Technology - Screentime for children

This blog explained what screen time is and its effects and benefits within the lives of our young children. The amount of information from different researchers and sources have opened my eyes to the world of technology and what it can do to the lives of the young children in this generation. I understand the benefits we receive from using technology in our daily lives such as in communication, business, education, transportation, trades and more. But the reality of technology in the lives of our young children damages more than just their development. I also understand the benefits that screen time offers our young children, but it is up to us educators, parents and adults to educate young children and help them understand what screen time does to their vulnerable brains. Yes, it is easy to give a screen to a child as a way to settle them down or just to pass time; but technologies and screens do not understand the needs of children nor communicate with y...

There are different views of why technology screen should be part of the curriculum and allowed in early childhood settings. Technology gives teachers the opportunity to provide and design learning environments for children. Technology has also increased children’s engagement in the classrooms and centres. It builds relationships between children and peers and as well as relationships between children and teachers. These relationships can be formed when both the child and teacher are engaged in an activity on any screens (Steinhoff, 2016). Image 8. Source from https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/education-k-12/reports/2013/06/25/67886/the-top-10-myths-about-preschool/ Children can use screens such as I-pads to actively observe their learning environment and to capture and record their learning experiences with their peers. Technology is already part of children’s lives, so it is important for teachers to provide safe technology in the centre for children to explore. T...

Some children these days rather spend time in front of a screen or swiping left and right on a tablet, smartphone or I-pad. I have found that some researchers explained screentime as a positive way for children to learn in early childhood education or at home. But how much screentime should children get to minimise the effects that it has on children’s learning and development? Screen time is a habit which children form from the time they are exposed to screen media at a young age. The more time children spend and engage and with screen, the harder it will be for children to turn off their screen as they get older (Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood, n.d.). In the USA, televisions and other forms of screen media are the most famous pastimes for young children. A survey showed that 68% under 2 children use screen media a day for an average of 2.05 hours per day. These children may be watching television for an additional hour at childcare or at home-based childcare setting...

I researched and dig deeper on this topic, whether screen time is safe for children’s learning and development; and I discovered different perspectives from different people around the world. These perspectives and views explained the affects of screentime and the benefits screentime offers children. Image 2. Source from https://inhabitat.com/inhabitots/the-many-downfalls-of-kids-addiction-to-tech-why-limiting-screen-time-will-benefit-your-child/ A research conducted by Zomer (2014), explained that screentime gives children the risk of developing muscular-skeletal injuries. When children are spending screentime watching violent television and/play video games, it develops aggression and anti-social behaviour within children (Zomer, 2014). Research has shown that children spend less time reading which leads to a decreased verbal literacy and attention problem, because of heavy television viewing (Blackwell, Lauricella & Wartella, 2014). It is not just television that p...

Technology has developed so much over the years and it has changed the way people view the world. In 1981, the first portable computer was introduced and from there, with the help of a British researcher , “the world exploded into a frenzy of newfound research and communication methods” in 1993. The British research developed Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML) in 1990 and the National Science Foundation (NSF) removed restrictions on the use of the internet. In 1993, Apple introduced the first Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), and because of it, computers of every day since then. From 1993, technology has grown from computers to tablets, iPad, smartphones and notebooks. With these electronic devices, the capabilities in education are growing and changing everyday. With the internet and so many electronic websites available, it has helped educators and learners with many things (Firmin, & Genesi, 2013. Most people in the world now have access to the internet which is a “vast elect...

Technology plays a huge part in people’s everyday life. It has its important roles in different categories such as communication, businesses, learning and education, transportation and so on. It has helped different people from all races with different careers in life with different purposes. Technology develops every year and as a new day comes, so as new technology. Image 1. Source from https://blogs.babycenter.com/mom_stories/aap-rethinks-screen-time-guidelines-for-young-children/ How long do you spend on your technology device? Whether it'll be your phone, tablet or television. If you spend 35 minutes to an hour on your device everyday, imagine your child spend the same amount of screen time on their technology. It will probably worry you as a parent, right? Technology is a hot topic in education as some educators believe that technology is good for children’s learning and development; while some debates that technology damages children’s dev...