ExchangeEveryDay Past Issues

Isn’t there enough “curriculum” already competing for our children’s hours? Due to societal pressures (a.k.a. misinformed adults) we have stolen genuine play from childhood. Now there is a debate on media use with our children? I think my interventions in early childhood programs and elementary schools would evaporate overnight if we had children spend more time involved in real play. How many hours per day did we spend as young children in real play? How many hours do we permit children in care spend in real play? Let them play with tangible materials. 2D screens do not compare to riding a trike, digging for worms, playing with playdough, or being pushed “under-dog” on a swing. There is a time and place for almost everything, but screen time in early childhood needs to be limited close to zero. The argument that “kids like it” falls on deaf ears. Kids like soda. Doesn’t mean we are going to give it to them in childcare. The response that “Parents want it” doesn’t move me. Parent education, parent education, parent education, like the Realtors creed (location, location, location) is what is needed, not pressure for inappropriate curriculum. Let the children play! Genuine, child-directed play is the solution to today’s academic achievement challenge.

Children have plenty of time to explore media. The children of this generation will be inundated with it. Why not then eliminate it in the early years and establish the connections that they need so much with caregivers and peers?

Sharon brought up an interesting idea regarding mirror neurons. So important to have one-on-one interaction to develop these and other parts of the brain. Not to mention social skills.

A fantastic book regarding our detatchment from the world we live in and our natural environment is "The Last Child in the Woods", which discusses the importance of engaging with our environment and what types of issues it can cause if we don't. Our children's health and futures are at risk.

I'm having difficulty gathering my thoughts because I'm feeling such a sense of dread after reading the summary of this report. The Sesame organization that created this research is obviously invested in justifying media use.
It is in-congruent that the report acknowledges the importance of human interaction and suggests that media producers incorporate that awareness into their products. Playing an interactive game while looking at a screen is an entirely different thing from interacting with an actual human being. Where does the development of mirror neurons come in, where does the development of sensitivity to subtle facial and body language? Good grief.
This report is simply a "know the customer" promotion.

This article on technology ignores the harm too much screen time is causing for children. The article seems biased in favor of using technology with young children, a very controversial topic. This entry looks as if Exchange supports the ideas presented in this report.

I am surprised that your review of the Sesame Workshop report lists ideas on how to use digital media and technology for our youngest children, without balancing the report with specific major concerns and research on this issue. At a time when NAEYC is rewriting its Technology Position Statement, with much controversy and a variety of opinions and studies cited, readers need to know that using technology for infants and young children is not required or appropriate in most cases. I attended the Closing General Session, 2009 NAEYC conference, Susan Zelman, Senior V.P., Education and Children’s Content, Corporation for Public Broadcasting, "ECE and digital media: Past,, present, and future." I expressed concern that the audience was encouraged to embrace technology for young children, without complete research on emotional, psychological and physical health, but there were no answers based on unbiased facts and studies. When making life-changing decisions for those in our care, let’s use the Precautionary Principle for Technology in ECE and protect the children.

Hello
Child friend , I am in the middle between technology and real activities by a
care giver in earlychildhood . Interection with children by a care
giver is very essential in development . on otherhands music ,
computergame etc is also needed . I think technology is to be used
30% and interrection by caregiver is 70 % alike land and water of
the earth .

The American Association of Pediatricians recommends NO screen time for children under two. Obesity is on the rise. And yet more and more of the influential voices in our early childhood world seem to be caving to the notion that we need to provide screen time for young children. Parents are under great pressure by the media already...they need our voices to educate them that screen time is NOT what young children need. If children grow up in an environment that allows them to play freely, engage with the natural world, and with adults who are modeling life skills, they will be more than adequately prepared to embrace technology later in life, when it is more developmentally appropriate.

There is no replacement for children's outdoor activity. And a relationship with nature, the exploration and discover it offers cannot be stimulated by using hand-held technological devices that are a distraction and diversion for little hands and little eyes to have first-hand experiences. This promotion of screen use for young children is inappropriate.

Children need hands-on experience they can share with caregivers and teachers. Teenagers will learn from computers when necessary...unfortunately, all media, deemed healthy for children, is not viewed with an adult very much of the time, if at all. That's the reality of the situation.

I am a realist about the influence of media and screen time in our society, yet I too totally disagree with this article. I acknowledge that parents are struggling with this issue and they need guidance as to how to deal with it. Professional in the field of child care often are the resource for parents and I hope that Exchange will follow up with several of the many articles that have been printed about the negative impact of media on children - including ALL screens.

I recently was at a neighborhood gathering with lots of fun activities, and watched four children ages 4-9 playing games on a hand-held devise. They never looked up for almost an hour! We are in a crisis on this issue. Children will learn to "push buttons" as they get older, and they will learn what they need about technology. Right now they need to learn how to solve problems, develop and use their creativity, engage with friends, take things apart and be outside physically active. Because of the increasingly lack of these opportunities in our pre-schools and elementary schools - my husband and I very thoughtfully selected for our child a Bright Horizons preschool and later a Waldorf school that supports these values.

Thanks
Becky Bowman

At 65, I learned how to use a computer about 25 years ago. I'm pretty competent! The debate about children and technology is easy for me... children don't have to be computer savvy when they head to kindergarten. They will learn quickly and become competent very quickly. Young children do not need screen time - they need to learn how to become socially competent!

I have often looked to your magazine to offer a voice of sanity and protection for the young child. It was unnerving to read your post today instructing adults in how to engage young children in technology. I recall a conversation I had several years ago with a friend who once worked in the television industry. He told about a time when he was observing a filming of a Sesame Street segment. He noted that when they brought something in near the side stage, if the children were distracted by it, then the producers instructed that something be put into the show at that moment to re-capture children's attention, thus increasing the pace of the show to retain their captiive audience. This so well describes the nature of screen time, particularly for our youngest and most vulnerable children who need freedom of self-directed exploration now more than ever. Please write something soon to bring sanity and advocacy for the young child back into this debate.

The anonymous author takes technology in isolation from the context in which young children need for growth, which is real time, face-to-face, contingent and mostly nonverbal communications with caregiving adults. He/she also ignores the addictive nature of most screen technology and it's use by marketers to exploit the developmental vulnerabilities of young children.

It is clear that this report is not from "an objective third party", as you acknowledge. These recommendations will not serve young children.
It would be great if you would now publish an issue where you remind your readers of the overwhelming evidence that early media use does not support healthy child development.

Dear Child Care Exchange,
It is disappointing that you, as an advocate of the needs of young children, would choose to publish the recommendations from the report on Designing Media for a Digital Age without offering a critical perspective. It is clear that the report is not "an objective third party", as you acknowledge, and these recommendations will not serve young children.
It would be great if you would now publish an issue where you remind your readers of the overwhelming evidence that early media use does not support healthy child development.
best wishes,
Susan Howard
Waldorf Early Childhood Association of North America