Children, Technology,

and the Future

By: Ashley Chawla

Photo by: Dollface&Co (Flickr)

Today,

almost every

preschool has a

computer.

Today, every preschool has a computer.

Photo by: Abbey Hendrickson (Flickr) Source: ‘Young Children and Technology’, Douglas Clements

We no longer need to ask whether the use of technology is developmentally appropriate.

Source: ‘Young Children and Technology’, Douglas ClementsPhoto by: Melissa Ross (Flickr)

They can

follow

pictorial

directions

and use

visual cues

to

understand

and think

about their

activities.

Source: ‘Young Children and Technology’,

Douglas ClementsPhoto by: Rosalyn Compass (Flickr)

It can no doubt

be accepted

that

technology is

able to

improve the

education

process

within children.

Photo by: Melissa Ross (Flickr)

But, where is the line drawn?

Photo by: Lars Erik-Franson (Flickr)

What is making technology less of an asset

and more of a distraction?Photo by: Tony Shi (Flickr)

On average, young people spent more than five-and-a-half hours a day interacting with technology unrelated to school.

Photo by: Pat CoriPix (Flickr)

Source: Children’s Immersion in Technology is ‘Shocking’, Jim Taylor

The American Academy of Pediatrics cautions that children need more real face time than screen time, more laps than apps.

Photo by: Jeromy Dobson(Flickr) Source: ’Cellphones, Radiation & Your child’s health ’, Devra Davis

The capacity to learn requires holding, touching, smelling, seeing, and hearing real live people and objects.

Photo by: Trevor (Flickr) Source: ’Cellphones, Radiation & Your child’s health ’, Devra Davis

“Technology is just a tool. In terms of getting the kids working together and motivating them, the teacher is most important.”

~ Bill Gates

Photo by: Akhmad Reiza (Flickr)

It is important that educators demonstrate

towards technology before children become completely reliant.

resistance

Photo by: Asmundur Borkelsson (Flickr)

‘Kids that cannot even talk will walk up to a TV screen and try to swipe it like an iPad or an iPhone.’

- Jim Steyer, Common Sense Media

Photo by: Bonita (Flickr) Source: A very Modern Milestone, Daniel Bates

It is evident these devices are teaching habits that

mold and shape a child’s understanding of our

future world.

Photo by: Diana Robinson (Flickr)

Some 29% start using the gadgets as

toddlers, with 70% mastering them completely by primary school age.

Source: A very Modern Milestone, Daniel Bates

Photo by: Redaleka (Flickr)

Children may not be aware of how much time they are spending at a computer. This prolonged activity can cause eye focusing and eye strain

problems.

Source: Children’s Vision and New Classroom Technology, Brenda Conaway

Photo by: Julay Cat (Flickr)

It is crucial that at these early stages of development,

children are taken care of physically and mentally when dealing with technology.

Source: Children’s Vision and New Classroom Technology, Brenda ConawayPhoto by: Poster Boy (Flickr)

As a result, it is clear technology’s purpose is to help improve and

advance our futures.

Photo by: Jenson_2008 (Flickr)

But it is important to monitor the reliance and amount of exposure children are receiving from new technological innovations.

Photo by: Pat CoriPix (Flickr)

“I have stared long enough at the glowing flat rectangles of computer screens. Let us give more time for doing things in the real world… plant a plant, walk the dogs, read a real book, go to the opera.”

- Edward Tufte

Photo by: Llari Luciani (Flickr)

SOURCES:• Literature Review 1999, Douglas Clements: “Young Children and Technology”

American Association for the Advancement of Science

• http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-power-prime/201209/children-s-immersion-in-technology-is-shocking

• http://healthychild.org/cell-phones-radiation-your-childs-health/

• http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2478328/One-kids-use-mobile-phone-tablet-speak-sentences.html

• http://www.webmd.com/eye-health/features/vision-classroom-technology

• All images are licensed under the Creative Commons Non-Commercial Share Alike 3.0 Agreement and sourced from Flickr.