Childhood in the digital age

Hi there !

I am here to introduce the topic I've chosen : Childhood in the digital age.

For the moment, I've read the first week of the course.
I chose this topic because it is in relation with my studies, sorry for people from packaging. I think technology is an important issue nowadays no matter what we are studying. Because in few years some of us will become parents and we will have to make choice about child education.

So, I will sum up all the points approached in this first week.
First, technology is hardware but also a way to communicate, share, research, socialize... As you can see since the beginning of 21st century, technology is unavoidable. Maybe you have little sisters, brothers, nephew, niece with 3 years old and already a tablet in is hand ?
The challenge is : How best to manage the risk for their children ? Indeed, technology appeals children because it's FUN and designed to be attractive and entertaining.

The second part of the course talks about the difference between children and adult facing technology. According to the educational writer, Marc Prensky, our brain interact and grow up with the environment, it is the neuroplasticity. Children brains are developing differently than their parents because they are surrounded by technology. It has a real impact on their emotional, cognitive and social skills. Some of them spend more time in front of a screen than they do in school or with their family, we can call them : digital natives.

At the end of the course, they talk about digital pessimist, parents worried about the lack of control over their children. Specialist tell us that technology can bring a lot of benefits but has its part of risks. It can destabilize children health, psycho social wellbeing, sleep and attention. That why prevention is the best way to manage technology with children.

And you, what do you think about technology ? As a future parent, how would you react facing technology ?

In my point of view, I am OK to introduce technology in children lives. It helps a lot for some learning. I remember myself playing with the computer to learn mathematics, strategic games... BUT I am sure that it is not recommended before 3 years old. That why I would try to not just give my phone or my tablet to my child when he will be bored. I want to encourage manual activities, I think it is primordial.
Well as I said, technology is inevitable nowadays but as adults, we have to use it wisely.

Kiss, see you for the next week !

Hello Hello !
Wow I didn't know I could still access to the forum^^
I hope you guys are having fun with John !
This subject is really interesting ! Why no one is reacting ?

I have nothing to add, "technology is inevitable nowadays but as adults, we have to use it wisely" : everything is said !
However, I would like to give you food for thought I am not a expert on the subject but our relationship with technology is highly cultural. In Japan for example, on Shibuya, you have enormous screens like thousand and each of them is, no only animated, but also come with sound ! At first I was very overwhelmed but very quick you don't pay attention and you end up not be bothered of influence by them. It's the same for ads : you have ads EVERYWHERE especially on the trains where you can find small children commuting alone. And no one care : you actually end up not taking care of any of them.

So I wonder if too much technology is actually a threat for our brain... Of course I am not talking about kids before 3 : no screen please ! But I wonder if from 3yo until grown adult we might actually resist more than we think in Europe to technological stimulus when we are surrounded by them...
I don't have answer of course but I wonder if our "fear" of ads and screens on the streets (not talking about personnal TV or PC ok?) isn't more cultural than purely "biological"... I am not saying it's a bad thing, I would be devastated if some beautiful or cute buildings were covered by big screens...

Well sorry to invade your space Some days at work are boring...^^
John don't torture your cute students to much !

Hi Aurélie !
Thank you for your interesting answer and reflection about my subject and sorry for my late reply...

I'm really curious to see what Japan streets look like, I hope one day ! And I agree to say that children (and everybody) are exposed to ads since birth. So that why I decided to find another course about this issue ! I found : Children are at risk from junk food advertisements on social media => https://bit.ly/2B5z3od

In the US, child obesity is a big problem of society and the advertisement about food has an impact on it.
In my thinking, Marketing towards children, especially in the junk food field is a controversial thing. Indeed, they can't make the difference between advertising and editorial or entertainment content. Even growing up, their are still influenced by the content they watch and the advertisement is a part of it.
Our last debate about toys prohibition in Happy Meal was really interesting. Indeed, it is a contentious issue for big brands as MacDonald's. I think the toy given can be an extra of the menu but it is harmful when it become the reason to go to fast food.

So it is important to educate children about food but also educate parents. Because they are the influence !

Hi Nono, I think the problems of children's obesity come from bad eating habits giving by the parents so I agree with you parents must be educate too ahaha

I am interested in e-textile for children as part of my research for my memory and I learned that there were a lot of clothes transmitting data of the child via the smartphone of the parents. Do you know this kind of objects and what do you think about it?

Hi Nolwenn,

"I want to encourage manual activities, I think it is primordial."

I agree with you ! Even if we have to leave with our time, and consider technology as a part of our educative system, we shouldn't forgot manual activities. Beyond the fact these kinds of activities are quite interesting, they help to develop children' brains. But I think technology, and more specifically smartphone or tablet help to other things.

If tomorrow professionals said that technology is harmful for child under 15, do you forbid him to have a smartphone because of that ? Even if this smartphone helps you child to create social link with his friends ? (If we consider that other parents don't know that it's harmful for child under 15, so they let their child having a smartphone)