Technology use among young children has skyrocketed in recent years, with many families giving their kids access to devices like tablets and smartphones starting as early as 18 months. In theory, the idea of giving kids these devices is an appealing one; it lets them learn new things, play fun games, and connect with others—all things that can help them develop intellectually. However, many experts have voiced concerns about the adverse effects of technology on young children’s mental development. In this article, we’ll go over some of these concerns and look at ways you can avoid them with your own child if they have access to technology.
Which Factors Can Help Parents Decide Whether To Use Technology
While you may not always have control over your child’s education, as a parent you do have control over how technology is used. One of your primary responsibilities is to determine whether and how technology can be used to advance learning at home. When assessing new technologies, it’s important to consider factors such as cost, age appropriateness, and goals. As kids get older and become more independent thinkers, they should help with decision-making. Here are some factors that can help parents decide whether or not technology will help support their child’s education • Age Appropriateness: Does your child understand how to use an app or device in a way that helps them learn? If so, then it’s probably appropriate for them. If not, then wait until they are ready. The same goes for adults! Don’t just give yourself access to something because you think you need it; assess whether or not it will actually benefit you before jumping in headfirst. For example, if your goal is to learn French but there isn’t an app available for that purpose yet, then maybe wait until one comes out before spending money on Rosetta Stone (which many people regret doing). You don’t want to waste money on something that doesn’t meet your needs!
Is it helpful or harmful to use technology in children’s education?
As children grow up, it is necessary for them to learn and acquire new skills. These skills are necessary in order for them to be successful at school and in their careers later on in life. A lot of technology is now available that can help kids develop these important skills, but technology may also cause many young children more harm than good. This is because not all technology is beneficial for children, it depends on how much time they spend with technology compared to other activities. It should be noted that there are some types of technology that can benefit a child’s education by helping them to improve their reading and writing skills. The internet is one example where children can do research about a topic or a subject they want to know more about, which helps them expand their knowledge. Another type of technology would be an e-reader where students can read books or textbooks online rather than have to carry heavy books everywhere they go. In conclusion, it is clear that using technology in children’s education has both positive and negative effects depending on how much time they spend using certain technologies as well as what kind of device or program they use.
How often should children be using technology, if at all?
Once a day or once a week. Definitely not several times an hour. These interruptions have been shown to affect learning and cause children to have short attention spans and pay less attention in class than their non-tech-savvy peers. It’s important for children to learn how to use technology wisely and when it’s appropriate so that they can focus on school and not be distracted by all of their extracurricular activities. Letting them have time each day away from cell phones and tablets will give them time to concentrate on being creative and using what they’ve learned in class. If your child is begging you to let him play with his tablet while he eats dinner, try sitting down together and doing something else. At least you know he’ll get dinner in!
What advice would you give someone who wanted to start using apps for their child but didn’t know where to begin?
Apps can be a great tool for helping your child learn and interact with others. The best way to find out which apps are good is by reading reviews from other parents online or asking your friends. It’s also important to read over an app’s privacy policy to see what information they have access to. Keep in mind that not all games and apps are created equal, so you should try new ones and see what you think! You will likely have to try several different apps before finding one that meets your needs and interests. Good luck! The apps I would recommend to someone who wanted to start using them: are Skype Kids (iOS/Android), history books (iOS), Stack The States (iOS/Android), Number Puzzle Games, Math Games For Kids, Bubble Shooter Game & Animal Puzzle for Toddlers(iOS).
This post was sponsored by Five Stars Parenting as part of their blogging program.
Should I switch my child from a tablet to an e-reader instead?
There are many other differences between tablet computers and e-readers that make them useful for different things. On a tablet, you can have multiple apps open at once and switch between them very easily, while on an e-reader you’re often limited to just one or two programs. This makes tablets great for entertainment but less so if you need something that’s more practical (if you want to know how people use their tablets in practical ways, check out my post on social media management tools). Tablets also consume battery power quickly—unlike e-readers, which tend to have long-lasting batteries.
Do you have any resources you’d recommend to help parents learn more about this topic, such as books, articles, etc.?
Here are some books and articles I’d recommend to help parents learn more about how technology is affecting their children: The Tech-Wise Family: Everyday Steps for Putting Technology in Its Proper Place by Andy Crouch (Zondervan, 2012) Screenwise: Helping Kids Thrive (and Survive) in Their Digital World by Nicholas G. Carr (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2011) How to Raise a Digital Native: The 4 Essential Rules for Raising Happy, Self-Reliant Children by Ken Robinson (TarcherPerigee, 2015) A Parent’s Guide to Understanding Video Games: An Interactive Tool for Parents of Kids 8–18 years old by Douglas A. Gentile and Craig A. Anderson (Oxford University Press, 2014).
