Pro’s and Con’s in Using Technology

             Now a days, technology is everywhere and it has become part of our everyday lives. This makes our work easier and we all know that the new generations today are called “Digital Natives”. This is the time where children are very much exposed to technology. As parents, we have the responsibility of guiding our children with the use of technology. As you go along with this article, keep in mind the question: When do we introduce our children to technology?

 According to Epstein’s article Using Technology Appropriately in the Preschool Classroom,he presented different effects of technology on children. One of the researches by Linebarger & Walker (2005),children below two who are exposed to media may experience language delays. While for Nunez-Smith, Wolf, Huang, Emanuel, and Gross (2008), preschool and school-aged children who are exposed to media have the possibility of having physical, behavioural, and mental health problems that includes obesity, poor sleep habits, aggressive behaviour and attention disorder.

Another disadvantage of using technology would be the following: It can discourage children to participate in outdoor activities like playing in the park; children may be very focused with the technology that he/she becomes lazy to do other physical activities.

Despite these things, what good can technology do for our children? Technology now can be educational and enhance children’s cognitive and social ability. The key to using technology effectively is knowing or at least be familiar with the developmental characteristics of children. For example, children start learning how to speak at the age of one so instead of letting him/her use the iPad for clicking, you yourselves can use it by storing words that you want your child to learn. Afterwards, use it by telling him/her the words verbally.In Epstein’s article, American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Council on Communications and Media (2011), he suggested that “Children should not be exposed to any screen media and emphasizes the value of unstructured play for young child’s developing brain”.

In conclusion, parents should know the developmental characteristics of our children and be creative enough in integrating technology with their learning.

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Reference: Epstein, A. (n.d.). Using Technology Appropriately in the Preschool Classroom. Highscope, Extensions. 28, (1). pp. 1-5