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Imagine a six-year-old Sam carefully positions her myFirst Camera Insta 20, her tiny fingers deftly adjusting the angle to capture her science experiment in progress. A vinegar and baking soda volcano erupts in slow motion, and Sam giggles with delight as she captures the perfect frame.
With a few taps on the camera’s intuitive interface, she adds animated stickers that label the chemical reaction taking place. The designers of this colorful device perfectly crafted it as both an interactive science lesson and a creative project for her tiny hands.
The scene reflects founder G-Jay Yong’s vision when he established kids’ technology company myFirst in 2018. He aimed to create technology that makes children’s digital learning journey playful without adding games.
Children aged 8-12 now spend an average of 5 hours and 33 minutes on screens daily. The key question is no longer whether they will use technology but rather which technology they will use and how it will shape their development.
Reimagining learning through play
Today’s parents face a digital dilemma: children use technology designed for adults despite their different cognitive and motor skills. This mismatch may cause social-emotional issues, obesity, sleep problems, and anxiety.
Pediatric organizations recommend limiting screen time to two hours daily for children over five. However, restricting access without improving engagement quality does not prepare kids for a digital future.
myFirst approaches this challenge by rejecting the scaled-down technology model and traditional pre-programmed electronic toys. According to the company, that model “simply encourages kids to press buttons rather than think critically.” Instead, the company has developed what it calls ‘real tech for kids.’ These tools are designed to encourage creative expression and problem-solving.
“The false dichotomy between education and entertainment has limited how we think about children’s technology,” explains Yong. “Children don’t segment their experiences into ‘now I’m learning’ versus ‘now I’m playing’—they’re constantly doing both simultaneously when the environment supports it.”
This philosophy reflects research showing that active, creative use of technology benefits development more than passive consumption, balancing children’s current needs with digital literacy growth.
When daily adventures become learning
Today’s children are digital natives: 51% of those under eight own a mobile device, while tweens average 5.5 hours of daily screen time. Yet most tech remains adapted from adult-use blueprints. myFirst flips this paradigm. Each product—from cameras to smartwatches—is engineered for tiny hands and developing minds.
Consider the myFirst Camera Insta 20. Its 3-inch screen and simple buttons are perfect for kids as young as five. The camera’s 20MP upscaled resolution introduces shot framing and lighting basics, while its fast, thermal photo printer encourages storytelling with quality, fade-resistant prints.
Most adult earbuds can reach dangerous sound levels of 100dB or more. Children often fail to notice excessively loud sounds until damage has already occurred. myFirst understood the problem from the beginning. With this, their best-selling myFirst CareBuds earbuds for kids offer a safe listening limit of 85dB, addressing concerns about hearing damage in young users.
myFirst’s Fone R2 kids smart watch delivers a similar balance of function and entertainment. Designed for parent’s peace of mind and daily use by children, the video calling smartwatch offers GPS tracking and SOS alerts. Its ‘Magic Button’ also allows kids to learn how to customize technology by easily setting quick functions like calling mom, setting alarms, or opening the camera app.
Yong mentions, “What distinguishes myFirst in the crowded children’s technology market is its comprehensive offerings that balance fun, education, and safety. It’s not just about taking photos and listening to music; it’s about making observations and journaling—skills that build analytical thinking.”
The future of children’s technology
Founded in Singapore, myFirst now serves over one million families across more than 120 countries. The company leads technology movement focused on the growing need (and growing market) for children’s tech that offers solutions with thoughtful safeguards.
This outlook suggests that the solution to concerns about technology’s impact on childhood may not be less technology but better technology—designed with intention, purpose, and an understanding of how children actually learn and grow.
Back in Sam’s living room, as she proudly shows her completed volcano video to her parents, the distinction between education and play has disappeared entirely. She has learned about chemical reactions, digital storytelling, and communication skills—all while having so much fun that she never once considered it a lesson. And perhaps that is the most profound innovation myFirst offers: technology that allows learning to feel as natural and joyful as play.
