For a child, technology plays many roles: teacher, babysitter, playmate and pacifier

More than half of all children ages 8 and younger have access to a mobile device at home, either a smartphone (41 percent), a video iPod (21 percent), or an iPad or other tablet (8 percent), according to a recent study by Common Sense Media, a nonprofit organization dedicated to aiding and educating families about media and technology. More than a quarter (29 percent) of all parents have downloaded apps for their children.

"Every app is developed based on the curriculum goal we're trying to hit," says Brooks.