Computers Effect on Children's Development
It is not uncommon to see young children walking around with iPhones, iPads and other smart phones. It is often overlooked that technology like this may actually impede a Childs learning more than it can help it. Studies done by science daily on 2 years shows that for each thirty-minute increase in screen time there was a 49% risk of speech delay.
Pros:
Many apps like PBS kids are in partnership with the U.S. department of education.
Some students are more motivated to complete lessons on mobile device than through textbooks and workshops.
Using tablets at young age helps to build technological skills.
Cons:
Children ages three to five whose parents have smartphones who read them electronic books are shown to have lower comprehension levels than children who read out of regular books.
This is because the computer shows the pictures and words, so the children do not have to convert the mother or fathers voice into words and connect it to pictures to visualize making them lazy and in return the cognitive muscles are week.
Dan Siegel of Mindful Awareness Research Center believes that the usage of technology at a young age may impede language, social and emotional development like insights, empathy and connecting relationships.
From the time a child is born to around 3 their brain develops very fast and is sensitive to what is around them. The essential stimuli needed for a child development is not available in today’s technology. Therefore, very young children learn much better interacting with people.
Children who spend too much time using technology may also have trouble developing friendships. Computers do not teach kids social cues like facial expressions and tone of voice. This is because of the lack of development in the child’s frontal lobe.
Is There a Happy Medium?
With that being said we do not expect anyone to completely cut technology out of theirs or their children's life especially in this day and age where using smart phones and tablets is so common,Parents often give children tablets during time when they need them to sit still like the doctor’s office or grocery store. In fact, when used correctly technology can aid in learning for children. Here are some ways to maintain that happy medium in the use of technology:
Limit the time a child spends using technology: Studies show that children ages 3-4 should only use technology for 30 minutes a day, and children ages 6-10 should only use technology for an hour a day.
Control the content: Children should be using games that engage their thinking skills, memory, nurturing skills (like digital pets), and creative skills
Limit the amount of empty usage on a tablet for kids 1-4 to zero, and for children 5 and up to 30-60 minutes,
Memory Games
Alphatots Alphabet
Monkey Preschool lunchbox
TeachMe kindergarden
PBS kids
Games that enhance creative skills
Sago Mini Music Box
Pics Art for Kids
Sago Mini Doodle cast
Sources:
https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/082e/e12db23e3db0f2506ef1619c3a5c2e4a9f1d.pdf
https://gizmodo.com/do-tablets-in-the-classroom-really-help-children-learn-1694963939
http://raisesmart.com
http://telegragh.co.uk
http://parents.com