Impact of Technology Introduction on Preschool Children's Development

This essay delves into the introduction of technology to preschool children, examining the appropriate age for introduction, the types of technology that are beneficial, and the potential impact of screen time on toddlers and preschoolers. It addresses the concerns of overstimulation and explores the need for early technology exposure in a positive way, such as using iPads in the classroom, and provides insights into the role of parents and educators in guiding children's technology use. The essay emphasizes the importance of moderation, appropriate content, and balancing technology use with other activities. The essay also reviews relevant research on technology's impact on children's development, highlighting the importance of setting limits and following technology milestones by age group. The conclusion emphasizes the need for a balanced approach to technology in preschool education to maximize its benefits while mitigating potential risks.

Running head: INTRODUCTION OF TECHNOLOGY FOR PRE-SCHOOL CHILDREN
INTRODUCTION OF TECHNOLOGY FOR PRE-SCHOOL CHILDREN
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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The global competitive world of today has evolved into a world of technology.
Technology is everywhere now. While flying on a plane instructions are given to switch off any
electronic devices and the stewardess often jokes that if a person is not able to switch off the
devices then he can hand it over to an eight year old boy for help. Children these days are much
aware about technologies than the normal people. They seem to have an intuitive ability of
understanding how the electronic devices work. In this globalized and technological world the
children are always surrounded by technology, even in the classrooms. By technology in
classroom we not only mean a projector screen projecting a presentation or a computer device set
up for the children to play games. Technology has taken grab over a number of fields and
education is no exception. By technology in classroom it is meant that children can take the
advantages of these technologies in learning new things. The role of technology in childhood
education is however a controversial topic. A number of concerns are there introducing
technology to the young preschool children. The appropriate age of introduction, the screen time
and its effect in the adolescent brain, effect on understanding, psychological and health impacts
must be well taken care of.
Both the parents and educators are aware more about the negative impacts of technology
on the children than the actual benefits that can also be received from the same technology. It has
been observed in many cases that children these days are usually busy playing in mobile phones
and video games no matter wherever they go. Most of the parents and education institutions
therefore do not want to implement technology initially. However exposure to the technologies
in a positive way at an early stage can help in building motor skills and problem solving skills.
Results of many research state that young children should be allowed the opportunity of using
technology and utilizing the advantages of the same. Children can use technology in a positive

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manner only if the right tools can be used. According to many health researches it has been
observed that children learn and develop rapidly up to eight years of age. During this time frame
the children use all their senses and the entire body for experiencing new things. It is the best age
of developing cognitive and character skills. The preschool children must therefore utilize
technology.
Several researches have been done on the age appropriate milestones of introduction of
technology to children. The parenting world has been left divided by the issue of kids and
technology (O'Connor and Fotakopoulou). It is impractical to avoid technology in today’s digital
world. Technology can be used in a thoughtful way of supporting children’s development by
putting a little effort. The American Academy of Pediatrics’ (AAP) recommends strict screen
time limitations of one hour for kids between 2 to 5 years of age. Common Sense Media survey
of 2007 shows that 42% of children between age groups of 0 to 8 have their own tablets, touch
screen phones and iPads (Neumann and Neumann). Screen time can be used positively. Most of
the parents use technology as the digital pacifier in order to get their own things done. It must be
kept in mind that rather than using technology for passive entertainments, it is better to allow the
kids in engaging with technology for enhancing their knowledge and learning experiences.
Technology rich learning environment can provide numerous benefits to the children. Desktops,
laptops, cameras, and smart boards have already penetrated in the preschools.
Technology milestones can benefit a lot in enhancing learning experiences. These
milestones are set according to the age – toddlers, preschoolers, grade-schoolers and pre-teens.
According to Kids Health, technology can be used for quality time interaction with others for
children under 18 months old. They can be introduced to the ideas of joining other children,
listening to music and dancing, taking turns and so on. For preschoolers stop-motion animations

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can be used. The children can be asked to write their own theatrical productions. Their onstage
adventures can then be filmed and edited by adding special effects. The final movie will then be
shown to the children. This will boost imagination and creativity in the child. For the grade-
schooler - programmable robot games, interactive e-books, drag and drop applications can be
used (Vaughan and Beers). This will promote early literacy, curiosity coding abilities, problem
solving skills and collaboration. Preteens are generally very technology friendly. They can
research on their hobbies, increase social awareness and use it for channelizing their creativity.
Preschoolers are physically small beings who love to dance and everything around them
is new and everything has just started for them. Improvement in the motor skills is the only aim
at this stage. If a computer, keyboard and a mouse is provided to them and they are taught about
using each of the same, the motor skills will improve (Buckleitner). The eye tracking movement
will increase, their hand muscle movement will become more stable and they can even start
playing instruments at such a small age. Early literacy skills help the children when they go to
school for the first time. It helps them in reading and writing without much confusion. Experts
suggest that children generally engage with educational materials for 20-30 minutes and hence
the screen time even for education should be limited to one hour for the preschoolers. Even if the
children are allotted with iPads and laptops in the schools it should be co-used either with
teachers or with the parents. Nothing must be overdone and limitations can actually help in
maintaining interests as well as appropriate learning. Technology can help the children with
digital story telling; help them in making digital storybooks. Encourages school willingness,
helps with higher capacity of visual attentions, improve social interactions and skills (NAEYC).
The question is whether this would impact the social and behavioral skills or not and
whether this will have impact on health as well. The answer to this is that if technology is used

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for passive entertainment, screen time is not controlled and technology milestone is not followed,
it will impact the health and behavioral issues. It can impact vision and thought and increase
obesity. The blue light emission reduces sleep quality. The nervous system of children is
susceptible and it can be over-stimulated by increased screen time (Victoria and Dunckley).
There can be mimic mental health learning, addiction to games and behavioral issues as well.
They can show hyper-competitive behavior and prefer socializing online. This type of behavior
is termed as electronic screen syndrome that leads to technology addiction. Considering all these
in the use of technology should be monitored and used appropriately but it should not be
avoided. Children need to have a healthy amount of physical exercise along with people
interaction. Technology must not be used during bedtime (Clinic).
The modern day digitalization and increased competitiveness makes it necessary for
every people to stay update and ahead of each other. Technology is the only way to keep oneself
updated at any time. Learning about desktop, mobiles and other interactive technologies from
preschool stage will help the kids to be comfortable in schooling environment. They can become
more responsive, more adaptive and more flexible to the learning environment as well as
technological changes. The recent event has also made it necessary to be technology friendly so
that we can learn from anywhere anytime. It can be thus concluded that if technology is used
appropriately and moderately from the preschool stage with proper control, it will be beneficial
for child education and development.

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References
Buckleitner, W., 2020. What Should A Preschooler Know About Technology? | Scholastic.
[online] Scholastic.com. Available at: <https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/articles/teaching-
content/what-should-preschooler-know-about-technology/>
Mayo Clinic, 2020. Tips To Manage Kids' Screen Time. [online] Mayo Clinic. Available at:
<https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/childrens-health/in-depth/screen-time/art-
20047952>
NAEYC, 2020. Technology And Young Children: Preschoolers And Kindergartners | NAEYC.
[online] Naeyc.org. Available at: <https://www.naeyc.org/resources/topics/technology-and-
media/preschoolers-and-kindergartners>
Neumann, Michelle M., and David L. Neumann. "The use of touch-screen tablets at home and
pre-school to foster emergent literacy." Journal of Early Childhood Literacy 17.2 (2017): 203-
220.
O’Connor, Jane, and Olga Fotakopoulou. "A threat to childhood innocence or the future of
learning? Parents’ perspectives on the use of touch-screen technology by 0–3 year-olds in the
UK." Contemporary Issues in Early Childhood17.2 (2016): 235-247.
Vaughan, Michelle, and Courtney Beers. "Using an exploratory professional development
initiative to introduce iPads in the early childhood education classroom." Early Childhood
Education Journal 45.3 (2017): 321-331.
Victoria, L. and Dunckley, M., 2020. Is Your Child Overstimulated From Too Much Screen
Time?. [online] Psychology Today. Available at:

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<https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/mental-wealth/201711/is-your-child-
overstimulated-too-much-screen-time>.