Facing the Dilemma: Young Children, Technology and Early Education is a new guide designed to help early years staff to make informed choices about whether, why, how and when to use screen technologies with young children.
The new resource, which was compiled by three US organisations, including Alliance for Childhood, says that there is an escalating use and overuse of screen technologies in the lives of even the very young, which has harmful effects on young children’s health, development and learning.
Excessive screen time is linked to childhood obesity, sleep disturbance, poor school performance and social problems, the guide explains. It reduces creative play, time with nature and face-to-face interactions with adults and other children.
Studies have found that for nursery children, watching just 20 minutes of a fast-paced cartoon show can affect the child’s attention, self-regulation and problem solving.
As children grow older, screen time increases. The report claims that on any given day, 29 per cent of babies under the age of one are watching television and videos for an average of about 90 minutes. Between their first and second birthday, 64 per cent of babies and toddlers spend slightly over two hours a day in front of the television or video.
However, the guide’s authors say further research is needed to establish whether adding screen technologies in nurseries will increase or decrease gaps in achievement.
Commenting on screen-based learning the report said, ‘The content may appear rich. But the actual experience of learning through screens pales for young children when contrasted to learning that involves the mind, the emotions, and the body, including the senses.'
If settings decide to introduce new technology such as tablets, early years staff should establish rules and routines and choose screen activities carefully, according to the guide.
The guide also contains recommendations for settings about screen technologies, such as the need for early years workers to be well-informed about the implications of screen technologies for young children, and the need to work closely with parents.
- To download a free copy of the guide, visit http://www.allianceforchildhood.org