Technology and Young Children

I was in a grant planning meeting yesterday talking with some educators about innovative ideas for teaching math and science to young children (grades pre-– 3). At one point the topic of technology came up, and one of the meeting participants said, "I don't want to do anything with technology. Little children shouldn't be playing with technology. They should be going outside, looking at bugs, experiencing nature, and learning from the real world."

I've heard this perspective before, and I don't disagree that young children should be exposed to the natural world and be as active as possible while they are learning, both physically and mentally. However, when I heard the objection to technology expressed in this way it made me think. Just what is the "real world?" Isn't the "real world" for children today a world of interactive technology? Whoever said that technology and learning in the natural world were mutually exclusive? Can't technology be used as a tool to help young children explore their world?

I don't think anyone would argue that the world is changing faster than most of us adults can keep up, but I don't think that means that we should hold our children back. Introducing technology at a young age does not necessarily mean they will turn into overweight, inactive, uninspired video game playing couch potatoes. It's up to us, as adults, to teach them how to use knowledge properly as well to teach them when technology should not be used. It's important that we don't limit their future because we’re stuck in the past.

My six-year-old son is energetic, active, and inquisitive. He loves learning about the world and he enjoys playing outside. He also knows his way around a computer better than at least half of the teachers I know. Some of the technology tools made for young children (like the Leapster 2 and the new Leapster Explorer) have been very educational for him and fun! We get no less enjoyment out of sharing digital books together (like Disney’s digital books) than we do when sharing hard copy books. At Christmas this year (ssshhhhh!), he’ll be getting his own handheld device (iPod Touch) so he can move around as he plays his games (including a wide variety of learning games) and (now that he's learning to read and write) send and receive his own e-mail. Yes, I will continue to monitor his online activity very closely, but why would I deny him the tools that will give him access to the learning and the business enterprise of his future?

Does it make more sense to wait until students are in middle school or even later to give them access to technology as a tool for learning, when learning the technology will be just as hard as learning algebra, or to let them start to use it to unlock their world as soon as their little fingers can manipulate a mouse?

As a grant writer, my job is to help others put their vision into writing to help them acquire funds to make it a reality.  Sometimes, though, I feel the need to push a little – just a little – to help them expand their vision and look into the future.

I have never understood the logic behind holding children back from learning. They can fly forward with new learning - unless we hold them back. 

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