Before we really get started with today’s blog, I am going
to post this little disclaimer: I am not a parent. I do not have any experience
raising a child, so these are my thoughts and ideas that I have both researched
and gathered from my own mind. If you choose not to raise your child using what
I talk about below, don’t!
When my nephew was younger, the only time he was allowed to
use an iPad was when he was at my house, with his grandparents. His mom and dad
did not want their kid, who was probably around 5, to be too reliant on
technology. They set boundaries and did not allow him a tablet at that young age,
even though most of his friends had one of their own. Of course, all rules go
out the window when you visit the grandparents. He started realizing that he
could use the iPad whenever he wanted to when he was with them, and used that
to his advantage! I think he was around 2 or 3 when he figured out how to
unlock the iPad, go to Netflix, and watch a movie! Even though he couldn’t have
a tablet of his own, he still learned how to use one from an early age.
Kids using technology, It’s inevitable. I also believe that
it is a great skill for children to learn early. The internet and other new
electronic/internet-based technologies are going to be used for these children’s
entire lives. Technology is not a bad thing. Learning early will help children
in the long run, but there is still such thing as too much of a bad thing. By
setting limits early, kids will grow up knowing the expectations that you have for
them and will know how to use technology responsibly. There is not a way to
avoid a child’s exposure to technology, but there are several things that a
parent can do to help lessen the probability of young kids getting addicted to
it.
By learning how to use it early, they will be more
comfortable with, and better at using it in the future. Unlike my parent’s
generation, who had to learn how to use smartphones as they were released, these
children already know by age 3 how to use a phone in some way. They are comfortable
using technology and it will help them learn in the long run.
According to the New York Times, “digital addiction” is a real
thing. According to this article, “since most of us depend on technology to do
our jobs and stay connected, we – and our children – need to find healthy ways
to use it, sometimes quite intensely, without letting it take over.” Setting
limits to technology is needed to make sure kids don’t become too reliant on their
devices. Screen limits can be hard to manage because kids are being exposed to
technology at every turn from home, restaurants, and even in the classroom!
Technology in the classroom is beginning to be more
commonplace. According to the Novak Djokovic Foundation, a majority of educators,
including early childhood teachers, use tablets, desktops, or interactive
whiteboards in their classrooms. Many of these educators say that the use of
technology like this has increased engagement in their students, and that the
teachers themselves are able to create a more unique learning experience. The US
Department of Education realizes this, and has even released guidelines for the
use of technology with early learners:
- Guiding Principle #1: “Technology – when used
appropriately – can be a tool for learning.”
- Guiding Principle #2: “Technology should be used
to increase access to learning opportunities for all children.”
- Guiding Principle #3: “Technology may be used to
strengthen the relationships among parents, families, early educators, and your
children.”
- Guiding Principle #4: “Technology is more
effective for learning when adults and peers interact or co-view with young
children.”
I know a fair share of parents have trouble allowing their
children to use technology like tablets and computers in the classroom. While I
understand their hesitation, the world is changing and we need to be able to
adapt with it. Parents want to have complete control over the amount of screen
time your children have, which is understandable, but parents also need to
realize that educators are trying to do what is best for these kids in the long
run. One day, when they are older, these children will have to use smart
phones, computers, tablets and other technology that we haven’t even seen yet.
I would hate to put my future children at a learning disadvantage due to my hesitation.
- - Prioritize unplugged playtime
- - Create tech free zones or times
- - Discourage use during homework
- - Set and enforce screen time limits and curfews
- - Use apps that control the amount of time a child
can use a device
- - Keep devices outside of bedrooms
- - Eliminate background TV
They also recommend something that I think is the most
important: limit your own screen time.
Kids use us adults an example. They want to do what we do,
and if they see us using our phones 24/7, they will think that is okay. By
setting guidelines for kids as well as ourselves, they will see that there is a
way to responsibly use technology. So, parents, make sure you are thinking
about the example that you are setting for your kids!
Technology can be a great thing for kids. Learning limits
and responsible use early on will not only help children not become reliant or
addicted to technology, but also take some stress off of parents!
Guiding Principles
for Use of Technology with Early Learners. (n.d.). retrieved from https://tech.ed.gov/earlylearning/principles/
Klass, P. (209,
May 20). Is ‘Digital Addiction’ a Real Threat to Kids? Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/20/well/family/is-digital-addiction-a-real-treat-to-kids.html
Steinhoff, A. (2016,
July 24). The Use of Technology in Early Childhood Classrooms. Retrieved from https://novakdjokovicfoundation.org/use-technology-early-childhood-classrooms/
Tips to Manage Kids’
Screen Time. (2019, June 20). Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/childrens-health/in-depth/screen-time/art-20047952
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