When I first started working with children, home computers, mobile phones, ,tablets etc were a thing of the future. The only people to have mobile phones (more like bricks) were the 'YUPPies' in London so technology wasn't an issue. Children played with tangible toys, not just pictures on a screen. Now, don't get me wrong, I think it's great for children to use technology for play, but I don't think it should be used all the time.
All aspects of development are important to children, not just whether they can use the latest gadget or not. If a parent finds it convenient to give their child an iPad to play with all day instead of stimulating their offspring with 'real' toys, could they be inhibiting their developmental progress? I say - Yes they could be! Is this a bold statement coming from someone who is living in the past? No I don't think it is!
One thing I've always been keen on is the developmental progress of children so let me explain my reservations on technology taking the place of real toys.
Gross Motor Movement - this is things like walking, running, cycling, rolling over etc. Anything using big movements. If children are sat in front of an iPad or other tablet, they are not developing the larger movements needed to grow and develop.
Fine Motor Movement - this is when children learn to pick up those first fiddly jigsaw pieces, the one on one (that's what I call them) jisaws which have shapes cut out of a wooden board or picking up other fiddly objects (not necessarily small one). Holding a pencil also comes in this category. Tablets etc do not allow for the development of fine motor movement. Picking up a knife and fork - again requires fine motor movement.
Manipulative skills (no, not twisting mum and dad around their little finger :) ), dexterity, - handling things, feeling textures, being able to physically put the object into the space, moving objects about in their hands, twisting and turning those objects - all good for development.
Hand eye co-ordination - although many apps have games where you need hand eye co-ordination, they are almost false because of the way the games are played - grab and drag. To manipulate a jigsaw puzzle piece in 'real life' uses different skills compared to a computer screen. Hand eye co-ordination is also involved with skills like throwing at a target, catching something with both hands or one hand.
Social development - it makes me laugh when I see people together but separate because they are too busy looking at their phones. We all need to develop socially and children do this by meeting up with other children, whether in nursery or playgroups, at the park. I don't think it's good for children to become reliant on technology to entertain them all the time because it's important for them to socialise and learn social skills, communication skills etc Different stages of play can't be developed and monitored, if the child is on their own playing on a tablet.
Speech and language (S&L) development - OK the apps may have speech games, but from my experience a lot of those games are tailored for the American Market (not wanting to offend my wonderful readers from the US). Speaking to your child is very important for speech and language development, to have a lasting bond with your child. Reading stories from a book can help develop S&L, help with spelling, dexterity [turning pages] and reading skills. When my sons were small (babies of about 4 months) I started reading to them (before then [from birth] I spoke to them). I let them look at the words as well as the pictures and I would run my finger under the words as I spoke them. I asked them questions about the pictures - what colour is the coat? How many rabbits are there? etc - all these things help to develop speech, language, cognition, reading and spelling skills.
Entertainment - OK this isn't a form of development, but I do wonder if children become bored so quickly because they have to be entertained all the time. New apps, new gadgets, change change change! OK change can be good but when it inhibits the development of a child, is it good? Children need the latest app, the latest gadget, the latest this, the latest that, no wonder they get bored quickly.
This is only really the tip of the iceberg and I expect I haven't covered everything, but I hope, if you are a parent, you will see the importance of not using technology all the time to keep your child entertained, but other means of play are very important to encourage all areas of development.
All aspects of development are important to children, not just whether they can use the latest gadget or not. If a parent finds it convenient to give their child an iPad to play with all day instead of stimulating their offspring with 'real' toys, could they be inhibiting their developmental progress? I say - Yes they could be! Is this a bold statement coming from someone who is living in the past? No I don't think it is!
One thing I've always been keen on is the developmental progress of children so let me explain my reservations on technology taking the place of real toys.
Gross Motor Movement - this is things like walking, running, cycling, rolling over etc. Anything using big movements. If children are sat in front of an iPad or other tablet, they are not developing the larger movements needed to grow and develop.
Fine Motor Movement - this is when children learn to pick up those first fiddly jigsaw pieces, the one on one (that's what I call them) jisaws which have shapes cut out of a wooden board or picking up other fiddly objects (not necessarily small one). Holding a pencil also comes in this category. Tablets etc do not allow for the development of fine motor movement. Picking up a knife and fork - again requires fine motor movement.
Manipulative skills (no, not twisting mum and dad around their little finger :) ), dexterity, - handling things, feeling textures, being able to physically put the object into the space, moving objects about in their hands, twisting and turning those objects - all good for development.
Hand eye co-ordination - although many apps have games where you need hand eye co-ordination, they are almost false because of the way the games are played - grab and drag. To manipulate a jigsaw puzzle piece in 'real life' uses different skills compared to a computer screen. Hand eye co-ordination is also involved with skills like throwing at a target, catching something with both hands or one hand.
Social development - it makes me laugh when I see people together but separate because they are too busy looking at their phones. We all need to develop socially and children do this by meeting up with other children, whether in nursery or playgroups, at the park. I don't think it's good for children to become reliant on technology to entertain them all the time because it's important for them to socialise and learn social skills, communication skills etc Different stages of play can't be developed and monitored, if the child is on their own playing on a tablet.
Speech and language (S&L) development - OK the apps may have speech games, but from my experience a lot of those games are tailored for the American Market (not wanting to offend my wonderful readers from the US). Speaking to your child is very important for speech and language development, to have a lasting bond with your child. Reading stories from a book can help develop S&L, help with spelling, dexterity [turning pages] and reading skills. When my sons were small (babies of about 4 months) I started reading to them (before then [from birth] I spoke to them). I let them look at the words as well as the pictures and I would run my finger under the words as I spoke them. I asked them questions about the pictures - what colour is the coat? How many rabbits are there? etc - all these things help to develop speech, language, cognition, reading and spelling skills.
Entertainment - OK this isn't a form of development, but I do wonder if children become bored so quickly because they have to be entertained all the time. New apps, new gadgets, change change change! OK change can be good but when it inhibits the development of a child, is it good? Children need the latest app, the latest gadget, the latest this, the latest that, no wonder they get bored quickly.
This is only really the tip of the iceberg and I expect I haven't covered everything, but I hope, if you are a parent, you will see the importance of not using technology all the time to keep your child entertained, but other means of play are very important to encourage all areas of development.
