Techno Tots

TECHNOLOGY

Is computer use threatening the social, emotional, physical and
cognitive development of school-age children? Some children's advocates
think so, according to a recent report issued by The Alliance for
Childhood, a nonprofit organization focused on improving children's
lives.

The briefing, "Fool's Gold: A Critical Look at Computers in
Childhood," questions society's emphasis on computer use as a "faster,
better and more exciting" way to learn, says Colleen Cordes, the report's
co-editor. The statement suggests that computer use should be objectively
assessed for potential negative impacts, such as eye strain, repetitive
stress injuries and obesity. Otherwise, attention may be diverted from
what children really need: one-on-one time with adults, hands-on
learning, face-to-face conversation, and a healthy relationship with the
environment.

The report was signed by more than 70 children's advocates and
health professionals, including celebrities like Jane Goodall and
Reviving Ophelia author Mary Pipher, Ph.D. It calls for an "immediate
moratorium on the further introduction of computers in early childhood
and elementary education."

Some experts, however, find the report reactionary. "You can't
change the way society and culture have been strongly influenced by the
advent of computers," says Alan Delamater, Ph.D., a pediatrics and
psychology professor at the University of Miami. "I see absolutely
nothing wrong with preschoolers using computers. Parents just need to be
very, very involved. They need to monitor what their children do and
limit the amount of time spent."

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