“I think that technology is a very positive thing in a classroom and I
don’t think it replaces any aspect of learning, it just adds to the rich
resources that are available; but it needs to be used in the right way. The main thing is to consider the role of the parent, who needs to make
sure that their child is using technology in an appropriate way and for
sensible amounts of time at home.”
The American
Academy of Pediatrics, cited in the program, states that children under 2
should be discouraged from using technology and that preschool children should
not be watching television or using digital devices for more than two hours a
day.
One of the
reasons given for this limit is brain development between the ages of two to
three. 80 per cent of brain growth takes place during this time, and while
nothing has been proved about the effects of technology on children of this
age, there is a worry that the lack of socializing - resulting from extended
technology usage - could affect a child’s behavior and ability to interact into
adulthood.
