Developing Child

According to a 2010 Kaiser Foundation study, which involved elementary children, concluded that on average 75 percent of parents allowed their children to have bedroom TV’s, North American households keep their TV’s on for 50 percent of the day, and use 7.5 hours of technology entertainment per day (Rowan). Technology is becoming a problem throughout the United States, especially in elementary aged kids. Parents are introducing technology as early as infants so that they understand certain information at an early age. When parents introduce technology at such an early age they are giving their children the advantage to be addicted to the wonders of it. Young children are at a high risk of brain damage with the advancement of technology. The more adults introduce technology to younger children the higher the chances of problems it causes. Technology has a negative effect on younger children and should have limitations on the age in which it is being introduced.

As the number of technological devices increases dramatically in the U.S. so does the arguments for and against these devices being placed in little kids hands (Hanes). Even if these iPads and Tablets have “educational apps” the impact they make on children shouldn’t be praised. UCLA scientists found that sixth-graders who went five days without a digital screen did tremendously better at reading human emotions than sixth-graders who continued to spend hours each day looking at their

The organization Alliance For childhood (2012) is concerned with the rise of and overuse of screen technology especially on very young children. According to the Alliance For childhood (2012), technology is interfering with “young children’s active and hands-on creative play, time with nature, and their face-to-face interactions with caring adults and other children” (p. 5). The Alliance For childhood (2012) believe that because technology is moving at a rapid rate educators do not have enough time to fully understand the ramification it has on education, developmental, ethical, and social aspect of their design and use. Additionally, the Alliance For childhood (2012) are concerned with the decline of creative play that technology has on

This technology revolution sparked a debate on children’s use of technology. Children are constantly using iPads, iPhones, tablets, and other computerized devices. By over exposing children to technology, they are being robbed of the mental stimulation that comes from doing real, non computerized, activities. It has gotten to the point where one can see a two-year-old navigate an iPhone with ease but struggle to speak. Sixty-nine percent of children aged two to five can use a computer mouse, but only eleven percent can tie their own shoelaces (Generation Tech More Kids Can Play Computer Games than Ride a Bike). Also, children are at an all time low in the creativity department

In the article The Impact of Technology on the Developing Child, pediatric occupational therapist Cris Rowan asserts that the rise in the usage of technology is having a negative effect on both mental and physical development. Rowan points out that “Young children require 2-3 hours per day of active rough and tumble play to achieve adequate sensory stimulation...” With today’s technology, and the effect it has on placating children, it takes away from the 2-3 hours necessary for growth. Without said active play, children do not receive the physical contact they need which is imperative for their maturation. Rowan also raises the concern of video games overstimulating children causing them to be constantly overstressed resulting in shaking and

Many parents nowadays don’t even second guess handing their kid an tablet or phone to occupy them while they are running errands or eating. This is likely because the most convenient way to get a kid’s undivided attention for a prolonged period of time- no matter how young or old they are- is to put a screen in front of them. It has been said by the older generations that we are too consumed with technology, but in a world that is fast becoming technology dependent, the question ‘how early is too early to introduce technology to kids?’ arises. Some say that it is never too early- to start right off the bat and incorporate it in their everyday lives. Others disagree and say that technology should not be used until after the age of two due to

The technological world has both gains and losses for young children. On one hand, it is an exciting avenue for learning and for developing skills. These skills are essential for their future life and work while on the other hand, it causes poor mental and physical health. In addition, their own creativity is lost as they rely more on the internet. Children who are heavy users of electronic games do less homework, read and exercise less, and do less to help around the home.

As you begin this module, identify and write a short account of your aims and aspirations. Elaborate on the strengths and personal qualities, which you bring to this module and outline those areas where you hope your learning and development will occur. (300 words)

Parents have neglected to use it as a privilege or a reward for doing well, which leads to children having the world at their fingertips at all times; a world that is uncensored, unkind, and impressionable on a young child who has yet to truly experience it. Given the rate at which technology is progressing, and how big of a part it plays in our everyday lives, I can’t help but notice the eye-soaring differences in character between children being born in the generation of technology vs. the older crowd who were raised solely on human contact. Children are most likely to spend the majority of their time watching television or playing video games when they are left un-attended but while the television is providing as a daycare, who is monitoring, and censoring what these perceptive susceptible minds are absorbing? This bad habit of constant television and unsupervised programs has long term negative effects in a child’s reasoning skills, and they’re ability to process and digest information without acting with brute force. The parent should be more aware and introduce these young viewers to something different. Together, the guardian and the child can create a reasonably collective environment of mental capacity just by limiting the amount of hours spent watching television and using fun alternatives besides the

Children are constantly developing relationships with digital platforms at much earlier ages. A 2003 study by the Kaiser Family Foundation, titled Zero to Six: Electronic Media in the Lives of Infants, Toddlers, and Preschoolers, uncovered that 70% of American children between the ages of 4 to 6 watch television every day, and 43% have access to it in their own room.16 The commonplace of these devices increases the exposure to the “beautiful” bodies that populate them. Unfortunately, it doesn’t end with television. Mobile phones have made it incredibly easy for people on the go to watch programs and play games centered on these characters, and they are finding their way into younger hands. A study by Vouchercloud, an online coupon company, determined that the average age of children today that are receiving mobile phones from their parents is 6, where it was almost twice as high 10 years earlier.17 While most parents contribute to these statistics because they are attempting to keep in touch with their children better, kids see their phones as a means of entertainment. A child’s desire for an adult piece of equipment is a reflection of their constant imitations of adult

The current generation of children is completely different than the preceding ones. They are living in the digital age. “Technology has blended in with daily activity to become a way of life and children today take for granted all of which is automated. It is hard for kids nowadays to imagine a world that existed without all of the gadgets, electronics and seamless operations that computer technology provides.” (3) “Children in the United States devote some 40 hours a week to television, video games and the Internet.” (12) Many psychologists and researchers are concerned about the impact that technology has on children. Children, tomorrow’s future parents and leaders, are being consumed by the negative effects that technology had on their

Elise Hu wrote an informative article to all parents raising children, giving insight on consumption and content their toddlers should be viewing. Hu starts off with commenting about her own children and how well they are able to adapt to technology. Hu argues that there is a tension in modern parenting with technology because it is something new that we never had to deal with before. Hu states that parents want their children to adapt to technology, but not to become addicted to it; which is a challenge when there has not been enough time to form the studies necessary for the best guidelines to reveal themselves.

Children and their use of technology is a debate that has existed since using technology in a home became customary. At some point in everyone’s earlier years, they heard adults say don’t sit too close to the TV or it will rot your brain out, or cause you to go cross-eyed? It is now 2014 and there has never been a confirmed case of brain rotting or crossed vision due to the television! In recent years this discussion has turned to the interaction young children have with cell phones and tablets. Weekly, if not daily, there are new apps specifically designed for these young minds hitting the market, our toddlers now have dexterity that adults are trying to master! How much is too much? What are the long term effects? Are we raising un-social little techies? These questions consume minds of parents today, and researchers have put much time and effort into researching this topic for decades. The objective of this study was to observe young children in a public setting to see how many were actually interacting with mobile devices.

Do people ever wonder how a mobile device may benefit a young child’s life rather than immediately assuming that they are too young to be exposed to such technology? According to a report from Growing Wireless, 46% of families today owns at least one tablet. That is a huge number. To put it into perspective, nearly half of the people that someone would encounter on a daily basis has at least one tablet in their homes. A mobile device introduces children to new ways in which they can overcome the problems that they are faced with in their daily lives. A mobile device can help stimulate their brain and provide interaction with others, while also providing apps that can help them engage in physical activities. Mobile devices can positively affect a child’s growth, mentally and physically.

A crucial part of a child’s development occurs when they are young, unfortunately an overuse of technology’s screen time is impacting the developmental process. Technology is described as, “A manner of accomplishing a task especially using technical processes, methods, or knowledge” (Webster), and serves as a learning tool for children. The overuse of screen time is having a negative impact on motor and sensory skills, which is affecting children mentally and physically within their environment. As an example, if sensory stimulation isn’t prominent, “this results in delays to attaining developmental milestones” (Rowan, 2015, pg. 1). It is important to be aware of technology’s impact to allow parents and educators to make smart decisions for a child.