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.