Trying to find what Jane M. Healy, author of "Endangered Minds" would have to say about the harm that digital devices have on young children, I came across this Blog Post "Gadgets Are the Root of All Evil ~ NOT!" and felt the need to respond with this:
I feel like you use Sesame Street as a straw man to distract from computers, and now easily accessible portable gadgets like the iPad, that are much more harmful. Watching Sesame Street is a much slower paced activity than games played on the computer.
You talk about balance, but from what age on? Harmful digital distractions should be kept at a minimum during the early years when the brain is developing. It is best to not subject babies and toddlers to any of it.
"..Research psychologist Jane Healy, author of Endangered Minds, recommends that children remain TV-free well into elementary school."
Take a look at this video (18 month old IPad Genius) of a girl doing spelling "work" on an iPad. Now that is definitely harmful.
You said,
"I wouldn’t suggest hampering your children, by NOT encouraging them to learn new technologies. To do so could reduce their future chances of success in modern life. There are so many good applications of new technologies; they far outweigh the bad."
If you let a child learn through appropriate developmental activities, that child will be intelligent enough to catch on to any electronic tool later on. Besides, it is high time for society to redefine success. Look where focus on material success has gotten us! If we want a more compassionate and just society, kids in preschool and kindergarten need to play with real toys and with each other instead of using computers and iPads.
DigiKids will have a hard time with slow activities like reading, and thinking; still the pathway to wisdom.
Here is a good interview with Matt Damon's mom, an early childhood professor, about The Disastrous Impact of Education reform on Young Children.
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