Does Technology Benefit Young Children’s Education?

Parents have had to fight the battle with their children as they get absorbed in a video or movie on an iPad, tablet, or smartphone. Our children have had better chances of landing Tom Cruise’s attention on the red carpet than we.

It’s not uncommon for two-year-olds to use iPads. Elementary schoolers are hooked up to video games. We all have to deal with the challenge of getting middle schoolers away from the computer long enough so they can eat decent food.

Technology is all around us and the impact it has on children is evident. But is technology helping them learn? As parents, it is important to set boundaries.

Software is today connecting children to online learning communities. It tracks their progress through lessons and games and tailors each student’s experience.

Your child will be well-versed in technology by the time they reach elementary school.

Learn with technology in school
Technology is becoming more important in schools. These are the three best ways to ensure that technology is being used effectively in your child’s classroom, regardless of whether it uses interactive Smartboards, laptops, or other devices.

Children love to play with technology from digital cameras to iPads. Before giving these gadgets to children, what should early childhood professionals – and parents?

Let’s begin at the beginning: What is technology in early childhood?
Technology can be as simple or complex as a camera or audio recorder, a music player, TV or DVD player, or more advanced technology such as iPads, tablets, and smartphones that are used in child care centers, classrooms, or at home.

Teachers have told me more than once that they don’t like technology. I ask them if they have ever taken a digital picture of their students or played a tape, record, or DVD with them. Or if they gave headphones to children to listen to stories.

Teachers have used technology for years. Teachers now have access to powerful tools such as iPads and iPhones for their professional and personal lives.

Technology is a tool.
It should not be used in child care centers or classrooms because it is cool. However, teachers can use it to support the healthy development of children.

Teachers are using digital cameras, which is a more simple technology than iPads, to engage their students in learning. They may just be what they need.

Teachers must also be able to integrate technology in the classroom and child care center as part of social justice.

It is unrealistic to assume all children have access to technology at home.

Lack of exposure can increase the digital divide, which is the difference between those who have and those who do not have access to digital technology. This could limit the school readiness and early success of some children.

As all children learn to read and write in the early stages of literacy, so too must they be taught how technology works. This includes how to open, use, and take care of it.

Experts are concerned that technology could be harmful to children.

Children spending too much time on screens is a serious concern, especially considering the number of screens in their lives.

Children as young as three years old are now glued to TVs, using their iPads and iPhones. They also watch their parents taking photos with a digital camera that has its own screen.

The TV screen was once all that existed.

This was the screen that we searched for for over 30 years.

As a field, we know a lot about the effects of TV on learning and behavior in children. But, we don’t know much about digital devices.

The American Academy of Pediatrics strongly discourages screen time in children younger than two years of age. However, the NAEYC/Fred Rogers position statements take a slightly different stand.

It states that technology and media should not be used in excess, but it is important to consider how it is used.

What content is it?

Does it have an intention to be used?

Are they developmentally compatible?

We as parents need to be aware and sensitive about the potential drawbacks of technology, including its effects on vision, vocabulary, and physical development. Our kids’ overall development is also important.

Teachers and parents, I advise you to trust your gut instincts. If your child is watching too much of the screen, you can trust their instincts and turn it off.

Parents have the responsibility to help your child recognize that their computer use is reducing interaction and playtime with other children. Encourage them to exercise and get outside to play.

The adult must also understand the child’s personality, disposition, and determine if technology is a way the child interacts with the world.

You should also allow yourself to relax.

While we all know there are better ways to spend children’s time than putting them in front of a TV, we also know that child-care providers must make lunches and that parents need to shower.

In such situations, the adult should make technology more useful and interactive by asking questions and connecting the child’s virtual experience with her real-life world.

Learn with technology at home
These eight ways will ensure that your child has fun and learning with technology, regardless of whether you are giving your child a smartphone or tablet to entertain them.

Active Engagement is the key focus

Stop a program or put the commercials if your child is glued to a screen. Ask engaging questions. What was the main character thinking? What was the motivation for that main character’s actions? What would you do in such a situation?

Repetition DVDs or YouTube videos are a great way to introduce repetition to young minds. Ask your child to repeatedly watch the same video and then ask him what he thought.

Make it Tactile Unlike computers that require you to use a mouse to manipulate objects on the screen of a computer, smartphones, tablets, and iPads allow children to manipulate “physical” objects using their fingers.

Practice problem solving A new category of games will require your child to solve problems while they play. This could help build concentration, analytical skills, and concentration. However, the jury is still out. The marketing messages of app developers are supported by no clinical data.

Encourage Creation Use technology not only for entertainment but also to create. Your child can record a story or sing a song to your video game system. Create a new sound by using the playback options. Slow down or speed up your child’s voice, add different backgrounds and beats, and create something unique.

Teach your child how to use it. Many computer games offer different levels, so young children might not be able to navigate the various levels. Ask your child if he is having trouble with a level or if he would like to be challenged.

Ask Why: If your child uses an app or game in a “wrong” manner, such as pressing the wrong button every time, ask why. They might like the sound the app makes when they get the wrong question, or they may be stuck and can not figure out which object belongs to number 4.

The importance of Play Young children should explore and play with technology. This should not be a focus on drill skills but rather play.

Ask for your own log-in. Often school programs include a parent log-in that allows you to monitor your child’s progress. Ask for the teacher’s access to reports if it doesn’t. You can then check on his progress every few weeks. This is a great way to keep you and your child on the same page regarding their progress.

Ask About Teacher Training Technology can often be used in classrooms without the teacher receiving appropriate training. Ask your child if the whole-class system is used in his or her classroom, such as Clickers and an Interactive Smartboard. Also, inquire about teacher training. You want to make sure that teachers are well-trained and using [new technologies] effectively as a parent.

Locate Parent Resources Technology can be used to help your child in many ways. One way is to teach them about learning.

Although computers, smartphones, tablets, and tablets won’t disappear, there are some things you can do to make technology fun, productive, educational, and enjoyable for your child.

Let’s face it. The majority of children can use a mouse and open and close applications. They can even search the Internet when they turn three.

Once your child has the cognitive ability, it is time to start talking with them about internet safety.

Establish clear guidelines and internet safety rules regarding what media types are acceptable. Support and monitor your child’s use of technology.

Your child should be told not to share her name, address, or other personal information online.

Talk to your child about what you should do if you find inappropriate content. Close the screen and notify you. Make sure you have a web filter and security system.

Wrap it up
Your child should understand that technology is only one tool for learning. You can download educational games, study books, and do research. If your child has a question, you can conduct an Internet search to help him or she find the answer.

Before you hit the “off” button, think about the ways you can increase your child’s use of technology at school and home.

If you are interested in even more technology-related articles and information from us here at Open Web Digital Marketing, then we have a lot to choose from.