Examining A Child’s Age In The Computer Age

The wonders of technology have never ceased to amaze us and we have always encouraged constant technological progress as a positive direction of our lives. But perhaps even more fascinating than what has advanced to today’s computer technology, is the point we have evolved to in human sociology.

A new level of learning efficiency is transforming our educational standards and has given birth to a generation of preschool aged IT users.

Cyber smarts An educational mandate not only carried out in the western world, but also as a global effort to provide computers in schools for a new universal standard of literacy, is revising the education curriculum. In addition to the training for future career prospects, computers have become valuable to the learning process by allowing self-directed experiences and by being able to meet the specialized needs of each individual. While these advantages can enhance learning at every level, there are also potential disadvantages that are most relevant to younger computer users.

Much discussion has already pointed to the various ergonomic factors causing physical injuries, and the resulting isolation of computer use impeding social interaction - both crucial to the early stages of human development. For example, the B.C. Association of Optometrists warn that children are at greater risk of suffering eye disorders related to computer vision syndrome, and this is only one example of what has proven to be a high risk demographic.

Baby’s First Computer Weighing the pros and cons of early childhood computer use has resulted in a balance of tradition and technology as the best approach to today’s learning. But although monitored computer use is the established objective in schools, it isn’t necessarily that way at home. And, home is where a Canadian Ipsos-Reid survey has found that seventy per cent of children get most of their computers time.

This is not just a concern for children of school age, however, as young computer users now include children at any age. According to the research conducted by the team of Kangarooassignmenthelp.com, almost half of US children ages six and under have already used a computer. This is further identified by the UK’s Mother and Baby magazine study showing that parents are teaching their children computer literacy at earlier ages, with sixty per cent of respondents reporting their children had IT skills before the age of three.

From the perspective of the average computer user, it may be hard to imagine what a toddler’s purpose on the computer would be other than to pull it apart. But there are an increasing amount of applications being designed to teach preschool children a variety of skills such as the visual association of images, shapes and patterns, cause and effect relationships, and even learning how to speak.

The Australian federal government supports the idea that education started soon after birth will increase the intelligence of children and lead to more success in school and, ultimately, the workforce. But the Australian Bureau of Statistics also reports a sixty-per cent increase of overweight children since 1985. Is it possible that the two are linked? While preschool age computer applications are the fastest growing educational software in the US market, the American Academy of Child Psychiatry argues that children need to experience the real world much more than the isolation of sitting at home on the computer or in front of the television.

The continuing debate has yet to determine the actual impact that preschool age computer use will have in the long-run for our children, but it certainly has outlined some of the advantages and disadvantages – as well the inevitability.

Debby Farrel is an academic writer and a blogger aiming at sharing her knowledge and inspiring others. Love reading, traveling as well as watching documentaries about a healthy lifestyle.