Yahoo Lifestyle Techy Tots: Incorporating Technology into Playtime
Are we exposing children to technology too early? It’s a question on the lips of parents around the nation, and one well worth asking, especially when you consider that while some kiddies are content to simply use the ‘grown-up toys’ around the house, other preschoolers have their very own little computers!
How soon is too soon?
For a lot of parents, the right time to introduce technology and toys to toddlers is a bit of a mystery. It can be hard to figure out when your child will be ready to start exploring the world of computers and other electronic gizmos, with some parents going out of their way to ensure that their littlies are shielded from technology until they're well and truly 'old enough'.
However, according to Dr Victoria Whitington, a senior lecturer in child development at the University of South Australia, there's no wrong age at which to bring technology into the lives of children. "It's really a matter of when they show interest," she says.
"Children see adults in their lives engaging with these devices and so want to get involved too. They want to be doing what Mum and Dad are doing. This is just how we're programmed to learn. So if a child is doing something simple with a touchscreen like the iPad, with his parents, I think that's fine," Dr Whitington says. "Children learn through their senses, after all."
And learning is one of the positive sides of the rising incidence of technology in the home. The two-way street of digital toys – games, interactive, read-along story books and the more creative drawing and sound-making applications – can provide a more engaging and rewarding experience for your tot.
Words of caution
There are some downsides to letting children have free rein to play with technology. Figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show that more than a quarter of our kids are considered obese and there is of course a link between hours spent engaged in sedentary activities, such as watching television and playing computer games, and the gaining of weight.
It's not only a child's weight that can suffer from too much time in front of a screen, either. A 2010 report by Iowa State University psychologists shows that older children who exceed two hours a day of screen time can suffer from reduced attention spans, while earlier this year, researchers reported that the use of mobile phones, gaming devices and other hand-held gadgets can lead to wrist and finger pain in children over time. Eye strain can be another unwanted by-product of using technology.
"If children are spending long periods without engaging senses beyond sight and sound, that's where developmental problems can occur,” Dr Whitington says.
"If kids aren't playing outside, engaging their large motor skills and coordination, or enjoying aerobic experiences such as climbing and running, that's a problem. If they're not doing that, then they're not learning about their body and space. My prediction would be that as kids move indoors, their motor skills are likely to be less developed, or diminished," she says.
"Plus, a child's social world is connected with the physical environment," Dr Whitington adds. "If kids are indoors and playing alone, they don't learn as much from others – and children learn things from their peers that they don't learn from adults."
Guidelines produced by the Australian Council on Children and the Media (ACCM) say that preschool-aged children should be exposed to no more than about an hour of screen time, including television and other gadgets, per day – and only as part of a balanced approach to playtime.
The National Physical Activity Guidelines for Australians also say children one to five years of age should spend no more than an hour at a time being sedentary during the day.
And regardless of the type of play that your toddler is into at any given moment, you should be a part of her experiences as well.
"If you're playing with your child and letting her use an iPad, do so with her on your lap – let her experience being with you and learn in a fun environment," says Dr Whitington.
It's worth noting, too, that what your child is up to on the computer or tablet needs to be age-appropriate. Think large, easy-to-see images, happy, simple music and nothing too 'grown-up' – you may love playing Space Invaders, but if the experience isn’t designed for children, it can be confusing or confronting. If in doubt, remember that there are some great techy toys on the market that have been specifically designed for children in this age group.
The ACCM also suggests that parents monitor how their children behave after they've played computer games, looking out for signs that they are becoming more aggressive, frightened or withdrawn.
So when your littlie is reaching for the iPhone or even typing her first words on a computer, remember this: it's fine for her to spend some time with technology, provided you're there to assist, discuss what she's learning and encouraging her to get up and about once her electronic playtime is done.
For the full story on toddlers and technology, pick up a copy of Practical Parenting, on sale now.
RELATED LINKS:
Could TV Be Good For Kids?
10 TV-Free Activities for your child
Research: Fast-Paced Cartoons Affects Toddlers’ Brains
Are Smartphones and Tablets Good for Toddlers and Pre-schoolers?
