Impact of Technology on Children

This assignment examines the multifaceted impact of technology on children, focusing specifically on the use of iPads in early childhood education. It delves into topics such as educational benefits, potential drawbacks for learning and development, influence on play and social interaction, and the overall well-being of children in a technologically saturated environment.

Running head: IMPACT OF TECHNOLOGY ON CHILDREN’S DEVELOPMENT
Play in Early Childhood
[Impact of Technology on Children’s Development]
Name of the student:
Name of the university:
Author note:

1IMPACT OF TECHNOLOGY ON CHILDREN’S DEVELOPMENT
Childhood development at their early ages has always remained a challenge to their
parents and to the childcare educators (Britto et al., 2017). I being a childcare educator do better
understand such challenge both for my professional career and for the development of a child.
Parents are always keen on putting their child to a lifelong learning process. However, they are
very less sure of the ways to follow. In that regard, they find childcare development centers as a
good option for their children (Pegrum, Oakley & Faulkner, 2013). The contemporary childhood
educators are keen on using a different technological platform to nurture the development in little
kids. It is beneficial from one perspective that kids nowadays are very acquainted with the
different technological gadgets like Computer games, Laptops, Tablets, Smartphone, DVD,
Television and much more (Cristia et al., 2017). They may learn things quickly, which is both
times saving and pressure reducing from the educators. However, the other perspective is not
much in favor of the use of technology to educate kids. It has been believed to influence various
health related ailments in kids like attitude problems, obesity, negative social life, reduced
academic performance, eyesight problems, irregular sleep patterns and a lot more (Strasburger et
al., 2013). The study is aimed at discussing the impact of technology on kids and their early
childhood development. Moreover, the study suggests a few possible ways out of the issue and
steps to support my development as a professional childhood educator in the identified scenario.
In the opinion of Blackwell, Lauricella & Wartella (2014), historically, many educators
have supported the potential of technology in nurturing a development in kids. The introduction
of technologies have witnessed the change with the passage of time but had kept the same
purpose fulfilling and that to support the childhood development in a more advanced and easy
way. This is because of such facts the one of the first use of digital technology was in the form of
educational television. It then gradually transformed into a large-scale use of federal E-Rate

2IMPACT OF TECHNOLOGY ON CHILDREN’S DEVELOPMENT
program. The advent of the internet has opened up some other ways like the iPads. However, the
authors have identified that very few pieces of evidence are available on an appropriate use of
technology in educational institutions (Nikolopoulou & Gialamas, 2015). Educators in
significant cases have been found to be a sceptic as they have limited themselves from the use of
technological gadgets for their own few traditional beliefs. Such educators have kept them
limited from the use of technology because of barriers like pre-existing beliefs on teaching, their
attitudes and their comfort level with technologies (Nikolopoulou & Gialamas, 2015).
The authors have gone the other way and said that the impact of technology on students
comes later, it is rather important to know how much educators are familiar with the different
technological platform designed particularly for childhood development. The authors have not
cited any established benefits of using technology to teach the kids. They have neither tried to
identify any potential harm of integrating the classroom with the latest technologies. The authors
in their way have supported a fact that there is very fewer evidence are available on the potential
harms of using technology in early childcare centers (Blackwell, Lauricella & Wartella, 2014).
According to Price, Jewitt & Crescenzi (2015), latest technologies like iPods can be a
very potential addition to the childcare development centers. This may not replace the existing
system of mark making activities. However, it can well complement the existing system for mark
making. The authors have found the keyboard pattern of iPods less effective than the touch
version of it. Students aged between 3-4 years who were investigated on mark making skills have
been found as significantly connected with the use of the touch version of iPods. They
comparatively performed better with the touch version and lacked in performance with the use of
keyboard version of iPods. However, the touch version has only allowed them to use the index
finger in large cases. Apart from that, it was also believed by the author that the technology is

3IMPACT OF TECHNOLOGY ON CHILDREN’S DEVELOPMENT
much more complex to students at their early ages. They may get to learn digital knowledge by
swiping (Lee, 2015).
As opined by Smahel, Wright & Cernikova (2015), there are both positive and negative
aspects of using technology in childhood development. The positive outcomes may be many but
to list a very few it includes, quick learning to complex topics and childhood friendly ways as
they are addicted to technological gadgets at both their homes & childcare centers. However, the
authors have identified possible negative impacts as well. The authors have believed that a very
less attention has been given to the effect of technologies on the health of kids. They may
develop various health-related issues like headaches, eye problems, stomachaches, poor eating
habits and irregular sleep patterns.
The authors have further identified that very few investigations have been made on the
impact of technology on the health of kids (Smahel, Wright & Cernikova, 2015). Investigations
have indeed been made over an excessive use of technology. However, even a low and average
exposure to technology may also bring the different kinds of health damages to kids (Smahel,
Wright & Cernikova, 2015). The authors have noted the different research works on the
connectivity of using internet with the obesity. Few universities across the globe like the Hong
Kong University have found that excessive use of the internet is related to obesity (Smahel,
Wright & Cernikova, 2015). This is because such students tend to skip their meal or they
maintain an irregular diet as they are busy playing with the internet and the different
technological gadgets. Additionally, they have also found with sleeping irregularities like going
to bet late or sleeping during the daytime (Smahel, Wright & Cernikova, 2015).

4IMPACT OF TECHNOLOGY ON CHILDREN’S DEVELOPMENT
The health-related harms may be categorized into two parts as suggested by the authors.
The physical health and the mental health are the two identified parts. Eye problems are one of
such issues that may even attract wearing of glasses. Such issue is probably for longer time
spending on computers and the other technological gadgets (Rowan, 2014). Headaches are there
because of too much spending on the internet and the other resource of technology. An irregular
habit of eating gets developed because kids have less time to think of such habits; they are rather
happy with what they are doing with technological stuff (Rowan, 2014). Mental health includes
aggression, sleeping issues, and nightmares. Aggression gets developed into kids when they are
not able to play games due to some technical issue. The aggression level can be much severe.
They may even break the gadgets (Sarwar & Soomro, 2013). Sleeping problems may be due to
violent games, bad movies or they are busy doing internet till a larger part of the night.
Nightmares are another issue that hampers their sleep. Such kids are not able to sleep alone
(Sarwar & Soomro, 2013).
As opined by Burton & Pearsall (2016), use of DVDs for the educational purpose may
slow down the language development in kids. The authors have identified the connection of
using technology in kids with the obesity, school difficulties, social and attention factors. More
than eight hours of spending on computers per week can believably reduce the time spent on
sports and other activities. Irregular participation in sports may cause heavyweight gains.
Additionally, the authors have identified few guidelines for using technologies to the
kids. They have identified that kids aged 0-2 years should not be explored to screen. Kids who
are 3 and more years old should be put to the screen but for just one to two hours (Boydell et al.,
2014). There are no such clear indications on what is the ideal age limit for kids to put them on

5IMPACT OF TECHNOLOGY ON CHILDREN’S DEVELOPMENT
the screen to prevent them from potential harms. Smartphone and Tablets have redefined the
technology and the level of doubts on its harms on kids (Rosen et al., 2014).
Technological advancements have brought kids closer to technological gadgets even if
parents are up against such activities and are limiting their kids to interact with those devices.
The kids have some other options as well in the form of various other devices like TV, iPods,
Mp3s and video games. Such activities have put the social workers, parents and the childhood
educators into al sort of questions, which are related to the physical wellbeing of kids (Eliasson
et al., 2014). Even though kids use a much of their minds, which is actually a kind of exercise,
but still they have been limited to the physical exercise. Some kids are found as prone towards
physical inactivity (Eliasson et al., 2014). According to the National Health and Nutrition
Examination Survey, 10.4% of kids and 19.6% of children aged 6-11 are obese (Keast et al.,
2013). A high exposure to violent games through DVDs or through other technological gadgets
causes kids to become aggressive. The result gets evident through their abnormal behavior in
schools. They easily develop in themselves a tendency to fight with other kids for no such valid
reasons. Even if reasons are valid, this is not advisable to have conflicts in childhood educational
institutions. They are in their early ages. They should learn how to become social and not the
vice-versa (Keast et al., 2013).
An incremented exposure to technological gadgets may retard the development of social
skills, which were not the case in the 1950s (Gentile, 2014). Kids at that time used to get a lot of
time to play with the other kids. They because of which used to get much time to know each
other. However, the contemporary kids are supposedly spending an approximate around seven
and half hours on media-focused devices. They have a very less time to interact with the other
kids to know them and to make them friends, which is required to be social (Gentile, 2014). They

6IMPACT OF TECHNOLOGY ON CHILDREN’S DEVELOPMENT
are not even able to identify whether they are the killing machine that they view on the video
games and the TVs or they are just a lonely little kids (Gentile, 2014).
The situation is challenging for a childhood educator who is very new to the profession
and wants to build up a successful career as a childcare educator. They will not be able to
separate kids from the technological gadgets as lots of amounts is being invested in
implementing technology in childhood centers. The situation is similar to me as well for my
career as an educator. Australia, in particular, is edging towards technology. The educational
styles are on a rapid change with the inclusion of the different kinds of technologies. A childcare
educator in such scenario will need to find some other ways to make its presence felt. There is a
need to use some smart ways out of the identified challenges (James & Prout, 2015).
I being a childcare educator may find this challenging to cope with such kids in his or her
childhood development centers. The rising awareness of the benefits of technology to some
extent has attracted the modernization of such centers. I am needed to nurture the development of
kids in such environment only (Follari, 2015). I also need to follow their understanding of
technology and put the experience to get the results. Educators who have just started their career
as professional educators, they need to learn on how to cope with the identified challenges. This
will not only help them groom their professional career, but this will also help the kids to have a
better platform for growth (Follari, 2015).
Being a childcare educator I am required to resolve the issue with the help of different
solutions like encouraging an ethical practice while using the internet. An ethical practice will
help to reduce the time spent of kids on the internet and the other technological devices. There is
a need to limit a time frame for the use of technology and the other technological gadgets in both

7IMPACT OF TECHNOLOGY ON CHILDREN’S DEVELOPMENT
the child development centers and at the homes (Follari, 2015). In that regard, I will require the
support of school admin and also the parents of kids. School admin should support educators to
implement an ethical practice of using technology. Moreover, a certain time frame will be set to
the children. They should be put to technological gadgets accordingly (Follari, 2015). This may
help the educators to reduce the time spent of kids on technology. Additionally, kids should be
encouraged to play physical games with other kids. This will help kids become social (Follari,
2015).
The implementation that has been suggested cannot be introduced if I do not take a step
and speak for reframing the curriculum. The curriculum will be needed to revise in order to
facilitate the implementation of ethical policies for using technology in educational centers. The
curriculum change is a long process and needs to have approval from the governing body. It
looks a much effective way to counter back the high use of technology; however, it does not look
feasible either (Follari, 2015). This is because of the incremented concerns of the global
institutions, in particular, the Australian institutions. The Australian government has shown its
concerns for the technological upgrade at all the levels of education (Lynch & Redpath, 2014).
Despite the challenge, I am needed to keep on requesting the implementation of the thought
ethical policies. This looks problematic as limited investigations have so far been done on harms
of using technological gadgets in the child even for a low span of time.
In addition to taking attempts to ask for a change in study curriculum, there is also the
need to have similar voices on the identified solution. I may have differing thoughts on the
identified solutions. There are possibilities as some educators are in favor of positive impacts of
using technology in early schools. They find this engaging and worth benefitting for kids.
According to such educators, technology is a very good resource to teach the kids. Moreover,

8IMPACT OF TECHNOLOGY ON CHILDREN’S DEVELOPMENT
they find technology as a supportive tool for themselves that help in reducing their work
pressures (Follari, 2015). This is indeed good for them as kids are able to learn the different
topics in quick time and at the same time, they are able to get rid of work pressure. It is indeed
difficult to have the majority of favors in support of restricting the use of technology in kids
(Follari, 2015).
Workforce issue is another challenge that compels childhood institutions to go with the
use of technology. Such institutions have no better option than to facilitate the growth of
technology. The various technological gadgets effectively fill the gaps created by the shortage of
educators. Such gadgets may effectively teach kids and that to in a very less amount of time.
Such institutions may also not think of implementing the ethical policies suggested to restrict the
usage of technology in early schools (Follari, 2015).
Interaction with parents may work well in reducing the usage of technological gadgets at
homes. Kids get enough time to spend on technological gadgets both being at homes and the
childhood centers. If parents can cooperate with me, we both can actually prepare a much better
platform for kids (James & Prout, 2015). Sometimes, parents are not aware of the harms of
technologies or they may even be found as ignorant because of their love for their kids. Such
situations will not be helpful in limiting the usage of internet (James & Prout, 2015). On contrary
to this, parents should support such educators who have their views to prevent kids from the
health-related losses because of high usage of technology. Their supports will encourage
educators to provide the necessary tips to limit the usage of technological gadgets in kids (James
& Prout, 2015).

9IMPACT OF TECHNOLOGY ON CHILDREN’S DEVELOPMENT
Professional development activities can also be helpful in implementing the ethical
policies for limiting the use of technological gadgets in early schools. Educators who are less
aware of the harms of using technologies, they may get to know it from the professional
development program. They will get to know the severity of using technologies both at homes
and the early schools (James & Prout, 2015).
The initiatives that have been discussed so far like interacting with parents, professional
development program and revising the curriculum program are needed for educators to become
both personally and professionally fit for the early childhood centers. They needed to have the
skills to have a sustained career as a childhood educator. This may provide a widened support to
the kids at the educational centers, which will encourage them to limit the usage of technological
gadgets (James & Prout, 2015).
In addition to this, there is also a need to develop an environment where kids will get
ample of time to be with other kids. The extensive use of technological gadgets both at the
homes and at the educational centers have kept kids away from being social. They have probably
a very less or no time to play with other kids. A physical play like playing a sport is a beneficial
exercise for kids. They due to such habits get the chances to groom themselves as social (Follari,
2015).
To conclude, educators need to have professional skills to become an educator in early
schools. However, this only is not sufficient to have a successful career in childhood
development institutions. Educators will face substantial pressure in such centers. They may or
may not be able to put the kids away from technological gadgets available at such centers. An
excessive exposure to technologies may put kids on threats to certain identified health ailments

10IMPACT OF TECHNOLOGY ON CHILDREN’S DEVELOPMENT
like poor eyesight, irregular eating habits, sleeping irregularities, obesity and aggressive nature.
Educators may have the challenge to adhere to the policies of the administration. On the other
hand, they might also find technology as a threat to kids. Educators under such circumstances
will be in all sorts of doubts on what to use as the best possible way that will limit the usage of
gadgets and provide a much better learning platform for kids. I am being an educator will look
for limiting the usage of gadgets by putting forward an ethical practice of technology. I am
expected to find challenges at the institutions and also from the external bodies like the
governing body of childhood centers in Australia. On the other hand, I have opportunities in the
form of parental supports, relations with staffs and their acquaintance with the harms of
technology in kids.

11IMPACT OF TECHNOLOGY ON CHILDREN’S DEVELOPMENT
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