether or not if technology is developmentally appropriate for young children.
The question is really what developmentally appropriate skills and content can be taught through technology?
Why Use Technology With Young Children?
For one, young children love to use tablets! Using tools that students love is a guaranteed way to keep them engaged.
Technology fills gaps. Young students develop fine motor skills at different rates. This can prohibit them from feeling success with tasks like tracing or coloring. Technology can provide that success for them.
Something to consider is that just because children may be using tablets at home, doesn’t mean they know how to use them well. They frequently do not know how to adjust the volume, take clear photos, switch between apps, or even put thei tablet to sleep.

Drawing Pad
Drawing Pad is an artist’s drawer. It was designed for older users, yet it is completely accessible to our youngest students.
It has an array of coloring materials available, including stamps and stickers.
PicCollage EDU
Pic Collage EDU is more than a photo framing app.
Students can pull up a blank template and start drawing!
You can also upload coloring pages to the app and students can color it in.
Another great way to use it by uploading number and letter tracing sheets. Students can use their finger to trace the letters. This helps them learn letters and formation.
NarratorAR
NarratorAR is an app from Australia. A mom developed it to help her own children learn to properly form letters.
While this app is not for coloring, it does help with those early literacy skills as it demonstrates for children how to form letters and numbers, and spell words. All of this with cute characters and augmented reality!
Toontastic
Toontastic is technically a cartoon creation app. However, students can design their own characters and settings with drawing tools.
Stop Motion Studio
Stop Motion Studio is more than a camera snapping stop motion video maker.
My son loves using it to draw his own characters. He also draws in additional elements on top of his photos to show characters breathing fire!
Quiver
Quiver is a great way for students to practice coloring!
Although children are coloring on a physical coloring page, it is highly engaging.
After coloring, students scan the page and see their coloring change in front of their very eyes!
What are some of your favorite apps to use with students that help them learn to color or write?