Parenting in a Digital Age: How Technology Can Benefit Children

With technology being utilized more than ever in homes and classrooms, many parents have wondered if technology exposure is more helpful or harmful for their children. While many experts agree that too much technology exposure can have a negative impact, research suggests that it can actually benefit children when implemented correctly. I found two articles that explain what benefits technology and digital exposure can have on children.

In an article from saferinternet.org, Will Earp states that children can gain advantages from technology that will improve their development. For instance, manipulating technology can help their hand-eye coordination and their understanding of how to interact with systems. Educational children's games increase their ability to solve problems when they work to get to the next level in the game. Another benefit Earp says is children have access to a vast amount of information that can expand their knowledge and perspective of the world that they may not experience otherwise.

Earp explains that technology exposure allows children to utilize language skills to find information, and over time they become faster at finding useful resources online. When used correctly, Earp says that digital exposure can bring new educational experiences to children.

3 easy ways to introduce technology to your kids:

• S.T.E.M Explorations - hands-on activities to develop critical thinking skills

• Educational games - improves problem solving skills and hand-eye coordination

• Virtual reality - allows children to be more involved with their education experience

In another article from EdTech Times, Coralie Hentsch explains how education can be improved by the current digital revolution. Virtual Reality included in class curriculums, for example, gives children the opportunity to literally immerse themselves into whatever they’re learning by entering a 360 degree and 3-dimensional virtual space. Since VR offers children some control over what they’re creating, it can stimulate enthusiasm and increase engagement in the activity.

Hentsch says that VR allows children to be creators of virtual content instead of just consumers. Teachers can lead activities like creating virtual exhibitions, animated representations of historical events, visual interpretations of literature or abstract scientific concepts, and coding games. Hentsch recommends parents and teachers starting with a simple cardboard viewer such as Google cardboard, which is available for less than $10 and is easy to use for beginners.

Even though parenting in a digital age can seem difficult, digital exposure can actually improve children’s skills and their educational experience!