Technology has the power to enrich our children’s lives; but when used without supervision and limits, it may also harm our children. There are real concerns that technology may be interfering not only with our children’s physical development, but also with their mental, emotional and creative development.
What the Experts Say
The American Academy of Pediatrics strongly recommends that parents limit their children’s media use and carefully supervise viewing content. They also discourage passive screen viewing for toddlers two and under.
Value of Active Play
Toddlers learn through active play. For young children, physical, mental, emotional and creative development is a hands-on experience. We live in a rich, three-dimensional world. Technology’s passive, two-dimensional screens can only provide children with partial learning experiences.
Physical Development
The sedentary nature of technology does not encourage the physical activity necessary for development of strong muscles and good motor skills. Toddlers need active play to develop the balance, muscle coordination, motor skills and three-dimensional spacial relationships needed to learn to walk, run and jump.
Emotional Development
To feel empathy and develop compassion, children must be able to identify emotions. Children learn to do this by connecting facial expressions and body language to feelings in face-to-face play.
Mental and Creative Development
Creative play promotes the development of neural connections in the brain linked to intelligence. Through creative play children also develop a foundation for learning by exercising their imaginations and practicing problem solving, critical thinking, self-regulation and original thinking skills.
Horizon Education's Toddler Care program provides a variety of activities to promote toddlers' physical, mental, emotional and creative growth. Visit our website to sign up for our Toddler Care program today.
