The Wired Child

WRED THE CHILD TODAY'S PRESCHOOLERS ARE A MEMBER OF GENERATION C, THE CONNECTED SOCIETY. THEY HAVE ALWAYS KNOWN A WORLD WHERE SOCIAL MEDIA AND APPS ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF LIFE. HOW MUCH DO THEY KNOW, AND HOW MUCH DO THEY REALLY NEED TO KNOW AT SUCH A YOUNG AGE? WHAT KIDS SHOULD KNOW TECHNICAL EXPECTATIONS FOR CHILDREN ENTERING KINDERGARTEN IN THE 21ST CENTURY: USE A MOUSE to move a cursor on a screen HAVE FAMILIARITY with at least five interactive applications, KNOW WHERE main buttons are on a keyboard games or activities Google Foy IN KNOW SUCH technical terminology as: digital camera, iPad, computer, Internet, mouse, keyboard and printer UNDERSTAND BE ABLE TO type their name on a QWERTY keyboard basic functions of an Internet browser HOW CHILDREN USE TECHNOLOGY AND THE INTERNET DAILY INTERNET USE BY YOUNG CHILDREN ... 25% by age 3 50% 27% 8 in 10 by age 5 WEB-CONNECTED PROPORTION OF ALL CHILDREN 5 and younger SCREEN TIME that's who use the Internet at spent on digital media by kids 8 and younger least once a week "... by age 3, many children are active media users and can benefit from electronic media with educational content. This content often uses strategies such as repeating an idea, presenting images and sounds that capture attention and using child rather than adult voices for the characters." 60% PROPORTION OF BEST-SELLING 30% toward preschool-age children education apps geared APPS on parents' phones DOWNLOADED by their children Dr. Carolyn Jaynes, learning designer for Leapfrog Enterprises MEDIA EXPOSURE THROUGH THE YEARS TIMES CERTAINLY HAVE CHANGED, BUT EVEN SINCE THE 1930s, ADULTS HAVE BEEN CONCERNED ABOUT MONITORING THEIR KIDS' EXPOSURE TO MASS MEDIA. 75 OVERALL MEDIA EXPOSURE IN HOURS PER WEEK BY DECADE 52 40* 30* 10 Coca7A 1930s 1960s 1980s 1990s 2000s * Based partially on time TV is on in home each day KEEPING IT REAL WHILE TODAY'S YOUNG PEOPLE MAY BE MORE TECHNOLOGICALLY SAVVY THAN THEIR PEERS, SCREEN TIME ISN'T ALWAYS A GOOD THING, DEPENDING ON THE CHILD'S AGE. MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF SCREEN TIME RECOMMENDED OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS BY THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS BY AGE AND 2 OLDER UNDER SCREEN-FREE ZONES throughout the home ON 1-2 SCREEN HOURS EXPOSURE AMPLE TIME SPENT ON OUTDOOR play, hobbies, reading and using imagination TAKING IT TO THE EXTREME LIKE ADULTS, CHILDREN CAN BECOME HOOKED ON TECHNOLOGY. 1936 4. $25,000 YEARS CO00000186C 000000s29 1000 AGE OF YOUNGEST COST OF 28-DAY DIGITAL DETOX KNOWN PERSON receiving outpatient treatment for technology addiction, in the UK earlier this year PROGRAM at a London hospital to wean children off computer games and mobile phones SIGNS OF TECHNOLOGY ADDICTION VAST AMOUNT OF TIME spent engaged with technology CONSTANT PREOCCUPATION with technology WITHDRAWAL FROM social situations to play with device TIRED AND IRRITABLE due to lack of sleep BORED WHEN not WITHDRAWAL FROM previously enjoyable activities to play with device COMPROMISED using digital devices school performance due to focus on technology HEALTHY USE OF TECHNOLOGY WAYS PARENTS CAN HELP KIDS UNPLUG: UNPLUG YOURSELF. DESIGNATE EXPLORE ALTERNATIVES to technology SACRED TIME Youth often to reconnect emulate with child. as a family. parents. BECOME INFORMED on ENHANCE technology overuse on mental and physical health (i.e. attention problems, aggression, impaired body image, attachment disorders). performance skills prior to unplugging child. MEET HELP CREATE DEVELOPMENTAL SUSTAINABLE milestones though FUTURES for children, utilizing corporate funds and donations that movement, touch and connection. help the community. ADDRESS PERCEPTIONS of outdoor safety. Outdoor play is important for children. SCHEDULE A BALANCE CREATE A between PRODUCTIVE technology use and other ROLE for child to help increase activities. self-esteem. INTEGRATING PRESCHOOLS WITH TECHNOLOGY AND INTERACTIVE MEDIA: Allow children to Allow them to TAKE PHOTOS of CELEBRATE FREELY EXPLORE use MOUSE AND artwork they have created; videotape dramatic play. children's accomplishments with a digital media display. TOUCH SCREENS KEYBOARD while using when using websites. developmentally appropriate interactive media. USE TECHNOLOGY MAKE DIGITAL or EXPLORE DIGITAL STORYTELLING. when appropriate audio files to Co-create digital books with photos. for children with document child's special needs. creative progress. Have child narrate using audio files. SOURCES http://www.scholastic.com • http://www.parents.com • http://www.washingtonpost.com http://www.forbes.com • http://www.joanganzcooneycenter.org • http://www.nydailynews.com http://www.telegraph.co.uk • http://everychancetolearn.com.au • http://www.zoneinworkshops.com •http://www.naeyc.org Early-Childhood-Education-Degrees.com