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You undoubtedly know the term "telephone", unlike many small children. They only know "smartphone". This example illustrates that children today grow up in a more digital world. Therefore, initiatives have spawned in many countries to introduce them to modern technology from an early age, not only to help them but to secure prosperity for entire economies as propagated by experts. Others warn against depriving children of "real world" access and valuable life experiences by overexposure to technology. To me, that begs the question of whether we need tablets in day care facilities.
"You can't teach an old dog new tricks." is a nice saying. With this in mind, people have been trying to help children succeed in various areas from an early age. There's no denying that being able to handle technology is now a core competency to succeed in life. I myself had access to the little bit of tech we had when I was young and I'm glad I did. It quickly kindled my passion for (digital) technology and most definitely had an effect on my career choices. But childhood is about more than just acquiring the skills for a successful career.
Children need to experience and understand the real world. Exploring with all senses, picking up and (occasionally) wrecking things are vital stages in a child's development as nature wants to be discovered and understood first-hand. On top of that, extensive dealings with peers and caregivers are an essential part of socialization. Movement and coordination must also be constantly trained - nowadays even more so according to pediatricians. Add language development to the mix and, all in all, it would seem like quite a burden, right? Many researchers even believe imagination only fully develops when children experience boredom and are forced to come up with their own games to pass the time.
Critics fear that all of that will fall by the wayside if children are exposed to digital worlds too soon and, looking at how teenagers handle their cellphones, you might be inclined to instinctively agree. I also took a closer look at digital educational games aimed at children and maybe I picked the wrong ones but there wasn't much to learn. There was a lot of potential for addiction though. The games required very little hand eye coordination but massively appealed to my reward center every few seconds. Colors were loud and flashy and there was an abundance of stimuli yet everything was a lot simpler than in real life. Handling safety scissors or gluing leaves on paper seem rather tedious and frustrating activities in comparison.
Many educators consider their workplace a refuge from the digital life. A friend of mine who works at a day care center told me many parents would silence their kids with tablet and iPhone games since, as many innocently stated, that was far more effective than television. It's those children who run a greater risk of having underdeveloped motor skills, engage in fewer sportive activities and show little interest in plain toys (the classic wooden toys) because they require more imagination. He went on to say that whenever he checked his cellphone during recess, children would run to him to look at it - an obvious sign of addiction. He suspected it was an early attempt to convert kids into consumers and willing laborers and he wanted no part of it.
On the other hand, tablet advocates seek to use a playful approach for early tech education. They argue the underlying logic, basic program handling and urge to explore found in young children make a perfect match to create digital natives who make good use of the technology around them. This approach is frequently found in Asian countries where millions of children practice how to operate tablets and similar devices until it becomes second nature to them long before they learn how to write. These countries also experiment with teaching kids the fundamentals of programming. I do believe these children will have some advantages in certain areas later in life but at what cost?
Despite all enthusiasm towards technology and the longing for the perfect employee on the part of employers, we should think twice before cramming too much into a childhood. Each time we add more (digital) content, something is lost along the way. Are we willing to take that risk? I dread the idea of a world where members of all age groups are monotonously staring at computer screens. That might be what's ultimately in store for us - but that decision certainly won't be made during early education. What's far more important is that we find ways to prepare our children for the future that awaits them without taking anything away from their creative freedom, jauntiness and their need for social engagement. Let's not forget that successful individuals don't talk about their childhoods being productive but happy.
What do you think? Am I being too critical?
Further to the article Sven, doctors of osteopathy have stated very strongly on many occassions that continued use of 'smart 'phones, lap-tops and tablets' by people which creates a problem with the vertebrae at the top of the spinal column when the head is bent forward for long periods of time.
This action will, after several years cause the weight of the head to drop forward due to the miniature muscles holding the spine upright being stretched further than what they are designed to for.
I learned this from a relative's son who is a top Australian osteo surgeon authority.
As we have been advised, to look straight ahead at a TV, computer screen or similar equipment.
No, in no way are you being too critical (and I am overjoyed on the sadly rare occasions when I see a parent give a small child a BOOK to keep the child engaged).
I see three issues. The first applies to a wide age-group; we are not allowing time for the mind to idle, every minute must be filled with some activity or distraction, and as one of the comments observed, kids at least, need time for their brains to free-wheel, for the individual imagination to develop. Also as commonly observed - kids need to be kids!
Secondly, a tricky one: there is no doubt kids need to develop a significantly different skill-set to that of their parents. But deciding what new skills are needed and which can be de-emphasised, and then deciding at what rate various skills are introduced is a challenging issue.
Thirdly, taking a long-term view, in as much as that is possible; just how long will smart-phones and tablets be in use? We do not need to look very far back to see the ever-increasingly rapid changes in information and communication devices. Already Alexis and similar devices are becoming part of our homes. The decline in laptop and desktop computer usage will almost certainly be followed by a decline in tablet and smart-phone usage. These devices we just talk to will allow communication between users and will become in some form or another, a replacement for many of the uses we currently give to smart-phones and tablets (well, they can't take photographs - yet!).
Kids need to be kids, they will progress in their own time. THEY ARE NOT LITTLE ADULTS. We can see from the current crop of teenagers what happens when toddlers and pre schoolers are forced to give up simple childhood innocence too early.
To begin with, people who are involved with 'smart 'phones' should understand that *texting* is not a word or an action.
Not at all critical Sven, the technological 'wild horses' have to be tamed!
Text is words, it isn't a verb, it is a noun and people who type text on a 'phone are typing a message and when complete will send to a recipient.
Writing or typing a message on a piece of paper, when completed is placed in a stamped envelope and placed in a post-box.
Neither is *texting*, sending a message is the action.
This is one instance where technology 'people' are not only adding 'nonsense' words to our language, they are forging ahead quicker than the average citizen can understand.
The general education competence level in Australia is on a constant decline as each year passes.
In discussions I have heard comments that our children are far smarter than we are.
That is a load of nonsense, monkeys can be taught to push buttons but are unable to to perform the great number of tasks, both physical and mental which our older generation are able to perfom.
The technological wedge was placed in the education system when pocket calculators were allowed in classrooms, now pocket and book-size computers are being used in kindergartens and must be stopped, unless it is acceptable to raise *monkeys*.
Parents who are self-centered and lazy used to use TV to babysit their kids while they did other things. Now they use tablets.
An awful lot of people I know under the age of 20 (though certainly not all) are remarkably unsocialized and introverted. Is that the future? Everyone living in their own little glowing world? Maybe it is.
At my workplace, people are literally wandering the halls with their heads buried in their smartphones, bumping into each other. Anything which delays the dependence upon a digital device to be able to walk 3 feet can only be a good idea. Their addiction is inevitable; there's no reason to be a party to it.
Look what's HAPPENING ! : Brilliant marketers excel at appealing to the mindless masses. Oblivious, they, themselves, BEcome the most mindless of All !!! Incredible !!!!!!!!!!!!
As a teacher with over 30 years experience, absolutely not! At one point, I taught kindergarten for a couple of years. The principal decided kindergartners should be miniature 6th graders. Each had to have their own desk and free play was limited. Yes, they did learn math and early reading, but at the cost of learning how to deal with fellow humans and solve social problems that arise. Early childhood is vital for developing social skills. We now have the situation where older kids, teens and even adults don't know how to resolve a disagreement without resorting to name calling and/or violence.
Sven: Well thought out piece. The quick answer is NO, they don't need them. Put the kids in a room with a few pieces of wood, plastic, and paper, then watch their imaginations bloom.
my two nieces in their late teens come visiting and sit there texting each other without joining in any conversation that may be in progress. Is that addiction ??? When we go out for a meal the phone is laid on the table at the side of their plate. Is that addiction ???
Fully agree with you.
I have experienced it with my 4 grandchildren , 3 of whom - at 18 and 20 - have no social skills at all, through pure "addiction" to smartphones and computers.
I still remember our Grand son, now 16 how he could understand a digital watch long before being able to read analogue watches
I live within a block of a suburban kindergarten which I pass every day and I have never seen any evidence of digital devices in use, no matter at what time of the day I pass. This facility is also part of the University of Otago's Internationally celebrated 'lateral study' of a group of people born in or around 1974, whose progress through life is being carefully studied, throughout the duration of their lifetimes . (The kindergarten children must surely represent the 'next' generation). Facilities for imaginative play are available and are well used, in most weathers. The evidence of successful social-skills development and interaction between the children is obvious. We can only hope that the good work being done, is not undone, (by misguided parents), when children leave this excellent environment.
Very good opinion and well thought through argument. Overuse of devices also can contribute to obesity. I do think it is important for children to learn to use devices early in life but active playing is very important too.
Some games can be good for preparing children to work complex machinery but hardly important for the very young child.
As in all things a good mix of various activities is the best childhood experience for life.
My daughter is a director of a rather large center that has NO computers in place for the children which is her doing. She states that the children are there to learn and improve their social skills I.E how to get on with people, how to speak with people, to learn how to play and in general learn life's values something that they will not and can not learn from a computer or tablet and I must say after watching the rudeness of today's youth I fully agree with her.
No, you are not being too critical, but this paradigm shift is already happening, and will only accelerate as the years go by. No matter what real-world activities are upheld in daycare centers, children's environment will take care of infusing them with technology such as tablets and cell phones. It's a matter of walking down the street and watching people ensconced in their smartphones, oblivious to the world around them, not even looking up to cross the street.
This can only get worse/better (depending on how you look at it).