Children and Technology

I feel that there are so many controversial opinions when it comes to whether technology is good or bad for children. I found the articles given on the topic were interesting and informational. After reading the material, I decided that just like with anything, technology is beneficial with the right amount of usage. I would be considered young for most, being twenty-one years old, and I feel that technology has significantly increased since I was even in elementary school. It is common to see young kids with several different types of smart/electronic devices these days. As a future parent and educator, it is essential that we monitor the technology use of our children and make sure they are using it in moderation.

Growing up, I did not have a phone until later middle school so that my parents could get ahold of me after sports practices and games. I did not get a smart phone until halfway through high school but only because my parents were getting one and it was cheaper for a family to all upgrade. My school got IPads for everyone partway through high school. I remember spending majority of my time outside regardless of the weather. My siblings, neighbors, and I would play every game you could think of, and even ones we made up outside. On Sunday’s it was our churches day of rest, which meant no going outside to play and we used to try everything to get to go outside. As a kid I did play some video games and watch TV of course, but I did do more things outside than in. As a future parent and teacher, I want to encourage that more than the other.

It is crazy to see how our technology has become more incorporated into our children’s lives. When I did observation at the elementary schools most classrooms had at least some IPads or mini laptops. Most students have some form of phone, tablet, video game, or ETC. I think it is essential that we encourage our kids to play outside. Studies show that children that spend too much time looking at a screen suffer from things like headaches or obesity. Technology for children can be a great resource or tool for learning but can be detrimental if used excessively. We do not need to ban technology from children, but we do need to have some type of balance.