Technology has radically altered both parenthood and childhood. Depending on whom you listen to, the outlook is both bright and dim, but both sides offer valid arguments for using technology to your child’s greatest benefit.
Pediatric occupational therapist Cris Rowan, writing for the Huffington Post, laments that kids are being “bombarded with chaotic sensory stimulation” and missing out on important developmental benefits of outdoor play and family dinners. See the article here.
Researchers in the Georgetown University Early Learning Project (ELP) pose several critical questions, the answers to which have many implications for the earliest years of a child’s life:
- When young children use digital technology, do they miss out on valuable childhood experiences?
- Without it, do they fall behind?
- Does it come down to parental engagement?
See the article here.
Ashley Brooks, writing for the Rasmussen College website, cautions, “Statistics on children’s technology use show that this is no longer an issue parents can afford to ignore. A 2017 survey from Common Sense Media found that 42 percent of children ages 0 to 8 have their own tablet. On the whole, children 8 and under spend an average of more than two hours a day using screen media. See the article here.
The fact that there is a “technology gap” based on income further complicates the picture, with lower-income households and schools in lower-income districts having reduced access to technology both at home and at school. See the article here.
The relationship between children and technology is an issue that will continue to be studied and debated. Parents should take part in the discussion.
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