Technology Affecting Young Children's Ability To Play
How has the introduction of technology affected young children’s ability to play?
Introduction
When thinking of technology, many words spring to mind: innovative, fun, futuristic, essential. These positive words, however, do not encompass the whole of the issue of technology in the lives of young children. Technology, such as tablets, computers, smartphones, television, etc., has become so essential in life that it has been forgotten how to live without it, and it is this attitude that can be pushed onto the next generation of children. As soon as young children are able to grasp items, they are given a tablet, or put in front of a screen, instead of playing traditionally, with plush toys, imaginary play, or outside, in a sandpit, playing …show more content…
chasey, etc. It is this attitude that has made many young children, aged 4 to 5, unable to have fun and play without the use of technology.
Area of Study
The most appropriate area of study for the proposed research question is Technological influences. This is due to the main focus of the question regarding the effects of technology on the preschool aged child.
The following questions that have been established will guide the discussion about the topic at hand:
1. How does play affect a child’s learning and development?
2. How does technology impact the various types of play?
3. What differences are there between how children played 20 years ago, compared to the present day?
Methodology
To answer these proposed questions, both primary and secondary sources were located and utilised. Two interviews have been conducted with two early childhood workers at a local kindy, as to give a hands-on opinion and perspective on the issues. One survey was created. This is for the parents or guardians of the preschool aged children (3-5), and this will cover the parental view of the use of technology in play. When these surveys were distributed, some challenges were encountered and were overcome accordingly. One of the local kindergartens was apprehensive about the surveys being circulated throughout the centre. This was overcome, however, by the locating of other preschools that were delighted to distribute the surveys to their student’s parents. Various journal articles were utilised, and these were written by experts in the field of early childhood. Secondary sources such as internet sites, books, pdf files, and blog posts, provided both crucial and useful information to assist in answering the question proposed.
384
1. How does play affect a child’s learning and development?
Humanity as a whole, old and young, males and females, revolves around finding ways to entertain themselves .
Everything that is done as a society is centred around enjoyment and leisure; there is sport, technology, and locations, specifically for the purpose of having fun, and even though adults may not wish to admit such a thing, they play just as much as a preschool aged child does . Play is such an important aspect of both a child’s development, that in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, article 31 states that ‘Children have the right to relax, play and to join in a wide range of cultural, artistic and other recreational activities’ As stated by Goldstein, a specialist in play and child development, ‘Play is the lens through which children experience their world and the world of others.’ And as children conquer this world, they develop new skills and competencies that then influence their confidence and resilience in a positive manner, allowing them to have the requirements to face future …show more content…
obstacles
In a survey conducted through six local kindergartens and preschools, 100% of surveyed parents believe that play is exceptionally important to the learning and development of their children . This indicates that even if parents did not have a vast knowledge of child development, it is common knowledge that play is a crucial aspect to a child’s life. Not only is play essential for the learning and development of the young child, but it is also an imperative opportunity for parents to bond with their children. A parent is the first teacher that a child has, and the teaching that is conducted is, in most cases, through play. As young children develop, both mentally and physically, play aids in the learning of how to act and conduct themselves in society. Anderson-McNamee and Bailey state in their paper that ‘Play is directed by the child and the rewards come from within the child.’ And through the child, both parties are playing, and subsequently, learning .
Sutton-Smith, a play theorist, believes that ‘through play children learn how to learn’, and that each and every child is born with a ‘huge neurological over-capacity’ and should this not be made use of, will wither and die.
If children are not given this opportunity and are not being stimulated in a sufficient manner, they will suffer issues in their development both presently, and in the long term . Play is essential in cognitive, physical, social and emotional well-being of young children and without it a child cannot learn or develop .
467
2. How does technology impact the various types of play?
Play is a crucial and multi-faceted necessity for the learning and development of young children. The facets encompass all the various types of play, and through these types of play, children are able to learn about differing aspects of the world around them. There are six different types of play, each with their own specific benefits and developmental areas, they are:
• Discovery play helps children to learn about the world around them and how it works. This method of play can be both structured and unintentional, and it is seen everywhere. A specific discovery toy, is one that can have multiple ways of achieving the result.
• Physical play is rather self-explanatory, it involves running, jumping, playing games, and provides crucial exercise for the child. This method of play is one that can be adapted to any situation, and is also accompanied by many other types of play
.
• Creative play is a method of play that allows children to express themselves and their emotions. It gives the child the freedom to explore and develop their senses using different mediums and materials.
• Imaginative play is when children use role-play or acting to replicate situations from their daily life, situations, and experiences. Children mimic people around them or the scenarios that they have seen on television or in movies to utilise this method of play. This teaches crucial decision making and correct social behaviours, as well as life skills such as dressing oneself.
• Manipulative play refers to activities that require a child to move, order, turn, screw, etc. different objects. This assists the child in learning how to operate the objects that are used on a daily basis, such as door handles, or screw drivers.
• Social play, much like the name suggests, involves social interaction between children of the same or similar age. This develops social skills and can establish friendships, along with learning life skills such as sharing, cooperation and expressing their emotions .
These types of play, are not only affected by the child themselves, and their own needs and preferences, but they are influenced by technology as well. By the increase of technology in homes, to the point that out of the surveyed population, not one of them stated that their children did not use any entertainment technology. A few did state that they try to minimise their child’s use of technology, however, they did not prevent it all together . Many of these young children are relying on technology for their entertainment and play. The use of technology to play is not inherently negative, and in the modern twenty-first century, it is necessary to be able to operate these entertainment technologies from a young age, but many parents do not understand the boundaries that turn educational play using technology into mindless play . It is this mindless play that considerably limits the necessary challenges to their creativity and imaginations, therefore not learning or improving. The same applies for their physical development, this mindless non-educational play may not allow a child’s body to achieve the optimal sensory and motor development for their age .
Introduction
When thinking of technology, many words spring to mind: innovative, fun, futuristic, essential. These positive words, however, do not encompass the whole of the issue of technology in the lives of young children. Technology, such as tablets, computers, smartphones, television, etc., has become so essential in life that it has been forgotten how to live without it, and it is this attitude that can be pushed onto the next generation of children. As soon as young children are able to grasp items, they are given a tablet, or put in front of a screen, instead of playing traditionally, with plush toys, imaginary play, or outside, in a sandpit, playing …show more content…
chasey, etc. It is this attitude that has made many young children, aged 4 to 5, unable to have fun and play without the use of technology.
Area of Study
The most appropriate area of study for the proposed research question is Technological influences. This is due to the main focus of the question regarding the effects of technology on the preschool aged child.
The following questions that have been established will guide the discussion about the topic at hand:
1. How does play affect a child’s learning and development?
2. How does technology impact the various types of play?
3. What differences are there between how children played 20 years ago, compared to the present day?
Methodology
To answer these proposed questions, both primary and secondary sources were located and utilised. Two interviews have been conducted with two early childhood workers at a local kindy, as to give a hands-on opinion and perspective on the issues. One survey was created. This is for the parents or guardians of the preschool aged children (3-5), and this will cover the parental view of the use of technology in play. When these surveys were distributed, some challenges were encountered and were overcome accordingly. One of the local kindergartens was apprehensive about the surveys being circulated throughout the centre. This was overcome, however, by the locating of other preschools that were delighted to distribute the surveys to their student’s parents. Various journal articles were utilised, and these were written by experts in the field of early childhood. Secondary sources such as internet sites, books, pdf files, and blog posts, provided both crucial and useful information to assist in answering the question proposed.
384
1. How does play affect a child’s learning and development?
Humanity as a whole, old and young, males and females, revolves around finding ways to entertain themselves .
Everything that is done as a society is centred around enjoyment and leisure; there is sport, technology, and locations, specifically for the purpose of having fun, and even though adults may not wish to admit such a thing, they play just as much as a preschool aged child does . Play is such an important aspect of both a child’s development, that in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, article 31 states that ‘Children have the right to relax, play and to join in a wide range of cultural, artistic and other recreational activities’ As stated by Goldstein, a specialist in play and child development, ‘Play is the lens through which children experience their world and the world of others.’ And as children conquer this world, they develop new skills and competencies that then influence their confidence and resilience in a positive manner, allowing them to have the requirements to face future …show more content…
obstacles
In a survey conducted through six local kindergartens and preschools, 100% of surveyed parents believe that play is exceptionally important to the learning and development of their children . This indicates that even if parents did not have a vast knowledge of child development, it is common knowledge that play is a crucial aspect to a child’s life. Not only is play essential for the learning and development of the young child, but it is also an imperative opportunity for parents to bond with their children. A parent is the first teacher that a child has, and the teaching that is conducted is, in most cases, through play. As young children develop, both mentally and physically, play aids in the learning of how to act and conduct themselves in society. Anderson-McNamee and Bailey state in their paper that ‘Play is directed by the child and the rewards come from within the child.’ And through the child, both parties are playing, and subsequently, learning .
Sutton-Smith, a play theorist, believes that ‘through play children learn how to learn’, and that each and every child is born with a ‘huge neurological over-capacity’ and should this not be made use of, will wither and die.
If children are not given this opportunity and are not being stimulated in a sufficient manner, they will suffer issues in their development both presently, and in the long term . Play is essential in cognitive, physical, social and emotional well-being of young children and without it a child cannot learn or develop .
467
2. How does technology impact the various types of play?
Play is a crucial and multi-faceted necessity for the learning and development of young children. The facets encompass all the various types of play, and through these types of play, children are able to learn about differing aspects of the world around them. There are six different types of play, each with their own specific benefits and developmental areas, they are:
• Discovery play helps children to learn about the world around them and how it works. This method of play can be both structured and unintentional, and it is seen everywhere. A specific discovery toy, is one that can have multiple ways of achieving the result.
• Physical play is rather self-explanatory, it involves running, jumping, playing games, and provides crucial exercise for the child. This method of play is one that can be adapted to any situation, and is also accompanied by many other types of play
.
• Creative play is a method of play that allows children to express themselves and their emotions. It gives the child the freedom to explore and develop their senses using different mediums and materials.
• Imaginative play is when children use role-play or acting to replicate situations from their daily life, situations, and experiences. Children mimic people around them or the scenarios that they have seen on television or in movies to utilise this method of play. This teaches crucial decision making and correct social behaviours, as well as life skills such as dressing oneself.
• Manipulative play refers to activities that require a child to move, order, turn, screw, etc. different objects. This assists the child in learning how to operate the objects that are used on a daily basis, such as door handles, or screw drivers.
• Social play, much like the name suggests, involves social interaction between children of the same or similar age. This develops social skills and can establish friendships, along with learning life skills such as sharing, cooperation and expressing their emotions .
These types of play, are not only affected by the child themselves, and their own needs and preferences, but they are influenced by technology as well. By the increase of technology in homes, to the point that out of the surveyed population, not one of them stated that their children did not use any entertainment technology. A few did state that they try to minimise their child’s use of technology, however, they did not prevent it all together . Many of these young children are relying on technology for their entertainment and play. The use of technology to play is not inherently negative, and in the modern twenty-first century, it is necessary to be able to operate these entertainment technologies from a young age, but many parents do not understand the boundaries that turn educational play using technology into mindless play . It is this mindless play that considerably limits the necessary challenges to their creativity and imaginations, therefore not learning or improving. The same applies for their physical development, this mindless non-educational play may not allow a child’s body to achieve the optimal sensory and motor development for their age .