This month, we’ve compiled some resources about children and technology. Something important to keep in mind: technology extends beyond smartphones and iPads. It includes cameras, digital microscopes, scales, and more. And when technology is used mindfully, it can actually be beneficial for children’s learning!
This guide outlines tips for any parent in relation to technology and specific advice concerning children under 2, 2 to 5 year olds, 6 to 12 years old and teenagers.
Our main takeaways:
Aim for balance: find the right relationship to technology for your family, look out for warning signs of unhealthy tech use, revisit the topic again and again as your child grows up, and set screen times
Be a role model: set boundaries for work and family time, be aware of how you use technology for work and use media the way you want your children to use it
Make tech a family affair: set rules as a family, be involved in your child’s tech experience and tailor your approach to tech for each child
For under 2s: focus on quality and keep screen time to a minimum
For 2 to 5 years old: make tech time a bonding experience and choose educational games and apps for your child
This recorded TedX talk features Lisa Guernsey, Director of the New America Foundation's Early Education Initiative. She discusses her findings about children’s technology usage.
Our main takeaways:
Children understand the screen differently than adults: For example, an experiment showed that 3-year-olds thought popcorn on a TV screen would fall out if the TV was tilted
Children can learn from TV at a young age, but we must be mindful of what they're learning
At around 24–30 months of age, children start to see the differences between TV and real life, especially when they interact with the content on the screen
When it comes to technology, parents should focus on the three Cs: content, context and child, i.e. knowing your child and what works for them
Families should have access to a ‘media mentor,’ who can help families mindfully regulate their children’s technology use
This research paper debunks myths surrounding young children and technology. It includes findings from in-depth case studies of children ages 3 and 4 years old.
Our main takeaways:
Children and technology can mix: Allowing children to use technology alongside other activities is not detrimental to their health and wellbeing
Young children are not “digital natives”: Just because children grow up with technology does not mean they know it instinctively
Technology can foster social interactions, whether through remote connections with distant relatives or bonding over favorite TV shows
Children learn technology through observation and imitation of parents and educators
Technological interaction does not guarantee learning. It must be intentionally used to support learning
On Thursday, April 28th at 3 PM GMT+3, we will host three experts in children's technology use and media education. Register to join us live and learn about:
Key technologies that children interact with regularly
Media education and what kinds of skills children need to navigate online environments
Ideas and activities for utilizing digital technologies in early childhood education settings
In this activity, children utilize technology and explore their local neighborhood by looking at the Street View on a map application.
Materials
Device, e.g. phone or laptop
Google Maps or other map application
Preparations
Make sure you have an internet connection, a screen to use and a map application.
Objectives for children
Explore local surroundings
Explore the concept of locality
Develop a sense of autonomy and agency
Objectives for teachers
Support children’s knowledge of local areas
Enhance cultural knowledge
Name important areas in the neighborhood
Activity flow
Gather the children around you so that everyone can see the screen.
Ask the children which local buildings or famous areas they know about in the neighborhood. Encourage them to explain what the purposes of these places and buildings are.
Open the map application on the screen and check where your own location is on the map.
Have a look at all the places on the map that children mentioned. Use the Street View to explore these areas and buildings.
Decide on one place together with the children that they wish to explore more closely and plan a visit there if possible. You can also try to arrange a virtual tour should it not be possible.
Note
If the local places/buildings that the children name have websites, you can visit those pages to learn more about them. Share stories or facts about the area's history with the children if you know any.
You can conduct this activity with the whole group, or in smaller groups depending on the size of the screen, so everyone can see it clearly. You can also conduct this with an individual child.
Next month's theme will be family engagement and collaboration.
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