Technology verses Play

Different people have different views about the philosophy of play however on a personal view the philosophy of play is that it is an essential part of children’s lives that allows them to enhance developmental learning skills. It influences skills that children need to continue to grow and develop. It also allows children to discover their personalities and be free spirited. During play children are able to develop social, emotional, cognitive, language, and physical abilities. Play allows them to be creative individuals and become problem solvers.

Children are able to develop certain learning skills on their own however, without their families, teachers, and peers being “mediators” to their growth and development they would not be able to expand on their learning skills. According to Rogers and Sawyers (2010) children’s play can be influenced by adults for “children’s play is affected by their relationship with families, teachers, and peers and the way we treat children and our attitude toward play make a difference in children’s play” (p. 78). Bredekamp and Copple (2009) stated that there should be a balance of adult and child guided experiences and “in developmentally appropriate practice it is the teacher who takes responsibility for stimulating, directing, and supporting children’s development and learning by providing the experiences that each child needs” (p. 17). By creating an exciting, fun, and safe learning environment with age appropriate materials, it would allow children to explore and be given the opportunity to learn independently through their play.

In today’s society technology has become the pathway to our future. Although technology has improved many areas in engineering, medical discoveries, telecommunication, and transportation, the time spent on technology consumes and reduces the time children are involved in play and physical activities. Technology becomes a negative influence in children’s healthy lifestyles. Children are exposed to cell phones, television, computers, IPads, and IPods. The world of media and the wide world web have been at the fingertips of young children. The lifestyle of children has narrowed down to being fixated looking at a screen for entertainment. Some of the information children receive are premature and violent, therefore they act out what they see and sometimes portray negative behavior. I think technology is replacing physical development and promoting unhealthy lifestyles.

As I was reaching articles for information on the negatives of technology and children’s physical development, I was surprise to see that there were many articles promoting technology and explaining how it can become a positive element in children’s physical development. According to Johnson and Christie (2009), implementing computers and digital toys that provide opportunities of children learning, children are able to develop domains they need to grow and develop. In the research it states “children need time to become familiar with computer hardware and specific games before they will engage in real play” (p. 285). When children are engaged with computers they are able to get involved in social interactions. Computers that provide open-ended software allow children to be creative and they are able to use what they saw on a computer screen to stimulate imagination, creativity, challenge, and curiosity during physical activities (Johnson & Christie, 2009).

I believe technology will continue to advance and children are going to be exposed to all that it brings, however educators must find a way to continue to enforce the importance of children being active in play and physical activities that promotes their physical development and healthy lifestyle. We want our children to be knowledgeable of different technology since it is a way to their future, but we also want them to grow up to be healthy.

*What are your views on how technology has affected children’s physical development?

References

Bredekamp, S. & Copple, C. (2009). Developmentally appropriate practice (3^rd ed.).  Washington, DC: National Association for the Education of Young Children.

Johnson, E. J. & Christie, F. J. (2009). Play and digital media. Computer in the Schools, 26, 284-289.

Rogers, S. C. & Sawyers, K. J. (2010). Play in the lives of children (9^th ed.). Washington, DC: National Association for the Education of Young Children.