Keseday

The Effects of Technology on Young Children

English 1201

The Effects of Technology

on Young Children

Three children of different ages, although sitting together, their attention is consumed by
their technology. The boy (on the left) is playing on a phone, while the girl next to him
(middle) is playing on a Nintendo DS, and the second girl (on the right) is on a laptop. All
three seem to be enjoying aht is currently on their devices. The girl in the middle activity
can be monitored as it requires specific game pieces that must fi. The last girl and boy
have full access to the internet as their activities cannot be monitored.
 Technology is defined as the total knowledge and skills available to any human society

for industry, art, science, and et Cetera. Childhoods are increasingly saturated with technology,

from television to the internet, video games to personal computers and cell phones, children are

always engaged with some form of technology from personal lives, to schools and the real

world. The most critical time for child development is the preschool years, which is three to five

years. Children need hands on experience and communication with other humans rather than

through the computer, tablet, or televisions.Technology has cause many issues includes social,

health and academic. With children's lack of activities besides screen time, children are falling

behind in the most important aspect of their lives.

Since the Industrial Revolution, there have been many advances in technology. The

invention of the telephone by Alexander Graham Bell in 1849, the cell phone, and the computer

has greatly increased societys ability to communicate. Technology is so accessible that before a

child enters preschool he/she has been exposed to a wide range of technological devices that

range from televisions, remote controls, DVDs, and video game consoles to tablet computers,

smartphones, digital cameras, and e-readers (Purdy). In 1999, it was estimated that 90% of

children under the age of two were viewing some type of media. The American Academy of

Pediatrics, also known as AAP distributed guidelines to discontinue the use of technologies for

children under two.

Technology has been found to have its negative impact on academic performance on

most of the children. There are many technological gadgets to which children are addicted. They

waste their valuable time on these silly gadgets without worrying about the studies. This is

resulting in their poor academic performance. According to Purdy studies, teachers are passing

on the responsibility of teaching to technology. Instead of using hands on approach for

explanation and demonstrations, they began to monitor as students learn through computers

(Purdy).

2
 Technology affects social development in children in several different ways. Children

acquire electronic games, personal computers, and cell phones at ever-younger ages. Children

learn through communication. From engaging in conversations children learn how to negotiate

with their others. The brains of young children depends on social interactions and psychical

play.

The technology is causing many health issues in children. The surveys conducted from

time to time tell that due to increasing use of gadgets, children are suffering from the health

problems like back pain, weak eyesight etc. Due to less physical activities, the obesity is

common to see in todays children. A preschooler should have access to technology for at least

thirty minutes and no more than one hour a day, advised by NAEYC (NAEYC).

Obesity is defined as the condition of being grossly fat or overweight. the food and

beverage marketing that they might experience when watching television. Most advertising

companies for unhealthy food are commonly displayed on television. Which makes it appealing

to the eye for the preschooler. A combination of sitting on technology and eating this unhealthy

food, without no purpose of physical activities causes the body to gain weight, and over time the

more time they sit around, the more weight they will gain.

Although technology may not be the best form of learning, according to NAEYC, s a

professional organization that works to promote high-quality early learning for all young children,

technology can benefit children when they watch educational shows such as Sesame

Street.Academic shows can boost language, color and math skills (Gregoire, 2015). Young

children need to develop knowledge of and experiences with technology and media tools, to

differentiate between appropriate and inappropriate uses. Technology is essential to teaching

even young children the basic concepts of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics

(STEM) that are considered essential to life in the twenty-first century.

3
 Preschool children are within Piaget's Preoperational Stage, meaning they are concrete

learners. Preoperational children are also are continuing their mastery of language, and

exploring various facets of social behavior. Technologies allow children to explore their

creativity (NAEYC).

In conclusion, the easy access to information through computers will prevent our

children from developing the persistence, ingenuity, tenacity, social adeptness and hard work

needed to survive in the world. To quote Allison Henward, children need a healthy balance

(Gregoire, 2015), in today's society, we cannot eliminate technology but we can time manage

the amount of time a child spends on technology and the others for an active and creative time.

As Wardle wrote, To evaluate whether computers are developmentally appropriate for children

over age three, we need to determine the developmental needs of these children. No child

learns the same way, although we have guidelines that helps us predict the developmentality of

children, not everyone will agree.

Work Cited

NAEYC. Technology and Interactive Media as Tools in Early Childhood Programs.

4
 National Association for the Education of Young Children,

https://issuu.com/naeyc/docs/ps_technology_issuu_may2012?

mode=window&backgroundColor=%23222222.

Accessed 6 Mar. 2017.

Purdy, Elizabeth Rholetter. "Children and Technology." Research Starters: Sociology, January.

EBSCOhost, sinclair.ohionet.org:80/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?

direct=true&db=ers&AN=108690551&site=eds-live.

Storypark. Children and Technology | Dr Joanne Orlando. YouTube, 9 Jan. 2017,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnYGAXCYDxg.

Accessed 6 Mar. 2017.

Wardle, Francis, Ph.D. The Role of Technology in Early Childhood Programs. The Early Childhood

News, 2008, http://www.earlychildhoodnews.com/earlychildhood/article_view.aspx?

ArticleID=302.

Accessed 6 Mar. 2017.