Comments 11

• Deb Evans 18 Oct

  Smartphones weren't available when I was raising my children. Now I have a three month old grandson. I have witnessed his father using the iPad and demonstrating some of the apps to my grandson. I probably shouldn't mention that "Angry Birds" was one of them.
  
  We live in a technology world and I'm excited by the educational apps available that reinforce reading, math and science.
  
  I dream of the day my grandson will be labeled a "techno-geek."

• shivakumar 18 Oct

  Dear Katie,
  
  You must excuse the length of my comment because the issue you have raised is a very important one, especially in a world where almost everything is connected through technology, and it cannot be summarily dealt with with a 'yes' or 'no'.
  
  It is only natural for adults to think that they must introduce their children also to the techno-world, and that the sooner they become "techno-geeks" the better they will be able to gel in with the world. Perhaps it is time to expand the scope of the word 'technology' itself. What we usually mean by that word is the dealings with/through gadgetry, but for a child there are a few other "technologies" that should take predominance.
  
  A child is a growing Entity, who needs to develop her body & its capacities (like strength, agility, stamina, power, felxibility etc.), who needs to be helped to control & master her emotions and develop all the positive qualities (like courage, cheerfulness, determination, love, endurance etc.), and who also needs to develop the powers of the mind (like concentration, imagination, creativity, memory etc.), so that she grows to become an integral personality -- somebody who is capable of realizing all the dreams that she carries within.
  
  Thus the mastery over the 'technology of the body', 'technology of emotions', and the 'technology of the mind' are what will make her into a strong character, and these could be learned only experientially. The initial years of the child must be devoted to laying a strong foundation in developing these technologies in her.
  
  All children, whenever they come into contact with things/people, they interact with them at least at three levels - the physical, emotional and mental levels -, in a very intuitive way and that is how they grow. Thus it is very important to expose them, initially, to:
  
  - the best physical things, things that are beautiful and enriching to the senses (sight, hearing, smell, taste and touch) so that they have a developed and sharp senses that do not miss even the smallest & subtlest details of what they perceive
  
  - the best emotions. The children need to be loved deeply and surrounded with positive emotions, which will nourish their emotional parts and make them very strong emotionally
  
  - the best thoughts that the world has thought, so that their minds become very dynamic and creative
  
  Now, to the big question: how much of this can be achieved by exposing the child to the 'technology' ? What will happen if the child comes into contact with things more through gadgetry instead of directly, especially in its formative stages? Will the child grow more familiar with the alternate reality, a reality represented through a monitor & sound, where you apparently have great control over what you see & hear (for eg. you can delete things, you can shoot people, you can shut down this 'virtual world' any time you want to, you can bring almost anything into your monitor)? Will the child be interacting with these virtual things with all her senses, emotions and thoughts and end up with a partial, limited or even distorted experience of things?
  
  These are a few of the questions we must face and answer, if at all we would like our children to grow up to be healthy human beings.
  
  Let us also keep in mind the fact that these children are living in a "techno-world" and we are not debating if they should be exposed to gadgetry, but when and how should they be exposed. Perhaps we should increase their experiential learning initially, and then gradually expose them to more of gadgetry a little later in their lives. Let them grow up with the idea that if they want to learn & grow, the whole world can be of help: a leaf, a stone, the gentle breeze, the sky, the people around, music, dance, art, sports etc. etc., and later as they grow into healthy physical, emotional & mental beings, more and more of interactive technology can be brought in.
  
  Technology is a tool, and before one can start using it, one must have developed in oneself the capacity to make the right & best use of it. If we understand its role, along with its limitations, it can be a powerful help in our journey of life....
  
  Do add your perceptions!
  
  Shivakumar
  Sri Aurobindo Society
  India

• Samira 19 Oct

  This post reminded me of one of my favorite memories of technology use among the kids in my own  family.  During a large backyard cookout, my teenaged daughter and her teenaged cousins and their friends were all lounging about on the grass, most with Nintendo DS's in hand, playing a networked game together.  They were laughing, talking, and generally interacting much as they do when they are playing cards or other traditional games together--even the kids who didn't happen to have a device in hand were participating in the game.  The medium just happened to be electronic but the social aspects were basically the same.  Another one of my nieces, who was about 8 or 9 at the time, found a way to play hide-and-go-seek all over the house with one of her friends using the pictochat feature on their DS's to draw each other clues as to where they were hiding.  I thought it was a very creative twist on an old favorite!  The key is to teach kids the appropriate time, place and role for technology in their lives.  And like anything else parents do in raising children, this requires forethought, flexibility, creativity, and the ability to model good behavior and set and maintain appropriate boundaries.

• Jenifer Gossman 19 Oct

  I LOVED reading your blog post, Katie.  I think you need to purchase an iPad for your child!!  I do not have an iPhone nor do I have an iPad - the iPad is on my wish list.  The applications that are available are phenomenal.
  
  
  My kids were never dedicated television watchers.  However, with me being the tech person I am I made sure to introduce them to technology at a young age.  When my oldest was 18 months old she could install her new Reader Rabbit program on her own.  She is 15 now and her knowledge is never ending.
  
  
  Children today are digital kids.  Look back on history:  rock music -- the devil but look at it now!  Television - a waste of a child's time....  Now, computers and anything technologically related.  What we as parents need to always remember is to keep our children balanced, as I'm sure Katie does.  
  
  
  My son loves technology - creating movies, playing video games, talking on chat, etc.  He also loves to take apart a bicycle and see how to make it work better, dig in the dirt and catch fish.  
  
  
  When I was younger my parents wanted me to be "well rounded."  That meant -- take piano, be in the band, sing in the church choir, write for the school newspaper, ride a bicycle, play sports, etc.  There was technology (the television and a phone) but nothing like today.  I continue the lessons on being well rounded and hope to inspire fellow educators to become more "rounded" with their teaching.  Bring life into the classroom - don't be afraid.
  
  
  Katie, I am in agreement.  Let the children use the technology - they are our future.  I can only imagine what they will create as adults.  Just always remember that fresh air is also important.  Take the walks, ride the bikes and enjoy technology as well.

• Jen Johnson 19 Oct

  My 22-month old daughter uses my iPhone frequently. I love to see her make the connection from one app to another - "If I need to press the arrow on this app, then maybe I need to press the arrow on this one, too!" She's quickly mastered the touch screen technology (as well as the touch pad of Mom's laptop!).  Unlike adults, children are fearless when it comes to technology and, with some interaction and guidance from parents, I see no harm in exposing my toddler to as much technology as she can handle!
  
  

• Joe Tornberg 01 Nov

  I have a six and three year old. They love to use the iPhone. They can move from one app to the next with ease. Besides, iPhones are no different than letting young children use computers. When my son was two, he was already interested in computers. In fact, he could navigate the laptop mouse like a pro at three or four. Just think of all of the educational games out there for children. For example, Leapsters are hand held computer devices for kids. They make fun and exciting educational games for young kids. My son learned basic addition and subtraction by using the Leapster. I am not saying the technology is a substitute for the care and interaction of parents and teachers when it comes to their education. However, the iPhone and similar technology is one more tool we can use with our children.

• Katie Barlak 03 Nov

  I think this is so interesting.  I am in college and I do not have any children so reading your posts about young children being involved in so much technology is very exciting.  These children are our future and they need to have as much access (as long as it is safe and monitored) as they can get.  I think as long as parents and teachers still require students to use their brains and critical thinking skills everyday and teach students that technology is a tool and not an alternative to your own brain, it should be fine.  It is so exciting to see young children so excited about technology, and it is great to see them pick it up so quickly.  Think of the possiblities that are ahead of these children! It should be so interesting to see what the years ahead bring us in terms of new technology and new people using it.

• Katie Barlak 03 Nov

  I think this is so interesting.  I am in college and I do not have any children so reading your posts about young children being involved in so much technology is very exciting.  These children are our future and they need to have as much access (as long as it is safe and monitored) as they can get.  I think as long as parents and teachers still require students to use their brains and critical thinking skills everyday and teach students that technology is a tool and not an alternative to your own brain, it should be fine.  It is so exciting to see young children so excited about technology, and it is great to see them pick it up so quickly.  Think of the possiblities that are ahead of these children! It should be so interesting to see what the years ahead bring us in terms of new technology and new people using it.

• Suzanna 07 Nov

  I just had a conversation with a friend about how our family just got a  Wii gaming consel. I joked that I have problems with the virtual reality verses playing games -really. I just can't seem to make the link. However my two young children have no problem having their bodies react to the "virtual" reactions. Where I'm going with this... is that it seems that they are making the neural pathways in their minds to react to technology, call it better, faster or easier, than adults. Our brains have been trained to react to reality and it is much harder for adult's "hardwiring" to use technology than children. Perhaps we do need to consider the whole child, but also include technologies in that consideration.

• pbj 22 Dec

  I agree with many of the previous posts.  Technology should be used in moderation.  It is a great learning tool when used appropriately.  There are so many great educational websites and apps out now.  Learning can and should be fun.  I'm a teacher and have young children.  I have always incorporated technology in their education.  When they were learning to read, I supplemented with Smarty K (app for iPhone/iPad) and Starfall (website).  They also like Smarty Shortz 1st because it teaches them concepts and reinforces with a cute game after.  

• Jennifer 09 Jan

  Like many of the other posts, I agree that the occasional use of technology even for the very young is appropriate. Much like the toys of old there is variety and imaginative play occurring when children use with technology.
  
  Although I have no children of my own, I babysit my nieces and nephews often and find that they enjoy some of the interactions that technology offers. Recently, my 22 month old nephew used my phone to imagine he was talking on the phone to The Grinch, Ho-Ho (or Santa), and his older brother. Yes, he was playing with my cell phone but he was using creativity and imagination in this game and that is the more important part of this story. Not what he used but what his brain was doing.